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.
Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is rarely transmitted from mother to newborn around the time of birth. Prior to 2013, Chikungunya virus cases and outbreaks had been identified in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, the first local transmission of chikungunya virus in the Americas was identified in Caribbean countries and territories. Local transmission means that mosquitoes in the area have been infected with the virus and are spreading it to people. Symptoms usually begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. During the first 8 days of illness, chikungunya viral RNA can often be identified in serum.
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. A pregnant woman already infected with dengue can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Dengue has emerged as a worldwide problem since the 1960s. The disease is common in many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico), Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and pains, or a rash. The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following: nausea, vomiting, rash, aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain). Most people will recover after about a week. There is no specific medication to treat dengue. A blood test is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
Pathogens Tested
Chikungunya
Dengue Virus
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Serum
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Four species of Human corona viruses, 2 alpha (HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E) and 2 beta (HcoV-OC043 and HcoV-HKU1) are considered as pathogens causing upper respiratory tract disease and the second main cause of the common colds in adults. Unlike SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 that are associated with severe respiratory disease, the four common HCoVs (229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1) generally cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illness, where they produce virus and cause local respiratory symptoms. Also, re-infection of CoV is common due to rapidly decreasing antibody levels.Corona virus infection shows varying degrees of symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. So, the clinical morphological diagnoses are not sensitive to distinguish on species basis. But,PCR primers can be designed to be broadly reactive or strain specific, based on primer binding sites (usually in the viral replicase and/or the N gene). Different assays are available and most of them are species specific. A multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay capable of detecting all four common HCoVs (HCoV-229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1) has become the diagnostic method of choice.
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) belong to a larger group of primate T-cell lymphotropic viruses (PTLVs) within the family Retroviridae. To date, four different types have been identified: HTLV types 1, 2, 3 and 4. HTLV-1 and 2 are classified into the genus Delta retrovirus.
HTLV-1 was the first human retrovirus to be isolated from a patient with a T-cell malignancy in 1979. It is estimated that 10 to 20 million people worldwide may be infected with HTLV-1. The type 1 virus (HTLV-1) has been identified in all five continents, and its areas of great prevalence include Japan, Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean basin, South America, Melanesia and the Middle East.
HTLV-1 is etiologically associated with adult T Cell Leukemia and with HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is a chronic neurological inflammatory disease of slow progression. Other inflammatory diseases such as uveitis, polymyositis, arthritis and alveolitis, as well as infective dermatitis and some types of skin lesions are also associated with type 1.
HTLV-1 is transmitted primarily through infected body fluids including blood, breast milk and semen. Risk factors include unprotected sex, injecting drug use and transplantation of tissue, blood and blood products. An estimated 5–10 million people globally are infected with HTLV-1, although that number is probably higher due to a lack of reliable data (WHO).
After the initial infection, the virus never completely goes away but remains in the body in an inactive (latent) form. A small percentage of those infected go on to develop one of several associated diseases, typically months to many years or even decades after their initial exposure, and may then become acutely or chronically ill.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Tissue or EDTA Blood(>=3mL)
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent). Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Ebola and Marburg virus are genera within the family Filoviridae. Genus Marburg virus contains a single species termed Marburg virus (MARV). Genus Ebola virus contains five species: Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BEBOV), Reston ebolavirus (RESTV), Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV), Tai Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV).
All known Ebola and Marburg virus species are endemic in Africa except RESTV which is endemic in South-East Asia. Natural hosts of filoviruses are fruit-bats. After transmission to humans, filoviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever with a relatively high mortality rate of 20-90% (depending on the species and strain in the single outbreaks). The mode of transmission is often difficult to determine. Hunting, slaughtering and consumption of infected wild animals are likely ways of introduction of the virus into the human population. Direct contact to bats has also been shown to be a possible way of infection.
Symptoms are rather unspecific at the beginning of the disease including general malaise, fever and pain in different body parts. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, decreased function of the liver and kidney are seen. Infectious virus titer and RNA-titer during acute disease are usually high and the level of viremia is negatively correlated with the outcome of the disease.
Pathogens Tested
Zaire ebola virus
Marburg virus
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Serum
Alternatives :
Body fluids
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for the correct package and transport requirements.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the Hepadnaviridae with an outer lipid envelope and an icosahedral nucleocapsid core composed of protein. HBV contains a small, partially double-stranded, relaxed circular DNA genome. HBV infection is a global public health problem, with over 300 million chronically infected patients worldwide. Chronic HBV infection are associated with a high risk of developing severe liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and results in a million deaths. Symptoms of acute infection include liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Modes of transmission are the same as those for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious. Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.
