A recent string of trench fever cases in Denver, Colorado, has brought renewed attention to this infection caused by Bartonella quintana. The name “trench fever” comes from the conditions that soldiers in World War I faced. It was also called “five-day fever” during the war, reflecting the relapsing fever symptom that infected soldiers experienced. We […]
New Case Report: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Bartonella-Associated Skin Lesions
A new case report co-authored by Galaxy Diagnostics scientists highlights the importance of bartonellosis being considered as a differential diagnosis when patients present with neuropsychiatric symptoms and skin lesions. History Bartonellosis is an emerging multi-system vector-borne disease caused by one or more bacteria belonging to the Bartonella genus. Common Bartonella species infections such as cat […]
5 Questions to Discuss with Your Physician When Bartonellosis Is Suspected
Laboratory tests are important tools that physicians use to diagnose patients. When it comes to stealth pathogens, however, testing is often only a piece of the puzzle. Physicians must understand the pathogens and the symptoms they may cause as well as assess the likelihood that the patient is infected to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. […]
In Remembrance: Neil Lee Spector, MD
We lost an incredible friend, patient advocate, and research partner on June 14, 2020. Dr. Neil Spector meant so much to so many people, and his contributions to patient advocacy and advancing research in the tick-borne disease community will be sorely missed. Many people and organizations have paid tribute to Neil’s life and work. We […]
A One Health Look at Coronaviruses: How They Affect Humans, Dogs, Cats, and More
Calling SARS-CoV-2 “the coronavirus” has created a lot of confusion. “Wait, my cat had coronavirus last year, what was that?” Or “My son was sick with a cold at last year and my doctors said it might be coronavirus. Was there coronavirus last year?” SARS-CoV-2 is a “novel” coronavirus. “Novel” means “new” or at least […]
How do patients find a blood draw service once they have a kit?
Patients who receive Galaxy’s kits often require assistance finding a service to collect the samples. The novel coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated this issue for specialty laboratory testing specifically. Many physicians have converted their practices to telemedicine and hospitals have put stricter guidelines into place, leaving patients to find other means for specimen collection. Phlebotomy is […]
