The T2Bacteria Panel (T2Biosystems; Lexington, Mass.) can rapidly and accurately diagnoses bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by five common bacteria, according to a study published May 14 in the … [Read more...]
PUBLIC HEALTH
CDC Announces Shortage of TB Skin Test Antigen, New TB Testing Guidelines
August 12, 2019
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a three-to 10-month national shortage of Aplisol (Par Pharmaceuticals; Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.), one of two purified-protein derivative … [Read more...]
TESTING STRATEGY
Upfront Next-Generation Sequencing for Lung Cancer Patients Saves Time, Money
August 5, 2019
Use of upfront next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing at diagnosis of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) is associated with substantial cost savings, according to a study … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Genetic Testing Guidelines for Hereditary Cancer Miss Many At Risk
July 28, 2019
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network genetic testing criteria for hereditary cancer miss almost one in five at-risk for breast and ovarian cancer, and more than one in three at-risk for Lynch … [Read more...]
GENETIC TESTING
Expanded Access to Genetic Testing for Cardiomyopathy Is Cost Effective
July 22, 2019
Expansion of genetic testing in asymptomatic relatives of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) to guide clinical surveillance is cost-effective, according to a study published in Genetics in … [Read more...]
GENETIC TESTING
Guidelines at a Glance
July 22, 2019
Screening for HIV Published June 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for HIV infection in adolescents and … [Read more...]
TESTING STRATEGY
Routine Urine Test Can Screen for Medication Adherence at Primary Care Visit
July 22, 2019
A single urine spot sample can be used to objectively screen for nonadherence to diabetes medications in the primary care setting, according to a study published in the June issue of Diabetes Care. … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Raising Urinary Tract Infection Threshold Cuts Unnecessary Antibiotic Use, Without Harming Patients
July 8, 2019
Raising the laboratory threshold for identifying potential urinary tract infections (UTIs) may prevent unnecessary antibiotic treatment in nearly a third of asymptomatic bacteriuria and candiduria … [Read more...]
TESTING STRATEGY
Rule-In Using High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin May Misdiagnose Heart Attacks
June 17, 2019
One in 20 patients without clinical suspicion of acute myocardial infarction has a high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) level greater than the recommended upper limit of normal (ULN), … [Read more...]
PUBLIC HEALTH
Partnerships, IT Solutions Improve Infectious Disease Diagnostic Stewardship
June 10, 2019
Appropriate use of testing is becoming a greater challenge, given the growing number of available diagnostic tests and their increasing complexity. While unnecessary or inappropriate testing can lead … [Read more...]
