Multiplex PCR technologies progressively find their way in clinical microbiology. This technique allows the simultaneous amplification of multiple DNA targets in a single test run for the identification of pathogens up to the species level. Various ...

To receive a maximum benefit from external quality assessment, the laboratory has to fulfill certain requirements. There have to be standard operating procedures and checklists for the correct sample processing and analysis. It is equally important, that ...

Outcome studies and health technology assessment and appraisals have become more and more prominent in regard to the utility of laboratory testing in clinical medicine. In the past years many valuable and useful studies have been published that ...

Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) top the list of drugs with most drug and dietary interactions and they are among the medications with the highest incidence of life-threatening events. The new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been developed to overcome ...

Point of care testing (POCT) allows, among others, for efficient care of patients presenting with acute problems to primary care physicians. A combination of clinical information and laboratory results enables physicians to obtain posttest probabilities ...

More than half of the so called “laboratory errors” has already happened before the analysis starts in the laboratory and many mistakes are made after the analysis itself. Pre- and post-analytical errors cause 60 to 90 % of all unexpected or erroneous ...

Recently, a plenitude of novel laboratory tests has become available for physicians to improve the diagnostic and prognostic work up of patients. Yet, as with all tests, laboratory test can be falsely positive or falsely negative and potentially misguide ...

In Switzerland a general practitioner as well as a specialist needs a qualification to be entitled to do laboratory tests in their private offices and take advantage of health insurance funding. This qualification is reached by accomplishing the so called ...

Reference values are generally used to allow a decision on whether a laboratory value is in the normal range or if it mirrors a pathological process. This decision is especially difficult to take, when the pathological process is just starting and the ...