Despite existing recommendations, blood culture is overused in patients with suspected, uncomplicated cellulitis, according to a research letter published April 2 in JAMA Internal … [Read more...]
PRECISION MEDICINE
New Study Provides Most Comprehensive Overview of Genetic Test Development, Usage and Spending
June 11, 2018
As might be expected, there has been rapid growth in genetic test availability and spending on these tests since 2014. But, comprehensive new collaborative analysis conducted by Concert Genetics … [Read more...]
EMERGING TESTS
Expanded Carrier Screening IDs Rare Variants in Diverse Populations
June 4, 2018
Expanded next-generation sequencing-based carrier screening improves detection of rare and novel pathogenic variants even in a pan-ethnic population, according to a study published May 10 in the … [Read more...]
TOP OF THE NEWS
Genetic Testing Emerges As New Trendy Workplace Benefit
May 29, 2018
West Coast technology companies competing for talent in a tight job market have begun offering novel health-related benefits, like overnight breast-milk shipping and elective egg freezing. … [Read more...]
PUBLIC HEALTH
HCV Screening Rates Very Low Among Exposed Infants
May 29, 2018
The number of pregnant women infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is growing rapidly due to the opioid epidemic, yet most prenatally infected children are not being screened, despite the risk that … [Read more...]
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Home-Based Hospital Care Model Cuts Lab Utilization
May 29, 2018
Hospital care is notoriously expensive and potentially risky for older adults. There is interest in the home-hospital concept where acute services are provided in a patient's home, with the hope of … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Men Undergo Hereditary Cancer Testing Less Frequently Than Women
May 29, 2018
Unaffected men undergo genetic cancer testing at half the rate of unaffected women, according to a research letter published April 26 in JAMA Oncology. This disparity in testing is attributable to a … [Read more...]
EMERGING TESTS
Current Testing Criteria Miss Breast Cancer Mutations
May 28, 2018
Women who do not meet breast cancer genetic testing criteria have a similar number of cancer-associated mutations as women who do meet the criteria, according to two separate studies presented at the … [Read more...]
TOP OF THE NEWS
Screening Blood Donations for Zika, Costly With Low Yields
May 22, 2018
Screening the entire U.S. blood supply for Zika virus may not be worth the $42 million price tag. Fifteen months of screening all donations to the American Red Cross yielded only nine Zika-positive … [Read more...]
EMERGING TESTS
Genetic Risk Score Could Improve Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation
May 14, 2018
A genetic risk score (GRS) may identify patients at highest risk for developing atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published March 13 in PLOS Medicine. The authors say that patients with a … [Read more...]