Being able to detect and quantify the DNA allows an estimation of infectivity and the likelihood of progression to severe chronic disease. It is also useful to monitor the success of treatment. Occasionally people can be HBV DNA positive without other serological markers such as HBsAg, for example in the first two weeks of the infection. The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated.
Method
Real-Time PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, Serum.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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.
Please, contact MBG for more information
Validated
Assay Code
HPV-224
Description
HSV-1 and HSV-2 is a double stranded DNA virus. Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are two species of human herpes viruses that replicate in the nucleus of infected cells, undergo productive infection in epithelial cells and fibroblasts, and spread to establish latent infection in sensory neurons. Latent infection is maintained for the life of an individual, from which the virus can be reactivated to cause recurrent disease. HSVs cause significant human disease, including cold sores, encephalitis, genital herpes, and corneal blindness, with HSV-2 infections increasing the likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus infection. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is typically transmitted by oral-to-oral contact and causes infection in or around the mouth (oral herpes), but it can also cause genital herpes. HSV-2 is mainly sexually transmitted and causes genital herpes.People who already have HSV-1 are not at risk of re-infection, but they are still at risk of acquiring HSV-2. An estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 (67%) have HSV-1 infection globally and 491 million people aged 15–49 (13%) worldwide have HSV-2 infection. Most HSV infections are asymptomatic, but symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers that can recur over time. Some medications are available to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, but they cannot cure the infection. The virus causes a diverse spectrum of diseases including neonatal herpes, corneal blindness, herpetic whitlow, meningitis, encephalitis, and genital herpes.
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. HIV has three stages: Acute HIV, Chronic stage/clinical latency and AIDS. Following initial infection an individual may not notice any symptoms, or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness. Typically, this is followed by a prolonged incubation period with no symptoms. If the infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, increasing the risk of developing common infections such as tuberculosis, as well as other opportunistic infections, and tumors which are rare in people who have normal immune function. These late symptoms of infection are referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
There are two main types of this virus: HIV-1 and HIV-2. While both weaken the immune system, HIV-2 develops more slowly and has a lower transmission rate than HIV-1.
HIV-1 is the most common type of HIV, and it occurs all over the world. HIV-2 is mainly present in West Africa, but it is slowly starting to appear in other regions, including the United States, Europe, and India.
Though HIV-1 and HIV-2 are both retroviruses that can have similar effects on the human body, they are genetically distinct.
Pathogens Tested
HPV-222: Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)
HPV-223: Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2)
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Serum or EDTA Blood(>=3mL).
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Influenza A viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes H1- H18 and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes ( N1- N11). These two glycoproteins both recognize the sialic acid and have complementary activities, the HA binds the sialic acid through its receptor-binding site, the NA is a receptor-destroying enzyme that cleaves 2-3 and 2-6-linked sialic acids. Therefore, the functional HA/NA balance is a critical factor for a good viral fitness and plays a major role in overcoming the host barrier and the efficiency of sustained human-to-human transmission.
Influenza A (FluA) is associated with acute respiratory infections of varying severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. Typical influenza symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, headache and myalgia. Complications include primary influenza viral pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia and exacerbation of underlying chronic conditions. Illness tends to be most severe in the elderly, in infants and young children, and in the immunocompromised. The swine-lineage influenza A virus subtype H1N1 A(H1N1)swl) was reported in spring 2009. In June 2009, the WHO declared an H1N1 pandemic, moving the alert level to phase 6, marking the first global pandemic since the 1968 Hong Kong flu. Influenza B (FluB) viruses cause the same spectrum of disease as influenza A. However, Influenza B is less common than influenza A and does not cause pandemics.
Influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Annual immunization is strongly recommended for older people, pregnant women, those at risk and those who work or live with vulnerable groups.
There are nine known subtypes of H5 viruses (H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N4, H5N5, H5N6, H5N7, H5N8, and H5N9).The first confirmed human case of infection with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of AIV was reported in Hong Kong in 1997, the first recognized case of virus transmission directly from poultry to humans; a second outbreak of H5N1 viruses occurred in 2003, and continuing occurrences have been reported (Yamaji et al., 2015).
Sporadic H5 virus infection of humans has occurred, such as with Asian lineage HPAI (highly pathogenic) H5N1 viruses currently circulating among poultry in Asia and the Middle East. Human infection of H5N1 virus infections have been reported in 16 countries, often resulting in severe pneumonia and greater than 50% mortality. Asian HPAI H5N1 viruses have infected the respiratory tract of humans, causing severe illness (e.g. pneumonia and respiratory failure) and death in some people.
