X AND V FACTOR Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description This test is used to differentiate Haemophilus species based on their requirement for X and V factors. Specimen Requirements Isolated colonies on chocolate agar Procedure ▪ Medium: Trypticase Soy BrothMHA Plate X, V and XV factors1. Make a suspension of the isolated colonies in …
WIDAL TEST Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description Widal test is a rapid technique used to detect antibodies against Salmonella. It follows the principle of direct agglutination in which the antigen is naturally attached to the carrier molecule (RBCs or bacteria). The reagent/antigens are composed of O (somatic), H (flagellar), K/Vi (capsular) antigens. Specimen …
WESTERN BLOT TECHNIQUE Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description Western blotting technique provides excellent sensitivity and specificity. This technique has also been widely used to confirm antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Thus, western blotting is now used as a confirmatory testafter having two positive results in ELISA. Positive for HIV using western blotting …
WEIL FELIX TEST Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description It is one of the serologic assays used in performed for the diagnosis of rickettsial diseases. Antibodies to rickettsial species are known to cross react with the bacteria Proteus which gave rise to the use of Weil-Felix agglutination test. However, it is not considered as specific …
URINE CULTURE Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description In the absence of infection, bacteria should not be present in the urine. When a patient is suspected of having a urinary tract infection, a urine sample for culture and sensitivity is usually requested by the physician. The sample collection for urine culture should begin before antibiotic …
URINALYSIS Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description Urinalysis is a routine screening test and is composed of three parts – physical, chemical and microscopic examination. It is widely used as a diagnostic tool in various cases such as kidney diseases and urinary tract infection. The urine physical examination is composed of color, odor and clarity. …
TRIPLE SUGAR IRON / TSI Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description TSI is useful in the presumptive identification of gram-negative enteric bacteria. This agar is composed of 1% sucrose and lactose, and 0.1% glucose. Ferrous sulfate and sodium thiosulfate are added as H2S indicators. Phenol red is also incorporated to serve as the pH indicators, …
TSH TEST Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description This is considered as the most important thyroid function test and the best method for detecting clinically significant thyroid dysfunction. In additional, TSH test is also the most clinically sensitive assay for the detection of primary thyroid disorders. TSH is the primary tool used in differentiating primary …
THICK AND THIN BLOOD SMEAR Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description Thick and thin films are both used in the detection and identification of malarial parasites just like the QBC test. Thick blood smear can also be used for the demonstration of microfilariae but for malarial diagnosis, thick smear assesses the presence or absence of …
STRING TEST Description Specimen Requirements Procedure Interpretation Description String test may aid in the identification of the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, a gram-negative bacillus known for its comma shape when viewed under the microscope. The principle of the test is that sodium desoxycholate which is the reagent used in this test lyses the bacteria causing the …
