The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory specimens is an essential tool in screening and diagnosing COVID-191. Clinical virology laboratories often make use of a diverse repertoire of testing platforms with varying...
Gout is a common clinical disease and, furthermore, it is readily treatable and managed by the long-term use of urate lowering medication. Gout, the clinical syndrome, needs to be distinguished from hyperuricaemia which refers to the increased levels of serum urate. ...
On 26 November 2021 the WHO designated the new SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.529, now named Omicron, a variant of concern. Much is still unknown about Omicron and it is expected that the variant’s real world impact will become clearer over the next weeks. What is Omicron?...
COVID-19 and ARDS In individuals with co-morbidities, defective immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 may allow unrestricted viral replication which elicits hyperinflammation and severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).COVID-19 resulting in...
In recent years, liquid biopsies have emerged as a promising tool in the fields of molecular oncology and precision medicine. Liquid biopsy methodology typically analyses genomic DNA isolated from circulating tumour cells (CTCs) or circulating cell-free tumour DNA...
Due to a rapid increase in serious infections related to especially carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales, the clinical use of the polymyxin antibiotics colistin (polymyxin E), and polymyxin B has recently resurged as salvage therapy for otherwise untreatable...
A fairly recent article on the nationwide outbreak of Hepatitis E (HEV) in informal settlements in Namibia as well as the recent academic interest in this previously mostly ignored virus, prompted this EduPath. The intention is to focus on the salient points of HEV...
PathCare has introduced an antibody test that is capable of detecting antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (“S”) protein, induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or by natural infection. Diagnostic assays previously introduced only target the nucleocapsid (“N”)...
Testing for respiratory pathogens using comprehensive multiplex molecular panels have become a valuable diagnostic tool to assist in early identification of causative organisms. Appropriate use supports timely and directed antimicrobial therapy, especially for...
Immune-mediated diabetes is characterized by the presence of circulating specific antibodies against the pancreatic islets such as glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), islet antigen-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A), or zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A)....