SERVICES
Molecular Tests
Molecular diagnostics is a collection of techniques used to diagnose and monitor disease, detect risk, and decide which therapies will work best for individual patients.
Direct detection of DNA or RNA of the pathogen via real-time PCR, allows early and highly specific diagnosis, thus leading to a fast and selective treatment regime of the individual patient.
Our laboratory can deliver PCR analysis for Diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted infections: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Including HCV, HBV and HIV assays using rapid PCR detection methods that deliverer high sensitivity and specificity.
HPV DNA test for the detection of HPV virus based on a genotype assay. Genetics tests offers great detection sensitivity and aim at tracing and identifying the virus even in the early stages of infection. This is the only method that contributes to the determination of the type of the virus. This analysis is critical, as it predicts if the sub-type of HPV detected has the possibility to evolve to wart or mild atypia in cervical intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN-III).
The rapid real-time PCR test is robust and able to reliably detect the presence of Group B streptococcus (GBS) in women in labour within 1hr of specimen submission to the laboratory. It is recommended that the rapid PCR test be targeted to women who present in labor with unknown GBS status as it provides reliable results 48hrs faster than culture and helps making appropriate decisions regarding continuing or stopping antibiotics for neonates born to women with unknown GBS status.
A revolutionary approach for testing multiple pathogens in a single test reaction can be achieved by multiplexing analysis. Isolating nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) from a given sample and in-one-go performs RT-PCR analysis on multiple pathogen targets. Other RT-PCR technologies require several days and target just a single pathogen. Now with multiplexing the sensitivity and specificity can be achieved, delivering in just 1hr results for a large pool of targets.
Benefits of multiplexing
Multiplex molecular syndromic testing gives answers that are more accurate, comprehensive, and actionable for real-life decisions in critical care.
This technology can provide definitive diagnosis in about 1 hour, allowing timely decisions about treatment, hospital admission, infection control, antimicrobial stewardship and outbreak tracking. In addition, multiplex molecular syndromic testing greatly reduces inefficiencies, uncertainties, and mistakes.
What can multiplexing analysis target?
Our laboratory at the moment offers two multiplex panels each designed specifically to target viral and bacterial pathogens. The first multiplex panel targets causative organism that cause acute respiratory tract infections and the other gastrointestinal tract infections.