Comparative Cost Analysis Between PCR Testing and DFA Testing for Diagnosing Respiratory Virus Infections

Cost analysis of multiplex PCR testing for diagnosing respiratory virus infections.

We performed a cost analysis study using decision tree modeling to determine whether the use of multiplex PCR testing for respiratory viruses (xTAG RVP test) is a more or less costly strategy than the status quo testing methods used for the diagnosis of respiratory virus infections in pediatric patients. The decision tree model was constructed by using four testing strategies for respiratory vi...

Using PCR and culture methods for Mycoplasma testing

Mycoplasma contaminants can be considered important not only for their roles as pathogens but also they may indicate that insufficient care has been taken during vaccine manufacture or quality control. The purpose of this study was to test the poliomyelitis vaccines for Mycoplasma by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. During 2008 to 2009, a total of 47 lots of oral poliomyelit...

Antigenic variation between rabies virus strains and its relevance in vaccine production and potency testing

Current Best Practices for Respiratory Virus Testing

Diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses has been revolutionized by recent advances that have made rapid and highly accurate tests accessible to clinical laboratories, and it is important that these improved methods be utilized. Accurate detection of respiratory viruses is important in patient care, as it guides both therapy and infection control measures. On a larger scale, the CDC and its c...

Can procalcitonin testing reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections?

Can procalcitonin testing reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections? SIR—Christ-Crain and colleagues have recently reported that procalcitonin (PCT) testing can reduce significantly antibiotic prescribing (from 83% in the control group down to 44% with PCT-guided treatment) in patients admitted with a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) [1]. Clearly, achieving such a large r...