Dear Healthcare Provider,
The information contained here may be very important to your practice. Please take a moment to review this document.
Naming Conventions for COVID Antibody Testing
March 9, 2021
In an effort to help clinicians better understand the utility of Alverno’s COVID antibody detection assays, we have updated the naming conventions to provide clarity. The new names will incorporate the target of the antibody (nucleocapsid or spike) and the test utility (post-vaccination, infection) in addition to the class (IgG or IgM). Please see page 2 for details.
Hepatitis C Genotyping
March 16, 2021
On March 16, Alverno’s Molecular Biology Department will bring viral Hepatitis C Genotyping to the Central Lab. Hepatitis C Genotyping is recommended following confirmation of an active infection using our quantitative viral load assay. The genotyping result can be used to help guide therapy decisions. Please see page 3 for further information and details.
Positive Blood Culture Reporting Changes
Coming in March 2021
Alverno’s Microbiology Department is updating the reporting process for positive blood cultures. Since 2013, Alverno has utilized rapid identification using MALDI-TOF methodology. These results have been reported as a test comment. Beginning in March, an isolate will be listed for all positive blood cultures along with organisms observed in the gram stain. Please see page 4 for more information.
Naming Conventions for COVID Antibody Testing
March 9, 2021
In an effort to help clinicians better understand the utility of Alverno’s COVID antibody detection assays, we have updated the naming conventions to provide clarity. The new names will incorporate the target of the antibody (nucleocapsid or spike) and the test utility (post-vaccination, infection) in addition to the class (IgG or IgM).
Alverno offers three COVID antibody detection assays: two IgG assays that target different proteins and one IgM assay. Each COVID antibody assay with its target and utility can be viewed in the table below.
Hepatitis C Genotyping
March 16, 2021
On March 16, Alverno’s Molecular Biology Department will bring viral Hepatitis C Genotyping to the Central Lab. Hepatitis C Genotyping is recommended following confirmation of an active infection using our quantitative viral load assay. The genotyping result can be used to help guide therapy decisions. The GenMark eSensor XT-8 HCVg Direct™ assay will detect nine prevalent Hepatitis C Virus types/subtypes. This is a multiplex Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR methodology. Incorporated into the testing is a Hepatitis C viral target to ensure viral presence. If the HCV target is not detected, the genotyping cannot be completed, and repeat testing may be appropriate when the viral load meets the limit of detection. The assay has a Limit of Detection of 7,000 copies/mL. In rare instances, multiple or mixed HCV genotypes may be detected.
Hepatitis C Viral Genotyping types and subtypes detected:
1a
1b
2
2a/c
2b
3
4
5
6
This assay is not for screening purposes.
Positive Blood Culture Reporting Changes
Coming in March 2021
Alverno’s Microbiology Department is updating the reporting process for positive blood cultures. Since 2013, Alverno has utilized rapid identification using MALDI-TOF methodology. These results have been reported as a test comment. Beginning in March, an isolate will be listed for all positive blood cultures along with organisms observed in the gram stain. Where a rapid identification by MALDI-TOF is obtained, the organism genus and species will be listed. For positive blood cultures with an inconclusive MALDI-TOF result, the gram stain morphology will be listed, and identification will follow after growth of the organism on culture media. This new process will improve abnormal flagging capabilities.
Examples of isolate reporting:
Isolate #01 Staphylococcus epidermidis
Identified by Direct MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry from positive blood culture bottle.
Additional testing, including susceptibility when appropriate, to follow.
Isolate #02 Escherichia coli
Identified by Direct MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry from positive blood culture bottle.
Note: This methodology cannot distinguish between E. coli and Shigella species; therefore, Shigella cannot be ruled out as a possible identification. Additional testing, including susceptibility when appropriate, to follow.
Isolate #03 Gram-Positive Bacillus
Rapid identification performed by Direct MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry on positive blood culture bottle was inconclusive. Identification to follow. Susceptibility testing will be performed when appropriate.