Tick-Borne Illness Detection by HNL Lab Medicine
In the Lab: Developing Tick-Borne Illness Detections
Join HNL Lab Medicine in celebrating the outstanding scientific contributions of Tara Hummel, Lab Technologist; Georgia Colasante, Technical Specialist; and Keana Makari, Lab Technologist. These brilliant laboratory scientists developed a new lab test with DiaSorin Molecular to detect the causes of tick-borne illnesses like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis.
Cases of these infections are increasing in part because of ecological changes and expanding tick habitats, making new diagnostic options more important than ever. The exceptional work of these scientists is advancing the detection and diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.
Their Test and Study
As tick-borne infections become more common, better testing methods are needed to detect them. Traditional methods can be very effective, but they require multiple stages and experienced lab scientists to perform, which can be difficult and time-consuming. In addition to the complexity of testing, these infections can be hard to diagnose with traditional methods because the signs of infection can be difficult to see.
A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test works by creating millions of copies of a particular DNA segment, making it easier to analyze. In their study, Tara, Georgia, and Keana simplified this process by developing a streamlined PCR test with the DiaSorin Molecular PCR platform. They tested blood samples suspected of having these infections and compared the results of their new PCR test with traditional blood smear and other PCR tests from different labs.
The Results
Current PCR tests need skilled lab workers to do complex and time-consuming procedures, which can be challenging due to the lab scientist shortage. Tara, Georgia, and Keana optimized their test without the need for DNA extraction and for a format that can handle up to eight samples at once, making it faster and easier to use in clinical labs. The new test also showed perfect accuracy in detecting the infections!
Overall, their study showed that this new PCR test is simple, reliable, and can quickly detect the causes of three common tick-borne infections – Anaplasma, Babesia, and Ehrlichia – without the need for complicated procedures. Their test is also more sensitive and can identify low levels of the pathogens that cause these diseases. This makes it a valuable tool for labs to diagnose these infections accurately and timely.
Congratulations to the Team!
HNL Lab Medicine is committed to advancing lab science, and the work of Tara Hummel, Georgia Colasante, and Keana Makari exemplifies this dedication. Their work enhances patient care at HNL Lab Medicine by providing faster and more accurate diagnostic techniques. This innovation has the ability to transform how we diagnose and treat these infections, leading to better outcomes for patients. Their exceptional contributions highlight the remarkable talent and passion that drive our pursuit of excellence in laboratory medicine.
In addition to the publication, Tara recently presented their work at the American Society for Microbiology’s Microbe Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Congratulations to Tara, Georgia, and Keana for their remarkable achievements! To learn more about their research, read their publication “Sample-to-answer direct real-time PCR detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp., and Babesia spp. infections in whole-blood specimens” in Microbiology Spectrum.