This section is intended to assist researchers in choosing testing options and methodologies. Technology is rapidly changing and updating, as such, this compendium is not exhaustive.
Testing.com Website
The Testing.com site was developed to help the general public understand clinical lab tests, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of conditions and infectious diseases.
Laboratories
There are many commercial laboratories, and many health care facilities run their own clinical laboratories.
Some of the big national laboratory companies are:
BioReference Laboratories
www.bioreference.com
Labcorp
www.labcorp.com
Quest Diagnostics
www.questdiagnostics.com
Please note: Prices for lab tests change frequently, and they can sometimes be negotiated based on the volume of testing, or because the laboratories prefer direct payment, rather than payment through health insurance companies. The laboratories listed above are for informational purposes only and should not be considered an endorsement of their services.
General References
Anderson DA, Crowe SM, Garcia M (2011). Point-of-care testing. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 8(1), 31-37. doi: 10.1007/s11904-010-0067-z
Australian Government Department of Health and Aging. Laboratory Case Definitions. Provides summaries of conditions and tests of numerous communicable diseases.
Dong Q, Nelson DE, Toh E, Diao L, Gao X, Fortenberry JD, Van der Pol B. The microbial communities in male first catch urine are highly similar to those in paired urethral swab specimens. PLoS One. 6(5):e19709, 2011.
Peeling RW, Smith PG, Bossuyt PM. A guide for diagnostic evaluations. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 4(9 Suppl):S2-S6, 2006.
RDT info. A website developed for public health managers and decision makers working in developing countries or other low-resource settings and is designed to provide accurate and up-to-date information on rapid diagnostic tests. www.rapid-diagnostics.org
Tang Y-W, Ou C-Y. Past present and future of molecular diagnosis and characterization of human immunodeficiency virus infections. Emerging Microbes and Infections, 1:e19, 2012.
Tucker JD, Bien CH, Peeling RW. Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections: recent advances and implications for disease control. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 26(1):73-9, 2013.
Recommendations for Additions to the Infectious Disease Testing section?
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