Knowledge Hub
What happens @ PathCare?
Have a look behind the scenes to see how patient specimen
flow is regulated in our laboratory system.
Categories:
- Allergy [1]
- Antimicrobials & infection [3]
- Autoimmune [1]
- Chemical Pathology [12]
- Endocrinology [1]
- Epidemiology [3]
- Gastrointestinal [2]
- Genetic Analysis [8]
- Genitourinary [2]
- Haematology [9]
- HIV/TB [3]
- Infectious Diseases [9]
- Neurology [4]
- Obstetric and Neonatal care [6]
- Oncology [5]
- Ophthalmology [1]
- Respiratory [3]
- Serology [2]
- Virology [14]
CYTOGENOMIC TESTING
Cytogenomics is used as a general term that encompasses conventional karyotyping, as well as molecular cytogenetics (fluorescence in situ hybridization-FISH), microarrays and molecular-based techniques
Western Cape Province Antimicrobial Surveillance Data
We have updated the PathCare susceptibility data for common community-acquired organisms isolated from patients in the Western Cape Province from the first of March 2019 until the end of February 2020
COVID-19 ANTIBODY TEST
In response to the many questions being asked of us as to when we would be able to offer antibody testing; this is a brief note of explanation as to the processes we have to follow before we may offer the tests.
Coronavirus
PathCare now offers SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 testing
On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) China country office reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been confirmed as the causative virus of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus has since spread to all continents and South Africa’s first case was identified on 5 March 2020.
Umbilical Cord Blood Gas Analysis
Cord blood gas analysis is considered the gold standard for the determination of intrapartum foetal hypoxia. It provides an objective retrospective method for continuous quality improvement in the management of foetal acid-base abnormalities. It is also sensible to keep normal blood gas results on record for a baby with an uneventful delivery, but who may develop neurological impairment later.
Lymphocytosis: Causes & approach to evaluation in adults
Lymphocytosis refers to an increase of peripheral blood lymphocytes, which for adults is defined as an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) > 4.0 x 109 /L. Lymphocytes generally constitute 8-33% of white blood cell count (WBC) in peripheral blood. The normal number and distribution of lymphocyte subsets vary with age.
Mismatch repair, microsatellite instability and germline testing in Lynch Syndrome
Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), resulting from a germline pathogenic variant in one of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. The MMR genes associated with LS include MSH2, MLH1, MSH6 and PMS2.
Platform change for urine cortisol analysis
Please take note of the platform change for 24 hour urine cortisol analysis.
This test will now be performed on the Abbott Architect immunoassay platform and will result in a change in reference interval to:
24 hr urine cortisol reference interval: 11.8 – 485.6 nmol/24 hours
Non-payment for syndromic PCR testing (BioFire FilmArray)
We write to you to keep you informed of developments within the medial scheme industry that affect the funding of some tests, specifically BioFire, used for diagnosis in acute respiratory diseases, suspected meningitis/encephalitis and diarrhoeal disease for the rapid identification of the pathogenic cause.