Viruses are simple in structure and function compared to bacteria or unicellular parasites, yet their presence often leads to identifiable disease patterns as well as nonspecific symptoms for both humans and animals. Like other pathogens, viruses are detected and characterized from patient samples using various testing techniques. Introduction Viruses are infectious particles that rely on […]
The Impact of Host Response on COVID-19
Bartonella species are complex bacteria that cause non-specific, multi-systemic symptoms in people and animals. The presence of these bacteria as well as many other infectious pathogens leads to differing symptoms between individuals because of variations in host responses. These differences in severity and duration of symptoms have also been observed in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. […]
Novel Pathogens Come Out of Old Stories
In late 2019, Chinese doctors noticed an unusual number of cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS can be caused by a wide variety of issues ranging from pancreatitis to brain injuries to severe pneumonia. The condition went through several layers of scientific description before we reached the point today where it is called […]
What happens when reliable testing is not available? Lessons from Tick-borne Disease
In the United States as testing problems mounted for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19), tick-borne disease patients recognized something they have experienced. Physicians rely on clinical symptoms as well as diagnostic testing to make treatment decisions. The more accurate a test is for a specific disease then the more certain a […]
Why does so much money go toward counting mice?
Individuals eager to see funding for better treatments for tick-borne disease can be frustrated to see research dollars going toward studies counting mice. Why do public health research funds go to studying wild mice? Mice and other mammals are a crucial part of disease transmission that involves fleas and ticks. A common misconception is that […]
Why Does Sample Temperature Affect Test Validity?
Our staff is often asked, “Why is a frozen icepack necessary for sample shipments?” The short answer is that test results are less reliable when samples experience temperature fluctuations in transit. Here’s the long answer… Galaxy Diagnostics currently offers two types of diagnostic testing for flea- and tick-borne pathogens: molecular and serology. Molecular assays, such […]