Molecular based methods have advanced the centre testing to faster and better diagnostics. PCR methods, microarray and next generation sequencing have provided speed and
high level of accuracy. Molecular biology based methods are sensitive and quick to detect microbial pathogens in various clinical specimens.
We offer molecular detection of pathogenic viruses, bacteria and parasites from clinical specimens. MBG is ISO 15189 accredited and benefits from a stand-alone
containment Level 3 facility where samples for highly contagious pathogen are received and processed.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of animal and human illnesses that are mostly caused by several distinct families of viruses including bunyaviruses, flaviviruses, filoviruses and arenaviruses. The term viral hemorrhagic fever refers to a condition that affects many organ systems of the body, damages the overall cardiovascular system, and reduces the body’s ability to function on its own. Although specific signs and symptoms vary by the type of VHF, initial signs and symptoms are very similar. Symptoms of this type of condition include bleeding, or hemorrhaging. Most VHFs have no known cure or vaccine. After transmission from their reservoir hosts or vectors to humans, or even spread from personto person, many of hemorrhagic fevers viruses (HFVs) cause severe, life-threatening diseases. Therefore, rapid immunologic and molecular tools for differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) are important for effective case management and control of the spread of VHFs. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is one of the reliable and desirable methods for specific detection and quantification of virus load. Multiplex PCR assay has the potential to produce considerable savings in time and resources in the laboratory detection.We established a series of one-step real-time RT-PCR assays for multiplex detection of 12 viruses (4 Panels) as shown below.All assays were optimized at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated under monoplex or multiplex condition for detection of viral RNAs, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the UAE.
Viral meningitis is an infection of the meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) by any one of a number of different viruses. Viral meningitis is also often referred to as aseptic meningitis. The symptoms may include fever, headache, stiff neck and fatigue. Rash, sore throat and intestinal symptoms may also occur.The most common viruses to cause viral meningitis are enteroviruses (intestinal), mumps, arboviruses, herpes family viruses, varicella viruses, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Adenovirus. Because a number of different viruses are capable of causing viral meningitis, the manner in which the virus is spread depends upon the type of virus involved. Some are spread by person-to-person contact; others can be spread by insects.
Pathogens Tested
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2), are two members of the herpesviridae family. They contain a large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome. Primary Herpes simplex infection is usually acquired in childhood and is most often asymptomatic; after the primary infection, the virus becomes latent in neurons of cranial nerve ganglia (HSV1) or sacral ganglia (HSV2). Reactivation from ganglia produces cold sores or fever blisters in the mouth or on the lip, less often infections of the eye (herpes keratitis), and rarely encephalitis. Symptomatic HSV1 infections are usually manifested as recurrent orolabial and facial lesions. HSV2 is the cause of most genital herpes and is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Herpes can be spread, regardless of symptoms, between sexual partners and from mother to newborn, and is known to increase a persons risk of contracting HIV. Herpes viruses establish lifelong infections, and the virus cannot be eradicated from the body.
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a alphaherpesvirus, contains a large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Unlike HSV1, it is often asymptomatic in primary infections. Primary VZV infection can result in chickenpox (varicella) characterized by malaise, fever and an extensive vesicular rash which can lead to pneumonia in adults, particularly in pregnant woman. Even after clinical symptoms of varicella have resolved, VZV remains dormant in the nervous system of the host in the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. In about 10-20% of cases, VZV reactivates later in life producing a disease known as herpes zoster or shingles. Serious complications of shingles include post-herpetic neuralgia, myelitis, eye infections or zoster sine herpete.
Enteroviruses (EV) are a genus of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses including polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and other enteroviruses. Non-polio enteroviruses are very common. They are second only to the "common cold" viruses, rhinoviruses, as the most common viral infectious agents in humans. EV is most likely to occur during the summer and fall. EV affects millions of people worldwide each year, and are often found in the respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) and stool of an infected person.
Human parechoviruses (HPeV) are positive ssRNA viruses and are prevalent in young children. They have been associated with respiratory disease, including upper and lower respiratory tract disease. It has also been claimed that they commonly cause mild gastroenteritis and, less frequently, meningitis and neonatal sepsis.
Mumps virus (MV), a member of the paramyxovirus family, is a negative-strand RNA virus. The incubation period of mumps is 14 to 18 days. Mumps infection results in an acute illness with symptoms including fever, headache, and myalgia, followed by swelling of the salivary glands. As many as 20% of mumps infections are asymptomatic. Complications of mumps can include meningitis, deafness, pancreatitis, orchitis, and first-trimester abortion. A vaccine for mumps is available in combination with measles and rubella vaccines, or in combination with measles, rubella and varicella.
Method
Real-Time PCR.
Sample Type
CSF, Culture, EDTA Blood, Stool.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Stool should be transported to MBG Lab within 24h of collection.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media. Contact MBG Lab for specimen tubes containing RNA preservative if required.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Urgent Samples will be charged double and will be reported within 1-2 working days.
Samples delivered before 11:00 AM will begin processing immediately resulting in shorter TAT.
