Student Ready Entrepreneurial Development in Biotechnology (Bts-422) Startup of Diagnostic Laboratory for Parasites

Abstract

Methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases have stagnated in the last 20-30 years. Few m~or advances in clinical diagnostic testing have been made since the introduction of PCR, although new technologies are being investigated. Many tests that form the backbone of the "'modem" microbiology laboratory are based on very old and labor-intensive technologies such as microscopy for malaria Microscopy remains tbe cornerstone of the laboratory diagnosis of infections due to blood and tissue parasites. Examination of thick and thin peripheral blood smears stained with Giemsa or other appropriate stains is used for detection and identification of species of Plasmodium, Babesia, Trypanosoma, Brugia, Mansonella, and Wuchereria. Even in the bands of well-trained technologists. diagnosis may be hampered by the sparseness of organisms on the slide and by the subjective nature of differentiating similar-appearing organisms. Serologic assays are available for the diagnosis of a number of these infections, but none of these assays arc sensitive or specific enough to be used on their own to establish a diagnosis. In particular, the use of assays for the diagnosis of infection with a particular helminth will often cross-react "ith antibodies to a diiTerent helminth. Very sensitive polymerase chain reaction assays have been developed for a number oftbese parasites and are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from several referral laboratories.