Novel Assays/Applications for Patients Suspected of Mycobacterial Diseases
We describe new methods and applications for faster turnaround times in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease and have included the latest mycobacterial taxonomy. Although the focus is mainly on molecular assays, we also discuss improvements of acid-fast bacilli smear microscopy and stress the need for performing minimal inhibitory concentration determinations especially for tuberculosis. Additionally, important considerations for negative nucleic acid amplification assay results used for releasing tuberculosis suspects from airborne infection isolation rooms saving precious resources ...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - October 5, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Niaz Banaei, Kimberlee A. Musser, Max Salfinger, Akos Somoskovi, Adrian M. Zelazny Source Type: research
Update in Infectious Disease Diagnosis in Anatomic Pathology
Anatomic pathology is an important resource for detection and exclusion of infectious diseases in tissue specimens. Detection of a microorganism (i.e. bacteria, fungi, parasite) in tissue sections is frequently the beginning of a work-up and occasionally sufficient for definitive microbiologic identification. Close correlation with cultures and ancillary testing in the microbiology laboratory is of paramount importance in arriving at a diagnosis and identify with certitude causative pathogen(s). This review will discuss the adequacy and limitations of histopathology in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, describe potenti...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - October 5, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Alvaro C. Laga Source Type: research
Food Safety Genomics and Connections to One Health and the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
This article describes the potential for one health surveillance of foodborne pathogens and disease using the revolutionary methodologies of whole genome sequencing. Whole genome sequencing of viral and bacterial pathogens is a natural fit to a one health perspective because these pathogens reside and are shared by humans, animals, and the environment and their genomes are compared easily regardless of where or from what host the pathogen was isolated. A genome provides a huge amount of data that can be analyzed for numerous applications. Sharing data coordinates surveillance efforts across the various disciplines. (Source...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - October 4, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Marc W. Allard, Jie Zheng, Guojie Cao, Ruth Timme, Eric Stevens, Eric W. Brown Source Type: research
Panels and Syndromic Testing in Clinical Microbiology
This article discusses commercially available syndromic panels, the benefits and limitations of testing, and how diagnostic and laboratory stewardship can be used to optimize testing and improve patient care while keeping costs at a minimum. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - September 30, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Jennifer Dien Bard, Erin McElvania Source Type: research
Clinical Pathogen Genomics
Recent improvements in next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled clinical laboratories to increasingly pursue pathogen genomics for infectious disease diagnosis. Clinical laboratories can also benefit from whole-genome sequence characterization of cultured isolates, helping to resolve infection prevention questions pertaining to pathogen outbreaks and surveillance. Metagenomic sequencing from primary specimens can also provide laboratories with an unbiased universal test for situations where traditional methods fail to identify infectious etiologies despite, high clinical suspicion. Here, the most useful applica...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - September 30, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Andrew Cameron, Jessica L. Bohrhunter, Samantha Taffner, Adel Malek, Nicole D. Pecora Source Type: research
Practical Aspects and Considerations When Planning a New Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Planning for a new laboratory is exciting and daunting. The project ’s success starts with an agreed on vision and scope as defined by key stakeholders. In addition to the work of architects and building professionals, such projects require major investment in upfront thought, time, and commitment from laboratory directors, supervisors, and technologists who will use the space. Incorporating design features critical to efficient and flexible workflow as required to meet growing and changing needs will extend the lifetime of the space. Open floor plans may challenge some sensibilities and biosafety concerns but are the vo...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - September 30, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Dwight J. Hardy Source Type: research
Update on Susceptibility Testing
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is now, more than ever, a critical role of the microbiology laboratory. Several factors limit its application for patient care and antimicrobial resistance epidemiology, including time to results, requirements for pure cultures, and high starting concentration of bacteria. This review discusses the global status of AST and new phenotypic and genotypic methods in late-stage development or that are new to market. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - September 29, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Romney M. Humphries Source Type: research
Modern Blood Culture
