Since 1994, as part of the global eradication of poliomyelitis, the Australian National Polio Reference Laboratory (NPRL) at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) has been responsible for virological testing to confirm the absence of poliomyelitis in Australia. Samples from patients with acute flaccid paralysis are transported to VIDRL for viral culture. Polio and enter...

OBJECTIVES In a pilot implementation project of the microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility methodology, we conducted a process evaluation to identify health system and logistic challenges that need to be addressed in order to harness the benefits of rolling out promising new diagnostic tools for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB). METHODS Regional data relating to health system pra...

a Clinical Biochemistry and Genetics, Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, 820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada b Laboratory Medicine, University of Alberta Hospitals, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada c Victoria Reference Laboratory, Life Labs, 7862 Scohon Pl, Saanichton, BC, Canada d Clinical Chemistry, DynaLIFEDx, 200-10150 102 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada e Pathology and Laboratory Me...

INTRODUCTION Fine-grained influenza surveillance data are lacking in the US, hampering our ability to monitor disease spread at a local scale. Here we evaluate the performances of high-volume electronic medical claims data to assess local and regional influenza activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used electronic medical claims data compiled by IMS Health in 480 US locations to create weekly reg...

POLIOMYELITIS, ASEPTIC MENINGITIS AND ENCEPHALITIS, 1955, 1956 AND 1957. Paralytic Poliomyelitis. The laboratory diagnosis of poliomyelitis has been undertaken in the department since August, 1955. Our aim has been to receive specimens from all notified paralytic cases, and in practice, thanks to the co-operation of the physicians, we have received specimens from over (seems) 95 per cent. of th...