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CDC and ClinGen partner to develop expert curated variant list for the genomic community

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Genetic Testing Reference Material Program (GeT-RM) has partnered with the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) to develop a publicly available list of 546 expert curated pathogenic variants in 84 genes for use in next-generation sequencing (NGS) genetic testing.

11 Oct 2021

Rapid molecular assay to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA sequences

The study reported rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 with high sensitivity and specificity in clinical samples.

6 Oct 2021

EKF Diagnostics appoints Luke Daum as Chief Scientific Officer

EKF Diagnostics, the global in vitro diagnostics company, has appointed Luke Daum PhD as Chief Scientific Officer, bringing a wealth of expertise in molecular-based diagnostics to EKF’s leadership team.

From EKF Diagnostics 1 Oct 2021

New AI-based tool improves the diagnosis of breast cancer tumors

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed an AI-based tool that improves the diagnosis of breast cancer tumors and the ability to predict the risk of recurrence.

30 Sep 2021

New discovery greatly improves detection of HPV in the bloodstream

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre researchers have made new findings which greatly improve detection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the bloodstream and could further hone precision treatment of the illness.

27 Sep 2021

Research highlights potentially life-saving screening for HR-HPV–driven head and neck cancers

Cancer causing high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) are responsible for the rising incidence of HR-HPV–driven head and neck cancers (HNC), particularly oropharyngeal cancers (OPC, or throat cancers). Investigators have determined that HR-HPV DNA can be detected in saliva in most patients with HPV-driven OPC at the time of diagnosis. This work highlights a potentially life-saving screening program based on salivary HR-HPV DNA testing for early cancer detection and patient monitoring. Their findings appear in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier.

22 Sep 2021

Owlstone Medical appoints Mark Capone to board of directors

Owlstone Medical, the global leader in Breath Biopsy® for applications in early disease detection and precision medicine, today announced the appointment of Mark Capone, former President and CEO of Myriad Genetics to its Board as an independent non-executive director.

From Owlstone Medical Ltd 17 Sep 2021

Severe COVID-19 linked to increase in autoantibodies

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are substantially more likely to harbor autoantibodies -;antibodies directed at their own tissues or at substances their immune cells secrete into the blood -; than people without COVID-19, according to a new study.

14 Sep 2021

Recognizing viral genomes in quick, ‘CRISP’ ways

Researchers from China recently reviewed the latest advancements, applications, and prospects of virus detection using CRISPR-Cas systems.

27 Aug 2021

Viral load could not predict transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, study finds

The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus is dependent on many factors. Although some in vitro studies indicate that the amount of virus isolated from infected individuals affects the successful rate of virus transmission, whether the viral load carried at the individual level can determine transmissibility was unknown.

16 Aug 2021

Diagnosis of viral infections using micro and nanoscale technologies

In a recent study, the authors provide a review on both micro- and nanoscale technologies that advanced the diagnosis of viral diseases.

3 Aug 2021

New integrative NGS panel for analysis of standard and novel biomarkers in lymphoid neoplasms

Increasing knowledge about genomic biomarkers has facilitated better monitoring and personalized management of patients with B-cell malignant tumors.

29 Jul 2021

Virginia Tech's in-house development of novel SARS-CoV-2 test shows the power of academic labs

In the early days of the pandemic, scientists at Virginia Tech created a COVID-19 testing laboratory and novel test for the virus from scratch.

21 Jul 2021

MIT engineers create new diagnostic nanoparticle that can pinpoint tumor location

Most of the tests that doctors use to diagnose cancer -- such as mammography, colonoscopy, and CT scans -- are based on imaging. More recently, researchers have also developed molecular diagnostics that can detect specific cancer-associated molecules that circulate in bodily fluids like blood or urine.

16 Jul 2021

AMP’s new consensus can promote standardization of PGx gene/allele testing, improve patient care

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostic professional society, today published consensus recommendations to aid in the design and validation of clinical CYP2D6 assays, promote standardization of testing across different laboratories and improve patient care

11 Jun 2021

Innovative protocol that processes saliva samples before testing may improve COVID-19 detection

The collection of nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples for COVID-19 diagnostic testing poses challenges including exposure risk to healthcare workers and supply chain constraints. Saliva samples are easier to collect but can be mixed with mucus or blood, and some studies have found they produce less accurate results.

10 Jun 2021

Researchers validate new COVID-19 test kit that could spur the expansion of more rapid testing

Simon Fraser University researchers have validated a faster, cheaper COVID-19 test that could kickstart the expansion of more widespread rapid testing. Study results have been published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

22 May 2021

AMP and APC urge congress to pass the VITAL Act

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) and the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC) commend U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) for introducing legislation that would allow molecular pathology professionals to continue advancing and offering high-quality laboratory developed testing procedures (LDPs) for patient care.

19 May 2021

New COVID-19 testing technology is a cheaper, faster alternative to tube-based RT-PCR tests

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain shortages of reagents and test kits have limited the rapid expansion of clinical testing needed to contain the virus.

18 May 2021

New testing technology can accurately differentiate between viral and bacterial infections

When patients complain of coughing, runny nose, sneezing and fever, doctors are often stumped because they have no fundamental tool to identify the source of the respiratory symptoms and guide appropriate treatments.

4 May 2021