New article in The Pathologist reports on shifting clinical needs
Molecular diagnostics will be a critical part of microbial testing, especially in the battle against antibiotic resistance, according to a recent article in The Pathologist from Luminex’s own Sherry Dunbar, Sr. Director of Global Scientific Affairs, and Gunjot Rana, Product Manager for Gastrointestinal and Hospital Acquired Infections.
In “Molecules Against Microbes,” Dunbar and Rana write about evolving approaches to microbial testing, including molecular assays, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and more. “From determining targets to performing tests in the lab or at the patient’s bedside, the entire process of microbial assays is undergoing a shift that should dramatically enhance care and outcomes for patients,” they report.
The article delves into ongoing trends in microbial testing — including rapid testing, better target selection and the use of flexible test masking, sample to answer workflows, centralization and decentralization patterns, and point-of-impact testing not only for microbial strain identification but also for detection of drug resistance markers.
“Though we cannot anticipate every change that will affect microbial testing in the next few years,” Dunbar and Rana write, “we can safely predict that most advances will be developed to support recognized needs in clinical labs today: streamlined workflows and information systems, cost-effective and accurate tests, rapid generation of results, and ultimately, better outcomes.” They conclude that innovation will be centered around increasing flexibility for clinical labs to meet ever-changing demands of geography, seasonality, and more.
Read the full article from The Pathologist, October 2017 issue here: Molecules Against Microbes
Check out other blogs that discuss antimicrobial stewardship:
- Investment Needed in Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Vanderbilt Clinical Labs Choose VERIGENE® Blood Culture Tests