There are nine known subtypes of H7 viruses (H7N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N5, H7N6, H7N7, H7N8, and H7N9). H7 virus infection in humans is uncommon. The most frequently identified H7 viruses associated with human infection are Asian lineage avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses, which were first detected in China in 2013. While human infections are rare, these have commonly resulted in severe respiratory illness and death. In addition to Asian lineage H7N9 viruses, H7N2, H7N3, H7N7 virus infections have been reported. These viruses have primarily caused mild to moderate illness in people, with symptoms that include conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms.
There are nine known subtypes of H9 viruses (H9N1, H9N2, H9N3, H9N4, H9N5, H9N6, H9N7, H9N8, and H9N9). All H9 viruses identified worldwide in wild birds and poultry are LPAI viruses (low pathogenicity). LPAI viruses are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. H9N2 virus has been detected in bird populations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Rare, sporadic H9N2 virus infections in people have been reported to generally cause mild upper respiratory tract illness.
Pathogens Tested
HPI-070 : Influenza Panel (A, B and H1N1 - swine flu) *
HPI-012 : Influenza A *
HPI-201 : Influenza B *
HPI-017 : Influenza N1
HPH-016 : Influenza H5
HPH-015 : Influenza H7
HPH-014 : Influenza H9
*
Accredited Tests.
Method
Real-Time RT PCR
Sample Type
Swab/Secretion(Respiratory)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses causing mainly respiratory and enteric disease in a range of animals and in humans. Four different human coronaviruses (hCoV) circulate at a global population level. These cause the common cold. The fifth important hCoV is SARS-CoV, which appeared for a limited time period during 2002 and 2003. It caused an outbreak affecting at least 8,000 people. During September 2012, health authorities were notified of several cases of severe hCoV infection caused by a novel virus type hCoV-EMC. The strain was redefined by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses into Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus MERS-CoV since it was first reported in Saudi Arabia.
MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. Most people infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, caused by Monkeypox virus which is recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infecton after the eradication of smallpox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name Monkeypox. The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in both humans and some other animals. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pains, shivering, backache, and feeling extremely tired. Typically there are swollen lymph nodes behind the ear, below the jaw, in the neck or in the groin. This is followed by a rash that forms blisters and crusts over; most frequently in the mouth, on the face, hands and feet, genitals and eyes. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is on average 12 days; though ranges from five to 21 days. The duration of symptoms is typically two to four weeks. Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus. Transmission of Nipah virus to humans may occur after direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs, or from other NiV infected people. Infection with Nipah virus is associated with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). After exposure and an incubation period of 5 to 14 days, illness presents with 3-14 days of fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion. These signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours. Some patients have a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections, and half of the patients showing severe neurological signs showed also pulmonary signs. During the Nipah virus disease outbreak in 1998-99, 265 patients were infected with the virus. About 40% of those patients who entered hospitals with serious nervous disease died from the illness. Long-term sequelae following Nipah virus infection have been noted, including persistent convulsions and personality changes. Latent infections with subsequent reactivation of Nipah virus and death have also been reported months and even years after exposure.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, CSF, Swab / Secretion (Respiratory)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Urine sample must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can affect all mammals. It is caused by Rabies lyssavirus, which is a neurotropic virus and is the type species of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. These viruses are enveloped and have a single stranded negative-sense RNA genome. Rabies virus is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Saliva becomes infectious a few days prior to the onset of clinical signs. Infection occurs primarily via bite wounds, or infected saliva entering an open cut or wound or mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth, nasal cavity, or eyes. Occasional, albeit rare, transmission by inhalation of infected aerosol has been described.
The incubation period varies from a few days to 6 months. Clinical observations may only lead to a suspicion of rabies because signs of the disease are not pathognomonic and may vary greatly from one animal to another. The only way to undertake a reliable diagnosis is to identify the virus or viral antigen / viral RNA using laboratory tests.The disease has important social costs due to human mortality and high economic consequences due to the losses in livestock and the cost of the implementation of preventive and control measures in both animals and humans.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Saliva, Tissue (Brain)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h of collection.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for correct package and transport requirements.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Acute respiratory infections present one of the most serious threats to global public health and are established to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children and immune compromised adults. Most of the viruses and bacteria are the causative agents for these respiratory infections. Bacterial infections like Legionella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumonia also viral infections such as Respiratory syncytial Virus (RSV), human influenza and Parainfluenza Virus (HPIV), human Adenovirus (HAdV), human Coronavirus (HCoV), human Rhinovirus (HRV), human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and human Bocavirus (HBoV) are associated with a broad spectrum of symptoms such as cough, fatigue and fever.
