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COVID-19 Molecular Testing
Molecular diagnostics is a collection of techniques used to analyze biological markers in the genome and proteome—the individual’s genetic code and how their cells express their genes as proteins—by applying molecular biology to medical testing. The technique is used to diagnose and monitor disease, detect risk, and decide which therapies will work best for individual patients.
As the primary clinical manifestation of COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, PCR tests are generally used to test samples obtained from the upper or lower respiratory tract. Appropriate upper respiratory sample types include a nasopharyngeal swab or a throat swab.
Currently there are two types of diagnostic tests— molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material, and antigen tests that detect specific proteins from the virus.
Specimen Volume Returns at Dallas-based ProPath
CEO SUMMARY: Like other physician specialties, anatomic pathology saw a dramatic collapse in the number of daily procedures with a corresponding decline in cash flow as the COVID-19 pandemic hit with full force in March, April, and May. The good news is that the daily volume of tissue…
Wisconsin Lab Network Feeds Valuable Data to State Health Lab
CEO SUMMARY: From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 138-member Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network has reported to the state health lab the number of COVID-19 tests, the number of positive results, as well as other data that includes data on lab testing supplies and ca…
Thermo–Qaigen Merger Stopped, More IVDs Report Q2 Earnings
EACH TIME A MAJOR IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS (IVD) COMPANY reports its quarterly earnings, clinical lab executives and pathologists gain useful new perspectives as to how the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling demand for IVD instruments, tests, and lab consumables. In this round-up of the most r…
UHC Ready to Implement New Lab Test Registry
CEO SUMMARY: UnitedHealthcare announced that its new Test-Registry Protocol will become effective on Jan. 1, 2021, creating a major billing hurdle for labs and pathology groups. By that date, a lab must register each type of test before it can submit claims for these tests to the nati…
UHC Issues Details about How Labs Register Tests
CEO SUMMARY: As of January 1, UnitedHealthcare will require all clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups to register every type of test before labs can bill for those tests. Not only is the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting normal activity, but the administrative burden UHC is i…
In Just 13 Days, Lab Buys, Validates & Uses Analyzer
CEO SUMMARY: In response to the nationwide outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, clinical labs are introducing new analyzers whenever possible to boost testing capacity. Pre-pandemic, buying and installing new instruments could take at least two months, and that timeline can go longer now. But beca…
IVD Firms Report Boom in Sales of COVID-19 Instruments, Tests
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, second quarter earnings reports were a good news/bad news situation for most of the nation’s major in vitro diagnostic (IVD) companies. The good news was that demand for COVID-19 tests meant increased sales and revenues for IVD firms selling those…
Is COVID-19 Pooled Testing Good for Labs, Bad for IVDs?
This is an excerpt of a 1,420-word article in the July 13, 2020 issue of THE DARK REPORT (TDR). The full article is available to members of The Dark Intelligence Group. CEO SUMMARY: Pooled testing for COVID-19 could be a double-edged sword for clinical labs and in vitro diagnos…
It’s a Clinical Lab Moment … But No Advocates!
Nearly every day since the onset of the SARS-C0V-2 outbreak, there have been stories in the national news about clinical laboratory testing for COVID-19. No laboratory professional alive today has seen such an endless stream of news stories about clinical lab testing. This is a once-in-a-lifetime …
COVID-19 Pooled Testing: Good for Labs? Not IVDs?
CEO SUMMARY: Pooled testing for COVID-19 could be a double-edged sword for clinical labs and in vitro diagnostics companies. Offering the advantage of reducing the number of standard tests for SARS-CoV-2, this testing method would cut lab spending on tests and testing supplie…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXI, No. 6 – April 29, 2024
Laboratory managers will want to note that The Dark Report itself was targeted by the fraudsters who hit Change Health in a cyberattack. Also, one lab has some innovative methods of combatting the chronic staffing shortage, including hiring college graduates and students.
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