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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial infections: new tools and lessons learned.

Even in the 21st century, tuberculosis continues to be a problem. Although the number of cases continues gradually to decrease in the United States, cases get more difficult to treat, specifically those that are multiple-drug resistant. Infection of one-third of the world's population ensures that tuberculosis will not disappear in the near future. In light of this, it will be useful to know the goals for the health care system and how these goals may be accomplished. Laboratory testing in the mycobacteriology field is experiencing more changes today than ever before. Determining what assays will be most useful to the clinician is a challenge, and acceptance of the new technology by the medical community an even greater one. Clinicians must use the best available resources to determine the most appropriate care for their patients and work together with the laboratory to ensure that the communication channels are open. This review focuses on current state-of-the-art resources useful for accurate and rapid laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial infections.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1985

Legionella and Legionnaires' disease: a review with emphasis on environmental studies and laboratory diagnosis.

Legionella pneumophila and related species are important causes of epidemic bacterial pneumonia and nosocomial infection. This review will discuss this new family of bacteria and the diseases they produce. The classification, general microbiologic characteristics, and ecology of the bacteria will be reviewed and the epidemiology and clinical aspects of the infection will be discussed. More emphasis will be given to issues that are more directly related to laboratory workers and with which the author has had more direct experience: pathology, laboratory diagnosis of human infection, pathogenesis of the infection, and virulence mechanisms of the bacterium. Therapy and prevention of the infection will be discussed more briefly.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pseudogout: a contribution to laboratory diagnosis].

Calcium levels of synovial fluid were determined before and after addition of sodium citrate in a group of 15 patients with pseudogout syndrome. 15 patients with osteoarthritis served as control group. In 12 of the patients with pseudogout the calcium levels were statistically significantly different from the controls. the authors have reviewed the clinical, radiological and laboratory aspects of pseudogout and discussed the possible pathophysiological mechanisms which could account for the difference in calcium levels following the addition to the laboratory diagnosis of pseudogout syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The influence of developmental haemostasis on the laboratory diagnosis and management of haemostatic disorders during infancy and childhood.

The physiology of the hemostatic system in children is different from that in adults. Reference ranges for components of the hemostatic system are age dependent. During early childhood, physiologic values may overlap with values observed in congenital deficiencies of acquired pathological conditions. Physiologically decreased plasma concentrations of hemostatic components also influence the response to antithrombotic therapy. The relevance of developmental hemostasis for the laboratory diagnosis and management of hemorrhagic and thrombotic disorders during childhood is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Practical application of receiver operating characteristic curve on laboratory diagnosis].

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve represents characteristics specific to an examination (diagnostic sensitivity and specificity) and is useful for evaluation and comparison of the diagnostic accuracy. However, the ROC curve is not widely used at present. In this symposium, we showed how to draw this curve and its practical utilization, using as examples the diagnosis of the diabetic and impaired glucose tolerance group and the diagnosis of deep-seated fungal infection and acute myocardial infarction. In the ROC curve, true positive is plotted on the vertical axis and false positive on the horizontal axis. This curve is readily drown and visually shows the diagnostic accuracy that can not be clarified by histograms. The advantages of this curve are as follows. 1. Diagnostic accuracy can be compared. 2. The significance of the reference interval in diagnosis can be evaluated. 3. The diagnostic cut-off value can be determined using this curve. 4. Combined with prevalence, the diagnostic probability can be represented quantitatively. The points that require attention are differences in the ROC curve according to selection of subjects (including controls), the time factor (disease stage) and severity (disease condition). By paying attention to these points, the ROC curve can be used as a simple and useful method in laboratory diagnosis. We hope that this curve will be widely used.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1999

Laboratory diagnosis of dengue virus infection by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Dengue virus infections are a major public health problem in most tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world. Dengue is occasionally imported by travelers who visit tropical areas and become infected with dengue virus. Laboratory diagnosis is essential for confirming the diagnosis of this virus. For purposes of confirmation, detection of specific IgM by IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and of dengue virus genome by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) have recently been used. In the present study, we tested serum specimens from dengue-suspected Japanese cases, by IgM-capture ELISA, RT-PCR, HI, and virus isolation. Serum samples collected before or on the day of defervescence were positive by RT-PCR, though no PCR-positive samples were obtained after fever day 1. IgM-capture ELISA was positive as early as disease day 4, and all samples but one were IgM-positive when collected on disease day 5 or later. In light of these findings, we recommend that both RT-PCR and IgM-capture ELISA be performed, irrespective of the stage of dengue illness. Combination of RT-PCR and IgM-capture ELISA increases the ability to diagnose dengue virus infection, even in the only that a single serum specimen from the patient is available.

