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Khabre desk
Recent reporting, analysis and explainers from the diagnostics desk.
health
A medRxiv preprint reports that NG-TEST Acineto-5 detected all targeted carbapenemases in a 433-isolate evaluation, with no false positives among isolates lacking them. Four of five Acinetobacter radioresistens isolates carrying an intrinsic OXA-23-like gene produced weak positive signals.
health
A statistical model estimated that testing for recent tuberculosis infection could reduce the median number of people needed for a vaccine trial by 4.2- to 6-fold compared with long-lasting IGRA positivity under favourable conditions. The estimates are preprint model results, and the authors say candidate tests still need to be characterised.
health
A medRxiv preprint reports that label-free imaging of 10 μL whole-blood samples distinguished sepsis from other critical illness and healthy controls in a prospective study. The study included 29 critically ill adults, so its performance findings are preliminary.
health
A preprint simulation estimates that faster, strategically placed PCR laboratories could avert more future deaths in the modeled 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic. The projections depend on assumed epidemic-control conditions and are not results from a laboratory deployment.
health
A medRxiv preprint reports that protein profiles from the esophageal String Test distinguished active eosinophilic esophagitis from healthy and reflux-disease groups. The exploratory findings point to a mix of inflammatory, epithelial and tissue-remodelling proteins.
science
A Purdue University team reports a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detecting Balamuthia mandrillaris. In laboratory testing, the assay detected multiple isolates with higher sensitivity than conventional PCR and produced a visible colour-based result.
health
A medRxiv preprint describes a modified endpoint QuIC assay that detected prion seeding activity in sporadic CJD brain samples within six hours, with some results available in two hours. The assay showed 100% sensitivity and specificity in the reported CSF testing.