Common Acronyms
The full spelling of "IVD"
In Vitro Diagnostics
A sample (e.g., blood, urine, tissue) taken for testing
Specimen
Analyzes urine for signs of disease, hydration, and metabolic function.
Urinalysis
Performed outside traditional lab setting, typically near patients where healthcare is provided. Allows for a quicker diagnosis & speeds up the treatment decision-making process.
Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
This is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells
Molecular Biology
The full spelling of "NGS"
Next-Generation Sequencing
A test or analysis to determine the presence or amount of an analyte
Assay
Detects & identifies microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) responsible for infections.
Microbiology
This consists of samples sent to a laboratory for analysis. Often required for complex conditions like cancer, HIV and hepatitis
Lab-based tests
This analytical tool is useful for measuring the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of one or more molecules present in a sample
Mass Spectrometry
The full spelling of "AMR"
Antimicrobial Resistance
The ability of a microorganism (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite) to resist the effects of a drug
Antimicrobial Resistance
Uses antibody-antigen reactions to detect and quantify specific proteins, hormones, or infectious agents.
Immunoassays/Immunology
This test can help find out which antibiotic will be most effective in treating your infection
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST)
A new technology used for DNA and RNA sequencing and variant/mutation detection
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
The full spelling of "PCR"
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
The chemical substances used in tests to detect analytes
Reagents
Focuses on the chemical analysis of bodily fluids (usually blood or serum) to evaluate organ function and detect metabolic disorders.
Clinical Chemistry
This step is generally performed after culture and could be manual or automated.
Gram Staining
Average time after which a culture can be considered definitively negative
72 hours
The full spelling of "ELISA"
The substance or chemical being measured (e.g., glucose, cholesterol)
Analyte
This test type uses nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) analysis to detect genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer.
Molecular Diagnostics
Process of growing microorganisms from a clinical sample in a controlled environment, to ID the specific pathogen causing infection & determine susceptibility to antimicrobial agents
Culture
Specific to Sepsis patient, leading side-effect due to unnecessary empirical antibiotic therapy
Nephrotoxicity