INFLUENZA, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND SARS-COV-2 Influenza A, influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) returned to the characteristic seasonal circulation (Figure 1), having shown atypical patterns in 2020 and 2021. The influenza season showed a biphasic...
The recent COVID-19 pandemic renewed the focus of the role of vaccination in the prevention of infection across all ages and in all communities. Apart from reducing infectious episodes in individual patients, vaccination is an often-overlooked strategy to also combat...
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...
Because the sensitivity of laboratory based serology tests and rapid point-of-care tests are too low within the first 14 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection (causing COVID-19), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the current gold standard of...
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...
Ken jou Vlakke
Although few gastrointestinal infections may require specific therapy, the quick and efficient detection of a causative agent of diarrhoea may limit unnecessary use of antimicrobials, reduce hospitalisation duration and also provide valuable information...
The WHO recommends that each patient with suspected tuberculosis should benefit from at least one NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test), as these tests have enhanced sensitivity and specificity above conventional microscopy. Over the past...
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of public health importance. Due to the variable presence of diagnostic laboratory parameters in the natural history of the disease, laboratory findings should be interpreted in the context of the clinical history...
PathCare utilizes the Treponema pallidum antibody assay as a screening test for syphilis. This is in line with international reporting standards. The Treponema pallidum antibody test is an economic and reliable automated syphilis serology test. It utilizes...