Previously known as Flavobacterium meningosepticum, and more recently as Chryseobacterium meningosepticum, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water. Although it is rarely isolated from clinical specimens, this organism is resistant to several classes of antimicrobials and is capable of causing infection in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, skin and soft tissue, the respiratory […]
Frequently, physicians order laboratory procedures that require the collection of testing samples at specific times. These are referred to as ‘timed’ tests. Due to the importance of the time the specimen is collected in relationship to the drug dosing, it is very important that the laboratory be contacted a minimum of 12 hours prior to […]
NICL Laboratories will be providing new rapid molecular tests to aid in diagnosis of blood stream infections which could lead to sepsis. These new tests, called the Verigene® Blood Culture Nucleic Acid BC-GP or BC-GN, are for detection and identification of gram positive and gram negative organisms, respectively. These tests are also capable of detection […]
Vancomycin level monitoring is a topic under constant consideration. Vancomycin trough levels are the preferred test, though Vancomycin peak levels (drawn 3 hours after the dose), may be useful in rare situations when calculation of kinetic parameters are necessary. Vancomycin trough levels should be collected just prior to the 3rd or 4th dose (within 30 […]
Purpose The Laboratory can provide accurate results only if the specimens provided are fresh, properly obtained, labeled and transported. Specimens must also be from sites appropriate for the test ordered and accompanied by a physician’s order and supporting diagnosis for the testing. On occasion it becomes necessary to reject a specimen. This notice outlines some […]
FOR GENITAL SPECIMENS Aptima Unisex Swab Specimens Collection Kit (White Label) FEMALE: Endocervical specimen collected on Aptima Unisex Swab submitted in transport tube. NOTE: Prior to female endocervical specimen collection, excess mucus must be removed with white cleaning swab provided in unisex swab collection kit. Discard white cleaning swab. MALE: Urethral swab collected on Aptima […]
Understanding Postural Pseudoanemia Simple changes in posture can cause wide fluctuations in hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct), due to the redistribution of fluid between the intravascular and interstitial spaces. Plasma volume shifts significantly when a person changes position; after a postural change, restoration of equilibrium may take as long as 20 minutes(1). Standing up from […]
NICL Laboratories is pleased to add Procalcitonin to our in-house esoteric testing menu. This test will be available seven (7) days per week. Procalcitonin (PCT) is the precursor to calcitonin, and a specific marker for detection of severe bacterial infection and sepsis. Noninfectious inflammations need to be extremely severe for an increase in PCT to […]
NICL Laboratories reports a Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He) with the Reticulocyte panel, along with the absolute count, percent, and immature recticulocyte fraction. RET-He measures the hemoglobin content of reticulocytes and is a way of diagnosing and monitoring iron deficiency anemia. Red blood cells have a 120-day lifetime. Detecting iron deficiencies and changes in the iron […]
Guidelines have emerged to increase the sensitivity of assays for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile). The primary two guidelines in the U.S. support the use of testing for a common antigen known as glutamate dehyrogenase (GDH) as a primary screen.1,2 GDH has been shown to have sensitivity levels equivalent to molecular methods. It is produced by […]
