Webinars Archive

Appropriate treatment of patients with influenza depends on accurate and timely diagnosis, and early diagnosis can reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics and provide the option of using antiviral therapy. Diagnostic tests available for influenza include viral culture, serology, rapid antigen testing, reverse transcription PCR, immunofluorescence assays, and rapid molecular assays. Molecular assays are increasingly becoming the diagnostic tests of choice.

Dr. Wallace Greene from Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center discusses converting Pneumocystis jirovecii testing from DFA to molecular.

Dr. Raquel Martinez from Geisinger Medical Laboratories discusses Group B Strep diagnostics and results from the clinical study for Simplexa™ Group B Strep Direct.

Maddalena Peghin, MD, PhD: Herpes Viruses Infections: a clinical overview

Dr. David Boutolleau: Molecular diagnosis of viral meningoencephalitis with the DiaSorin Simplexa solution: experience of the French National Reference Center for Herpesviruses

Michelle Tabb, PhD: A new comprehensive solution for molecular detection of herpetic simplex viruses infections

Whooping cough caused by Bordetella infection has resurged in recent years. Dr. Karissa Culbreath will discuss the clinical presentation of Bordetella infection and its public health impact. The prognostic value of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis detection for Bordetella diagnosis will be reexamined.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) -1 and HSV-2 are common human pathogens and cause a variety of clinical manifestations in pediatric, adolescent, and adult populations. This presentation will discuss the epidemiology of HSV infections, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prevention strategies, and emphasize the appropriate use of and interpretation of diagnostic tests.

Dr. Harrington: Addressing unique sample and data needs associated with neonatal and infant HSV diagnosis

Dr. Chow:  New guidelines on diagnosing C. difficile infection – one size fits all?