Dengue↗
PubMed1986

Laboratory diagnosis of peritonitis in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are constantly exposed to microbial invasion of the peritoneal cavity and rapid microbiological diagnosis of peritonitis is essential. Aseptic peritonitis is diagnosed in a high proportion of episodes when small volumes of dialysate are cultured. The aims of this study were to enumerate the microorganisms associated with clinical peritonitis and compare the efficacy of various culture systems for laboratory diagnosis of peritonitis. Four qualitative culture systems were compared: low (1 ml) volume and high (10 ml) volume inoculations of broth media, centrifugation (10 ml) followed by culture of the sediment and filtration (less than or equal to 100 ml) followed by culture of the filter. The pour plate and drop plate were the 2 quantitative methods used. Results of this study indicate that culture of 10 ml fluid volumes is comparable to culture of larger volumes sampled by filtration. Low volume cultures of fluid resulted in a lower proportion of positive cultures. The low numbers of viable microorganisms often found in dialysate from patients with peritonitis supports the concept of culturing a minimum of 10 ml of fluid.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2000

Laboratory diagnosis of atypical pneumonia.

"Atypical pneumonia" is a term loosely applied to lower respiratory tract infections that are not characterized by signs and symptoms of lobar consolidation. This description can apply to disease caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and even protozoan organisms. In reality, differentiation as to etiology of pneumonia cannot be distinguished on the basis of clinical presentation. This review will discuss the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia sp., Legionella sp., Bordetella pertussis, and Coxiella bumetii, the most common agents associated with atypical pneumonia. Unfortunately, because many of these pathogens are intracellular, culture systems are either not available or the techniques employed are costly, time-consuming or unsafe. Until molecular techniques are standardized and widely available, diagnosis will depend upon serologic confirmation. Given the relative importance of these organisms as causes of community acquired pneumonia, current practice guidelines recommend empiric therapy with a macrolide in patients well enough to be treated as an outpatient. However, diagnostic tests should be performed in any patient requiring hospitalization.

Bordetella Infections↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test for the laboratory diagnosis of adult inclusion conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: The Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test, a rapid enzyme immunoassay, has been reported to be highly sensitive (93%) and specific (96%) for detecting chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antigen in conjunctival specimens from infants, but has not been evaluated previously in adult conjunctival specimens. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test for the laboratory diagnosis of adult inclusion conjunctivitis. METHODS: Twenty Chlamydia culture-positive conjunctival specimens from adults (true-positives) and 20 true-negative specimens were tested with the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test. RESULTS: The Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test was 40% (8/20) sensitive, 100% (20/20) specific, and 70% (28/40) efficient. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test, though highly specific, is less sensitive in its ability to diagnose chlamydial conjunctivitis in adults than has been reported previously in infants.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Laboratory diagnosis of immune inner ear disease.

Immune inner ear disease is a relatively new and distinct clinical entity that produces unexplained, rapidly progressive, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, positive immune laboratory testing, and beneficial response to a trial of corticosteroids. Immune laboratory tests are used to confirm a presumptive clinical diagnosis. The two tests most commonly used are the lymphocyte transformation test and Western blot immune assay. The rationale behind these tests is presented, and the role they play in laboratory diagnosis of immune inner ear disease is discussed.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1997

Current methods of laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are probably the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Commonly unrecognized and often inadequately treated, chlamydial infections can ascend the reproductive tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which often results in the devastating consequences of infertility, ectopic pregnancy, or chronic pelvic pain. C. trachomatis infections are also known to increase the risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. The obligate intracellular life cycle of C. trachomatis has traditionally required laboratory diagnostic tests that are technically demanding, labor-intensive, expensive, and difficult to access. In spite of these historical challenges, however, laboratory diagnosis of C. trachomatis has been a rapidly advancing area in which there is presently a wide array of commercial diagnostic technologies, costs, manufacturers. This review describes and compares the diagnostic methods for C. trachomatis infection that are currently approved for use in the United States, including the newest DNA amplification technologies which are yet to be licensed for commercial use. Issues to consider in selecting a test for purposes of screening versus diagnosis based on prevalence, performance, legal, social, and cost issues are also discussed.

Adolescent↗