CLINICAL
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
Read articles about clinical microbiology from Microbiologics’ experts and other field experts. Learn about clinical lab best practices, case files, identifying viral, fungal, bacterial, and parasitic agents contributing to the infectious process, and more.
The Necessity of External Controls
This post on external quality controls is the first in our series on Optimal QC in the Clinical Laboratory, which also covers third-party controls and IVD labelled controls. By principle, quality control (QC) in the clinical laboratory must subject all...
Comparing and Contrasting Traditional and Molecular Methods in Clinical Microbiology
An Interview with Julie Laramie, MS-CLS, MLS (ASCP)CM, SMCM Significant technological advancements have changed the world of clinical diagnostics. For instance, the application of molecular biology to clinical microbiology has decreased turn-around-times for some...
The Role of Diagnostics in Preventing HPV Infection and Related Cancers
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), in part because many experience no symptoms, so it is unknowingly passed between partners. This is why it is considered to be the “silent STI.” HPV is a viral infection that may result...
Top Ten Best Practices for Streak Plating
Streak plating is an indispensable tool in microbiology. It is so fundamental, that it is often overlooked. We have compiled a list of best practices to help you master your technique, save time, and avoid errors in your laboratory. The streak plate method relies on...
How Clinical Laboratories Are Adapting to Covid-19 Challenges
An Interview with a Diagnostic Laboratory Director For every major challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, many lesser-known difficulties have multiplied the complexities of laboratory diagnostics. Logistical issues, for example, continue to impact the speed and...
The Unique Challenges of Drug Resistant Gonorrhea
When penicillin went into widespread use during WWII, it became known as “the wonder drug” for its revolutionary impact on infections. In addition to its ability to treat war wounds, it also dramatically changed treatment of common infections, including STIs like...
Women’s Health & STI Quiz
According to the World Health Organization, over one million sexually transmitted infections are contracted every day. Infection rates have been steadily increasing, reaching new records each year since 2014, but public awareness of STIs is not keeping pace. How much...
The Public Health Crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance
What if the latest tech device had all the bells and whistles everyone wanted and was far better than anything currently being sold, but the marketer was told he could not sell it until all the previous versions of his device had broken? And then, he had to sell his...
The Sustained Increase in STIs
Less than 20 years ago, STIs were at historic lows. Syphilis was close to elimination. In 2021, however, sexually transmitted infections are at an all-time high, yet the importance of prevention and screening seems to have fallen by the wayside. Recent statistics...
Celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2021
In a time when we have come to rely on medical laboratory professionals more and more, we also run the risk of taking their work for granted. Their work is so integral to our health and everyday life that most people rarely take notice. Medical Laboratory...
