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Diagnosing emerging and reemerging infectious diseases: the pivotal role of the pathologist

Juan P Olano1, David H Walker

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0428, USA. jolano@utmb.edu

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|January 6, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Molecular diagnostics are revolutionizing infectious disease diagnosis, becoming the gold standard for challenging agents. Continued advancements in automation and multiplexing promise further integration into clinical settings.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical diagnostics
  • Molecular biology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Molecular diagnostics rapidly evolving, impacting infectious disease diagnosis.
  • Molecular tools are the gold standard for diagnosing fastidious or uncultivable agents.
  • Challenges remain in cost-effectiveness, validation, and commercial availability of molecular tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Review current nucleic acid techniques for infectious disease diagnosis in clinical labs.
  • List US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved tests and molecular techniques.
  • Present emerging pathogens and discuss biosurveillance and nanobiotechnology.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of original publications, major reviews, and book chapters.
  • Focus on molecular diagnostics in the context of infectious diseases.
  • Synthesis of information on techniques, pathogens, and emerging technologies.

Main Results:

  • Molecular diagnostics are essential for identifying emerging infectious agents.
  • Automated instruments for sample processing and multiplex nucleic acid amplification are FDA-approved.
  • Nanobiotechnology is emerging as a significant factor in laboratory diagnostics.

Conclusions:

  • Expect exponential growth in molecular techniques for initial infectious disease diagnosis.
  • Molecular tools will increasingly influence disease prognosis and treatment response.
  • Automation, multiplexing, and miniaturization will drive future instrument development.

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