Acute respiratory infections represent a category of infectious disease caused by multiple pathogenic agents and this increases the difficulty of diagnosis and complicates treatment strategies due to the diversity and complexity of the infectious pathogens. Rapid identification of the causative agent and timely treatment can be life saving.
Multiplex RT-PCR assays display a variety of benefits, including a significant reduction in the turnaround time of the assay compared to the use of multiple assays. Thus, this highlights the importance of establishing a rapid, effective, and accurate screening approach for the identification of causative agents of acute viral and bacterial respiratory infections.
HPP-228- Panel 2- Human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV-4), Human parainfluenza virus 1 (HPIV-1) Human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV-3)
HPP-229- Panel 3- H1N1 Influenza virus, Human Rhinovirus (HRV), Human parainfluenza virus 2 (HPIV-2)
HPP-230-Panel4-Chlamydia pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae all of which are bacteria
HPP-231- Panel 5-Echovirus (EV), Human bocavirus (HBoV), Parechovirus (HPeV)
HPP-232- Panel 6- Human respiratory syncytial virus A/B (RSV), Human adenovirus (HAdV), Human metapneumovirus (HMPV)
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Respiratory swab/secretion in RNA preservative media (>=3mL)
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family of Coronaviruses. The virus is primarily transmitted through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks in close vicinity to other individuals. People can also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the droplets of infected persons. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to fourteen days.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Complications may include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab/ Secretion (Respiratory)
Alternatives :
Culture
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
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.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus of the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It causes West Nile fever, which is a mosquito-borne viral disease and can affect birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Tissue, Culture, Serum, CSF.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
The Zika virus belongs to Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, and is related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Like other flaviviruses, Zika virus is enveloped and icosahedral and has a nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome.
The infection, known as Zika fever is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a mild form of dengue fever. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). People usually dont get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Zika infections in adults can result in Guillain-Barr syndrome. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Serum.
Alternatives :
EDTA blood, Body fluids (Saliva)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
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.
Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is rarely transmitted from mother to newborn around the time of birth. Prior to 2013, Chikungunya virus cases and outbreaks had been identified in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, the first local transmission of chikungunya virus in the Americas was identified in Caribbean countries and territories. Local transmission means that mosquitoes in the area have been infected with the virus and are spreading it to people. Symptoms usually begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus infection. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. During the first 8 days of illness, chikungunya viral RNA can often be identified in serum.
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) mosquito. A pregnant woman already infected with dengue can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Dengue has emerged as a worldwide problem since the 1960s. The disease is common in many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico), Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and pains, or a rash. The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following: nausea, vomiting, rash, aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain). Most people will recover after about a week. There is no specific medication to treat dengue. A blood test is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.
Pathogens Tested
Chikungunya
Dengue Virus
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Serum
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Four species of Human corona viruses, 2 alpha (HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E) and 2 beta (HcoV-OC043 and HcoV-HKU1) are considered as pathogens causing upper respiratory tract disease and the second main cause of the common colds in adults. Unlike SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 that are associated with severe respiratory disease, the four common HCoVs (229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1) generally cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illness, where they produce virus and cause local respiratory symptoms. Also, re-infection of CoV is common due to rapidly decreasing antibody levels.Corona virus infection shows varying degrees of symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. So, the clinical morphological diagnoses are not sensitive to distinguish on species basis. But,PCR primers can be designed to be broadly reactive or strain specific, based on primer binding sites (usually in the viral replicase and/or the N gene). Different assays are available and most of them are species specific. A multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay capable of detecting all four common HCoVs (HCoV-229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1) has become the diagnostic method of choice.
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) belong to a larger group of primate T-cell lymphotropic viruses (PTLVs) within the family Retroviridae. To date, four different types have been identified: HTLV types 1, 2, 3 and 4. HTLV-1 and 2 are classified into the genus Delta retrovirus.
HTLV-1 was the first human retrovirus to be isolated from a patient with a T-cell malignancy in 1979. It is estimated that 10 to 20 million people worldwide may be infected with HTLV-1. The type 1 virus (HTLV-1) has been identified in all five continents, and its areas of great prevalence include Japan, Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean basin, South America, Melanesia and the Middle East.
