Alpha 1 Antitrypsin
Denotated as AAT or A1AT. Protein produced in liver. Used to protect the body tissue from infection fighting agents released from their own immune system especially their lungs. Deficiency in AAT is a genetic disorder that is inherited Symptoms usually appear in people between 20 and 50 years old. Can be misdiagnosed as asthma in […]
Monkeypox Part2
Collection of specimens should be done with appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and safeguards in place. Here are monkeypox infection control recommendations in healthcare settings. Specimens should be collected in the following manner: * Use sterile, dry, synthetic swabs (not cotton) with a plastic, wood, or thin aluminum shaft. * Thoroughly swab each lesion with […]
Monkeypox
Monkeypox was once known as an uncommon infection primarily confined to rainforest regions in central and western Africa. Recent cases, however, have emerged in larger numbers in other countries. Some cases have been linked to exposure to exotic animals, but human-to-human transmission is also a major method of spread, especially with this recent outbreak. There […]
HSV1 and 2
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) can be categorized into two types, Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV-1), and Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV-2); both of which rarely exhibit symptoms and have limited treatment options, are becoming increasingly common pathogens. Initial infections occur in openings in the skin or mucus membranes. The virus continues to replicate, and spreads into […]
Quantiferon TB Gold
Tuberculosis is a communicable disease caused by infection with M. tuberculosis complex organisms (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, M. microti, M. canetti and M. caprae), which typically spreads to new hosts via airborne droplet nuclei from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis disease. Solaris Diagnostics Laboratory offers Quantiferon TB Gold Plus (QTF-Plus) assay which uses specialized […]
Enterococcus Faecium
Enterococcus faecium is part of the normal flora in the human and animal intestines. It is a gram-positive bacterium that cause many infections in the urinary tract, wound infection, sepsis, intra-abdominal infection and blood flow infections. It can be transmitted through direct contact or indirect. It can be found on contaminated surfaces or contaminated hands […]
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a gram-negative rod that grows in aerobic conditions. It is a multidrug resistant pathogen associated with hospital acquired infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections. This bacterium is considered an opportunistic organism because it can cause very serious infections in those with preexisting conditions- most notably cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised […]
FT3/FT4
The thyroid is part of the human endocrine system. The hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are considered Amines. The regulation of thyroid hormones is controlled by a negative feedback loop. A negative feedback loop simply means that when levels of hormones within the body are high, hormone production decreases, and visa versa. The thyroid […]
Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone that is produced by both males and females which acts as a chemical messenger throughout the body. Testosterone is produced in the adrenal glands while also being produced at a higher level in the testes of males and in the ovaries of females. Testosterone is an important chemical messenger for a […]
Hemoglobin A1c
Glycated or glycosylated hemoglobin is an assay performed in order to diagnose and monitor treatment for type one and type two diabetes. Most commonly referred to as hemoglobin A1c, this assay was initially isolated from other types of hemoglobin in 1958 via the use of a chromatographic column. However, the correlation between diabetes mellitus and […]