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The presence of viral RNA in respiratory samples is critical information in the diagnosis of an acute SARS-COV-2 infection. The real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detects these pieces of RNA. But RT-PCR is a poor test of cure. The presence of RNA does not imply the presence of infectious or replication-competent virus.

COVID-19 Antibody testing available at PathCare

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

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.