This article summarizes the current state of blood culture methods, including preanalytic, analytical, and postanalytic factors that are available to clinical microbiology laboratories. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - September 18, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Mark D. Gonzalez, Timothy Chao, Matthew A. Pettengill Source Type: research
Coronavirus Detection in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Endemic species of coronavirus (HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1) are frequent causes of upper respiratory tract infections. Three highly pathogenic coronaviruses have been associated with outbreaks and epidemics and have challenged clinical microbiology laboratories to quickly develop assays for diagnosis. Their initial characterization was achieved by molecular methods. With the great advance in metagenomic whole-genome sequencing directly from clinical specimens, diagnosis of novel coronaviruses could be quickly implemented into the workflow of managing cases of pneumonia of unknown cause, which will marke...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 7, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Katharine Uhteg, Karen C. Carroll, Heba H. Mostafa Source Type: research
Measuring the Serologic Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
The entire spectrum of diagnostic testing, from reagent supply to test performance, has been a major focus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The hope for serologic testing is that it will provide both epidemiologic information about seroprevalence as well as individual information about previous infection. This information is particularly helpful for high-risk individuals who may be outside of the viral shedding window, such as children with suspected multisystem inflammatory syndrome. It is not yet understood whether serologic testing can be interpreted in terms of protective immunity. These concern...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 7, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Nicole D. Pecora, Martin S. Zand Source Type: research
Coronavirus Detection in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory: Are We Ready for Identifying and Diagnosing a Novel Virus?
Endemic species of coronaviruses (HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1) are frequent causes of upper respiratory tract infections. The molecular diagnosis of the four species has become integrated into most of the comprehensive respiratory molecular panels used for routine diagnosis. Three highly pathogenic coronaviruses have been associated with outbreaks and epidemics and have challenged clinical microbiology laboratories to quickly develop assays for diagnosis. Their initial characterization was achieved by molecular methods that included pan-coronavirus PCR, amplicon sequencing, and whole genome sequencing. M...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 7, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Katharine Uhteg, Karen C. Carroll, Heba H. Mostafa Source Type: research
Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic
SARS-CoV-2 (also known as COVID-19) has been unprecedented challenge in many parts of the medical field with blood banking being no exception. COVID-19 has had a distinctly negative effect on our blood collection nationwide forcing blood banks, blood centers, and the U.S. government to adopt new policies to adapt to a decreased blood supply as well as to protect our donors from COVID-19. These policies can be seen distinctly in patient blood management and blood bank operations. We are also faced with developing policies and procedures for a non-traditional therapy, convalescent plasma; its efficacy and safety is still not...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 7, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Andy Ngo, Debra Masel, Christine Cahill, Neil Blumberg, Majed Refaai Source Type: research
Measuring the Serological Response to SARS-CoV-2: Methods and Meaning
The entire spectrum of diagnostic testing, from reagent supply to test performance, has been a major focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope for serological testing is that it would provide both epidemiological information about seroprevalence as well as individual information about previous infection. This is particularly helpful for high risk individuals who may be outside of the viral shedding window, such as children with suspected MIS-C. It is not yet understood whether serological testing can be interpreted in terms of protective immunity. These concerns must be addressed using highly sensitive and specific test...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - August 7, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Nicole D. Pecora, Martin S. Zand Source Type: research
Diagnostic and Prognostic Laboratory Testing for Alzheimer Disease
This article focuses on current clinical laboratory testing to diagnose Alzheimer disease and monitor its progression throughout its disease course. Several clinically available tests focus on analysis of amyloid and tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid as well as autosomal dominant and risk factor genes. Although the current armament of clinical laboratory testing is limited by invasiveness of cerebrospinal fluid collection, rarity of autosomal dominant genetic mutations, and uncertainties of risk inherent in nonpenetrant genes, the field is poised to advance the clinical repertoire of laboratory diagnostic testing. (Source:...
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - July 26, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Zachary Winder, Donna Wilcock, Gregory A. Jicha Source Type: research
Laboratory Testing for Neurologic Disorders
CLINICS IN LABORATORY MEDICINE (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine - July 26, 2020 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: A. Zara Herskovits Source Type: research
