Colon Cancer: An Overview of Introduction, Types, Pathogenesis,Lab Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Keynotes

Introduction Colon cancer is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy originating from the inner lining (mucosal epithelium) of the large intestine. It ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While historically more common in older individuals, the incidence has steadily risen in younger …

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Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory & Quality Assurance Examination

Negative MGIT tube (left) with clear medium versus a positive MGIT tube (right) showing characteristic granular mycobacterial clumping at the bottom

Encircle the correct Answer of the Following question. 1) What is the full form of LQAS? 2) What are the components of the Quality Assurance system? 3) LQAS is based on… 4) GeneXpert testing detects… 5) The slide positivity rate is determined in LQAS is …

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HLA -B27 Test: Introduction, Principle, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Interpretation of HLA-B27 Result_page-0001

Introduction HLA-B27 (Human Leukocyte Antigen B27) is a specific genetic variant of the HLA-B gene located on chromosome 6. While HLA proteins normally help the immune system distinguish between the body’s own cells and foreign invaders, the B27 variant is a well-known risk factor for …

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Second-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing (SL-DST) for Tuberculosis:Introduction, Principle, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, and Keynotes

Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the BACTEC MGIT 960 system

Introduction Second-line drug susceptibility testing (SL-DST) for tuberculosis is a crucial laboratory procedure designed to detect resistance to anti-TB drugs used when first-line treatment fails (i.e., multidrug-resistant TB – MDR-TB).  Principle SL-DST measures the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to specific agents by determining the Critical …

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Xpert MTB/RIF: Introduction, Principle, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, Uses, and Keynotes

GeneXpert® Xpert® MTBRIF Test Result- MTB Detected (Very Low) and Rifampicin Resistance Not Detected

Introduction The Xpert MTB/RIF assay is an automated, cartridge-based molecular test used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance, the most potent first-line anti-TB drug. Endorsed by the WHO in 2010, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay revolutionized TB diagnosis by providing results in less than two …

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Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra: Introduction, Principle, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, Uses, and Keynotes

GeneXpert Dx System software interface displaying a completed diagnostic result for an Xpert MTB-RIF Ultra assay

Introduction Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is an automated diagnostic test designed for the rapid and simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampin (RIF). It is a second-generation assay developed by Cepheid to provide significantly higher sensitivity than the original Xpert MTB/RIF, particularly for …

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IGRA (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay) Test-Introduction, Principle, Test Requirement, Procedure, Result-Interpretation, and Keynotes

Introduction An Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) is a modern blood test used to identify if a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is primarily used to detect latent TB infection (LTBI) and to aid in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis disease.  Principle The test is based on the fact …

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Coccidioides-Antigen Testing: Introduction, Purpose, How it works, When it’s used, Types of antigen tests, Limitation, and More

Introduction Coccidioides antigen testing, used to diagnose coccidioidomycosis (also known as valley fever),  detects the presence of fungal antigens in bodily fluids like urine, serum, or cerebrospinal fluid. This aids in faster and more accurate diagnosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those with severe disease.  …

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