Role of screening tests in rapid testing.
Screening tests have had a major role in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory during recent years. Many factors have contributed to the increased use of these methods. The primary factor is the need for rapid detection and identification of the etiologic agent in life-threatening infections, which include bacterial meningitis, infective endocarditis and septicemia, and pneumonia. Various direct screening methods are also available for eliminating negative specimens rapidly. These methods have had an impact on laboratory work flow and the outpatient population by eliminating the possibility of bacterial infections of the urinary, upper respiratory, and gastrointestinal tracts. Screening methods have also been applied to isolated colonies for the rapid differentiation and identification of certain groups of organisms. Finally, many of these screening methods have contributed to cost-savings for both the laboratory and the patient. In this era of prospective pricing, and until the entrance of biotechnology into the diagnostic microbiology laboratory, the microbiologist must rely upon these rapid, inexpensive screening procedures. The role of these screening tests in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory and their impact on patient care and cost are reviewed herein.
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D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000175:diagnosis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005840:Gentian Violet; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D010619:Phenazines; D011776:Pyuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C035863:Gram's stain; D010619:Phenazines; D005840:Gentian Violet