Scientific Study Library

Introduction For decades, we have been speculating on how our world will change with new innovations and technology introduced to our workspaces. A 2021 survey of laboratory stakeholders found that 66% of respondents felt they would use artificial intelligence (AI) in the future, but were unsure on how. Perhaps this is why speculation on AI…

ABSTRACT Stool specimens are frequently used to detect gastrointestinal tract colonization with antimicrobial-resistant enteric bacteria, but they cannot be rapidly collected. Perianal swab specimens can be collected more quickly and efficiently, but data evaluating their suitability as a specimen type for this purpose are sparse. We performed selective culture for extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and fluoroquinolone- resistant Enterobacterales (FQRE)…

ABSTRACT The COVID pandemic has put a spotlight on laboratory medicine,showcasing how vital diagnostic testing is for society and the health care system.It has also brought to light and accelerated the critical shortage of trainedand experienced laboratory personnel that has been felt for decades. The needfor laboratory professionals is expected to grow by 11% between…

At a time when diagnostic bacteriological testing procedures have become more complexand their associated costs are steadily increasing, the expected benefits of Totallaboratory automation (TLA) cannot just be a simple transposition of the traditionalmanual procedures used to process clinical specimens. In contrast, automation shoulddrive a fundamental change in the laboratory workflow and prompt users to…

ABSTRACT Recently, Copan (Italy) introduced the Colibrí instrument for automated colonypicking and preparation of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI- TOF)target plates. Our study aimed to validate this system for yeasts as such testing has not beenperformed yet and is a missing link needed to implement the system for routine use. Fifty-fiveCandida strains were…

A variety of medical procedures are classified as aerosol generating. However there is no consensus on whether some procedures such as nasopharyngeal swabbing can generate aerosols. During specimen collection, the contact of the nasopharyngeal swab with the respiratory mucosa often triggers defense reflexes such as sneezing and coughing, which generate airborne particles. The accumulation and…

Abstract: Critical to facilitating SARS-CoV-2 point-of-care (POC) testing is assurance that viruses present in specimens are inactivated onsite prior to processing. Here, we conducted experiments to determine the virucidal activity of commercially available Viral Transport Mediums (VTMs) to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. Independent testing methods for viral inactivation testing were applied, including a previously described World Health…

Abstract Testing is an essential part of containment of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic. This review summarizes studies for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and testing. Nasopharyngeal samples are best at sensitivity detection, especially in early stages of disease and in asymptomatic individuals. Current swab processing involves a 100‐ to 1000‐fold dilution of the…

Abstract Introduction. Non-invasive sample collection and viral sterilizing buffers have independently enabled workflows for more widespread COVID-19 testing by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gap statement. The combined use of sterilizing buffers across non-invasive sample types to optimize sensitive, accessible, and biosafe sampling methods has not been directly and systematically compared. Aim. We aimed to…

In the fight against COVID-19, the general population in many countries has not been empowered to pursue diagnostic testing, but rather has been a subject to often frustrating and inadequate testing capacity. Diagnostics have been a cornerstone of the COVID-19 response globally, because strategies to contain and respond to the pandemic rely primarily on case…

Abstract BackgroundUpper respiratory samples used to test for SARS-CoV-2 virus may be infectious and presenta hazard during transport and testing. A buffer with the ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 atthe time of sample collection could simplify and expand testing for COVID-19 to non-conventionalsettings. MethodsWe evaluated a guanidium thiocyanate-based buffer, eNAT™ (Copan) as a possible transportand inactivation…