Molecular based methods have advanced the centre testing to faster and better diagnostics. PCR methods, microarray and next generation sequencing have provided speed and
high level of accuracy. Molecular biology based methods are sensitive and quick to detect microbial pathogens in various clinical specimens.
We offer molecular detection of pathogenic viruses, bacteria and parasites from clinical specimens. MBG is ISO 15189 accredited and benefits from a stand-alone
containment Level 3 facility where samples for highly contagious pathogen are received and processed.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of animal and human illnesses that are mostly caused by several distinct families of viruses including bunyaviruses, flaviviruses, filoviruses and arenaviruses. The term viral hemorrhagic fever refers to a condition that affects many organ systems of the body, damages the overall cardiovascular system, and reduces the body’s ability to function on its own. Although specific signs and symptoms vary by the type of VHF, initial signs and symptoms are very similar. Symptoms of this type of condition include bleeding, or hemorrhaging. Most VHFs have no known cure or vaccine. After transmission from their reservoir hosts or vectors to humans, or even spread from personto person, many of hemorrhagic fevers viruses (HFVs) cause severe, life-threatening diseases. Therefore, rapid immunologic and molecular tools for differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) are important for effective case management and control of the spread of VHFs. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is one of the reliable and desirable methods for specific detection and quantification of virus load. Multiplex PCR assay has the potential to produce considerable savings in time and resources in the laboratory detection.We established a series of one-step real-time RT-PCR assays for multiplex detection of 12 viruses (4 Panels) as shown below.All assays were optimized at a universal thermal cycling condition, and evaluated under monoplex or multiplex condition for detection of viral RNAs, which will be useful in early diagnosis and consequently addressing the threat of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the UAE.
Viral meningitis is an infection of the meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) by any one of a number of different viruses. Viral meningitis is also often referred to as aseptic meningitis. The symptoms may include fever, headache, stiff neck and fatigue. Rash, sore throat and intestinal symptoms may also occur.The most common viruses to cause viral meningitis are enteroviruses (intestinal), mumps, arboviruses, herpes family viruses, varicella viruses, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Adenovirus. Because a number of different viruses are capable of causing viral meningitis, the manner in which the virus is spread depends upon the type of virus involved. Some are spread by person-to-person contact; others can be spread by insects.
Pathogens Tested
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2), are two members of the herpesviridae family. They contain a large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome. Primary Herpes simplex infection is usually acquired in childhood and is most often asymptomatic; after the primary infection, the virus becomes latent in neurons of cranial nerve ganglia (HSV1) or sacral ganglia (HSV2). Reactivation from ganglia produces cold sores or fever blisters in the mouth or on the lip, less often infections of the eye (herpes keratitis), and rarely encephalitis. Symptomatic HSV1 infections are usually manifested as recurrent orolabial and facial lesions. HSV2 is the cause of most genital herpes and is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Herpes can be spread, regardless of symptoms, between sexual partners and from mother to newborn, and is known to increase a persons risk of contracting HIV. Herpes viruses establish lifelong infections, and the virus cannot be eradicated from the body.
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a alphaherpesvirus, contains a large double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Unlike HSV1, it is often asymptomatic in primary infections. Primary VZV infection can result in chickenpox (varicella) characterized by malaise, fever and an extensive vesicular rash which can lead to pneumonia in adults, particularly in pregnant woman. Even after clinical symptoms of varicella have resolved, VZV remains dormant in the nervous system of the host in the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. In about 10-20% of cases, VZV reactivates later in life producing a disease known as herpes zoster or shingles. Serious complications of shingles include post-herpetic neuralgia, myelitis, eye infections or zoster sine herpete.
Enteroviruses (EV) are a genus of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses including polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and other enteroviruses. Non-polio enteroviruses are very common. They are second only to the "common cold" viruses, rhinoviruses, as the most common viral infectious agents in humans. EV is most likely to occur during the summer and fall. EV affects millions of people worldwide each year, and are often found in the respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) and stool of an infected person.
Human parechoviruses (HPeV) are positive ssRNA viruses and are prevalent in young children. They have been associated with respiratory disease, including upper and lower respiratory tract disease. It has also been claimed that they commonly cause mild gastroenteritis and, less frequently, meningitis and neonatal sepsis.
Mumps virus (MV), a member of the paramyxovirus family, is a negative-strand RNA virus. The incubation period of mumps is 14 to 18 days. Mumps infection results in an acute illness with symptoms including fever, headache, and myalgia, followed by swelling of the salivary glands. As many as 20% of mumps infections are asymptomatic. Complications of mumps can include meningitis, deafness, pancreatitis, orchitis, and first-trimester abortion. A vaccine for mumps is available in combination with measles and rubella vaccines, or in combination with measles, rubella and varicella.
Method
Real-Time PCR.
Sample Type
CSF, Culture, EDTA Blood, Stool.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Stool should be transported to MBG Lab within 24h of collection.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media. Contact MBG Lab for specimen tubes containing RNA preservative if required.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Urgent Samples will be charged double and will be reported within 1-2 working days.
Samples delivered before 11:00 AM will begin processing immediately resulting in shorter TAT.
