The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection rates may have peaked in late October, but the pandemic flu virus continues to be a potential source of illness in all age groups, including the elderly, according to a new report by Quest Diagnostics Inc. In its most recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends Report, ''Testing for H1N1 in America,'' Quest ...

Have you ever watched House, Grey's Anatomy or any other medical television show and you hear something you know, something you have learned in school, and it gives you goosebumps? I had that feeling one day while I was watching House. We had just learned about chronic granulomatous disease that day, and when I went back home and took a study ...

KISSIMMEE, FL -- Christmas decorations next to palm trees are a fun treat for your Philadelphia-based reporter at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL, where opening remarks for the 15th Annual Meeting of the Association for Molecular Pathology just wrapped up.Tim O'Leary, MD, PhD, chair of the Program Committee, welcomed attendees ...

In a week where the medical community is up in arms about the new mammogram guidelines, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced women should get their first Pap test at age 21, regardless if they are sexually active before then. The ACOG said unnecessary treatment for a rare cancer can happen when ...

Just the other day a question of how to alert physicians of laboratory reflex rules came up. After all, everyone's rules are slightly different. Examples: if the dipstick is positive for blood or leukocyte esterase, perform a microscopic examination of urine sediment; if the triglycerides are elevated, perform a direct LDL cholesterol ...

3M, St. Paul, MN announced today the introduction of the 3M Rapid Detection RSV Test. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infects the lungs and breathing passages and is a common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia in children under 1 year. The Rapid Detection RSV Test is designed to detect the presence of RSV F-protein antigens in ...

Cooperative Diagnostics LLC, Greenwood, SC, recently announced the availability of a new diagnostic assay for Xenotropic Murine Leukemia-Related Virus (XMRV) to assist physicians in the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders potentially caused by the virus. Testing services will also be made available to the general ...

A recent Science Daily article discussed a study that found blood tests for syphilis diagnosis produce false negatives 20-30 percent of the time. The study also found most health professionals don't have access to more reliable tests methods using fluorescent antibody testing or darkfield microscopy. A CDC professional noted a need for a ...

About a month ago, I was visiting with my sister. During our conversation, she brought up that her boyfriend had swine flu. I was concerned for him (and, additionally, for her) but also intrigued because he was the first person I knew who had H1N1. Working for a healthcare magazine, I've read a lot about H1N1 and I bombarded Emily with ...

I had the pleasure of attending the ASCLS Region V Annual Meeting this past week in Watertown, South Dakota.  What a wonderful experience!  I was able to listen to some great talks ranging from healthcare reform, to ''providing the face'' for the medical laboratory scientist, tuberculosis detection and a few others.  The conference ...