scholarly journals Malaria over-diagnosis in Cameroon: diagnostic accuracy of Fluorescence and Staining Technologies (FAST) Malaria Stain and LED microscopy versus Giemsa and bright field microscopy validated by polymerase chain reaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Parsel ◽  
Steven A. Gustafson ◽  
Edward Friedlander ◽  
Alexander A. Shnyra ◽  
Aderosoye J. Adegbulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Bright Field ◽  
Bright Field Microscopy ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Direct Panfungal Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Performed on Stained Cytology Slides

2021 ◽  
pp. 030098582199156
Author(s):  
Alexandra N. Myers ◽  
Unity Jeffery ◽  
Zachary G. Seyler ◽  
Sara D. Lawhon ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Fungal Culture ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Identification Of Fungi ◽  
Fungal Dna ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Panfungal Pcr ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Molecular techniques are increasingly being applied to stained cytology slides for the diagnosis of neoplastic and infectious diseases. Such techniques for the identification of fungi from stained cytology slides have not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of direct (without nucleic acid isolation) panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing for identification of fungi and oomycetes on stained cytology slides from dogs, cats, horses, and other species. Thirty-six cases were identified with cytologically identifiable fungi/oomycetes and concurrent identification via fungal culture or immunoassay. Twenty-nine controls were identified with no cytologically or histologically visible organisms and a concurrent negative fungal culture. Direct PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer region followed by sequencing was performed on one cytology slide from each case and control, and the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were calculated. The sensitivity of the panfungal PCR assay performed on stained cytology slides was 67% overall, 73% excluding cases with oomycetes, and 86% when considering only slides with abundant fungi. The specificity was 62%, which was attributed to amplification of fungal DNA from control slides with no visible fungus and negative culture results. Direct panfungal PCR is capable of providing genus- or species-level identification of fungi from stained cytology slides. Given the potential of panfungal PCR to amplify contaminant fungal DNA, this assay should be performed on slides with visible fungi and interpreted in conjunction with morphologic assessment by a clinical pathologist.

scholarly journals High Resolution CHEST CT(HRCT) Evaluation in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maulin Patel ◽  
Junad Chowdhury ◽  
Matthew Zheng ◽  
Osheen Abramian ◽  
Steven Verga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Polymerase Chain

AbstractIntroductionCurrently the main diagnostic modality for COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-2019) is reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) via nasopharyngeal swab which has high false negative rates. We evaluated the performance of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging in the diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 infection compared to RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab alone in patients hospitalized for suspected COVID-19 infection.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 324 consecutive patients admitted to Temple University Hospital. All hospitalized patients who had RT-PCR testing and HRCT were included in the study. HRCTs were classified as Category 1, 2 or 3. Patients were then divided into four groups based on HRCT category and RT-PCR swab results for analysis.ResultsThe average age of patients was 59.4 (±15.2) years and 123 (38.9%) were female. Predominant ethnicity was African American 148 (46.11%). 161 patients tested positive by RT-PCR, while 41 tested positive by HRCT. 167 (52.02%) had category 1 scan, 63 (19.63%) had category 2 scan and 91 (28.35%) had category 3 HRCT scans. There was substantial agreement between our radiologists for HRCT classification (κ = 0.64). Sensitivity and specificity of HRCT classification system was 77.6 and 73.7 respectively. Ferritin, LDH, AST and ALT were higher in Group 1 and D-dimers levels was higher in Group 3; differences however were not statistically significant.ConclusionDue to its high infectivity and asymptomatic transmission, until a highly sensitive and specific COVID-19 test is developed, HRCT should be incorporated into the assessment of patients who are hospitalized with suspected COVID-19.Key PointsKey QuestionCan High Resolution CT chest (HRCT) improve diagnostic accuracy of current Nasopharyngeal swab in suspected COVID-19 patients?Bottom LineIn this retrospective analysis, our novel HRCT classification identified 20% of all COVID-19 patients who had negative nasopharyngeal reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests but had HRCT findings consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia. These patients were ruled out for other infections and laboratory markers were similar to other RT-PCR positive patientsWhy Read onOur new HRCT classification when combined with RT-PCR can improve diagnostic accuracy while promptly improving triaging in COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals DETERMINATION OF DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS (CRP, LDH & FERRITIN) IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF COVID-19 IN SUSPECTED COVID CASES

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1722-26
Author(s):  
Tayyaba Ashiq ◽  
Abdus Sattar ◽  
Nasir Uddin ◽  
Qamar Bashir ◽  
Sajida Shaheen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Poor Predictor ◽  
Lactate Dehydrogenase C ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Lactate Dehydrogenase, C-Reactive Protein and Ferritin in suspected patients of COVID-19. Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study. Place and Duration of Study: Pathology department of Combined Military Hospital Lahore in the month of May 2020. Methodology: We included 101 adult (>18 years) symptomatic suspected COVID-19 patients of both genders. Children, pregnant women and asymptomatic patients were excluded from study. Age, gender and results of Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Lactate Dehydrogenase, C-Reactive Protein, ferritin were recorded. Results: Lactate Dehydrodenase had highest sensitivity (75%) with positive predictive value of 71.6% and diagnostic accuracy of 65.3% among three biochemical parameters studied. Receiver Operator Characteristic curve was studied. Area under curve of Lactate Dehydrogenase (AUC=0.65) and Ferritin (AUC=0.59) reflected their ability to prognosticate the presence of COVID19 disease. However, C-Reactive Protein (AUC=0.42) appeared to be a poor predictor of the disease. Conclusion: Raised serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (>490 U/L) and Ferritin (>152 ng/L) levels can be used to predict the Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction positivity for COVID-19 in the population of suspected patients of COVID19. However, C-Reactive Protein is a poor predictor of COVID-19.

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