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)....
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 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 2020Antimicrobial Surveillance Data 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. For suppliers of invitro diagnostic tests to sell test...
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)...
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...