HTLV-1 is etiologically associated with adult T Cell Leukemia and with HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is a chronic neurological inflammatory disease of slow progression. Other inflammatory diseases such as uveitis, polymyositis, arthritis and alveolitis, as well as infective dermatitis and some types of skin lesions are also associated with type 1.
HTLV-1 is transmitted primarily through infected body fluids including blood, breast milk and semen. Risk factors include unprotected sex, injecting drug use and transplantation of tissue, blood and blood products. An estimated 5–10 million people globally are infected with HTLV-1, although that number is probably higher due to a lack of reliable data (WHO).
After the initial infection, the virus never completely goes away but remains in the body in an inactive (latent) form. A small percentage of those infected go on to develop one of several associated diseases, typically months to many years or even decades after their initial exposure, and may then become acutely or chronically ill.
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Tissue or EDTA Blood(>=3mL)
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent). Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Ebola and Marburg virus are genera within the family Filoviridae. Genus Marburg virus contains a single species termed Marburg virus (MARV). Genus Ebola virus contains five species: Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BEBOV), Reston ebolavirus (RESTV), Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV), Tai Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV).
All known Ebola and Marburg virus species are endemic in Africa except RESTV which is endemic in South-East Asia. Natural hosts of filoviruses are fruit-bats. After transmission to humans, filoviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever with a relatively high mortality rate of 20-90% (depending on the species and strain in the single outbreaks). The mode of transmission is often difficult to determine. Hunting, slaughtering and consumption of infected wild animals are likely ways of introduction of the virus into the human population. Direct contact to bats has also been shown to be a possible way of infection.
Symptoms are rather unspecific at the beginning of the disease including general malaise, fever and pain in different body parts. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, decreased function of the liver and kidney are seen. Infectious virus titer and RNA-titer during acute disease are usually high and the level of viremia is negatively correlated with the outcome of the disease.
Pathogens Tested
Zaire ebola virus
Marburg virus
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
EDTA Blood, Serum
Alternatives :
Body fluids
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for the correct package and transport requirements.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of the Hepadnaviridae with an outer lipid envelope and an icosahedral nucleocapsid core composed of protein. HBV contains a small, partially double-stranded, relaxed circular DNA genome. HBV infection is a global public health problem, with over 300 million chronically infected patients worldwide. Chronic HBV infection are associated with a high risk of developing severe liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and results in a million deaths. Symptoms of acute infection include liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Modes of transmission are the same as those for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious. Hepatitis B is usually spread when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact with an infected person or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth.
Being able to detect and quantify the DNA allows an estimation of infectivity and the likelihood of progression to severe chronic disease. It is also useful to monitor the success of treatment. Occasionally people can be HBV DNA positive without other serological markers such as HBsAg, for example in the first two weeks of the infection. The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated.
Method
Real-Time PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, Serum.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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.
Please, contact MBG for more information
Validated
Assay Code
HPV-224
Description
HSV-1 and HSV-2 is a double stranded DNA virus. Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are two species of human herpes viruses that replicate in the nucleus of infected cells, undergo productive infection in epithelial cells and fibroblasts, and spread to establish latent infection in sensory neurons. Latent infection is maintained for the life of an individual, from which the virus can be reactivated to cause recurrent disease. HSVs cause significant human disease, including cold sores, encephalitis, genital herpes, and corneal blindness, with HSV-2 infections increasing the likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus infection. HSV type 1 (HSV-1) is typically transmitted by oral-to-oral contact and causes infection in or around the mouth (oral herpes), but it can also cause genital herpes. HSV-2 is mainly sexually transmitted and causes genital herpes.People who already have HSV-1 are not at risk of re-infection, but they are still at risk of acquiring HSV-2. An estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 (67%) have HSV-1 infection globally and 491 million people aged 15–49 (13%) worldwide have HSV-2 infection. Most HSV infections are asymptomatic, but symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers that can recur over time. Some medications are available to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, but they cannot cure the infection. The virus causes a diverse spectrum of diseases including neonatal herpes, corneal blindness, herpetic whitlow, meningitis, encephalitis, and genital herpes.
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. HIV has three stages: Acute HIV, Chronic stage/clinical latency and AIDS. Following initial infection an individual may not notice any symptoms, or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness. Typically, this is followed by a prolonged incubation period with no symptoms. If the infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, increasing the risk of developing common infections such as tuberculosis, as well as other opportunistic infections, and tumors which are rare in people who have normal immune function. These late symptoms of infection are referred to as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
There are two main types of this virus: HIV-1 and HIV-2. While both weaken the immune system, HIV-2 develops more slowly and has a lower transmission rate than HIV-1.
HIV-1 is the most common type of HIV, and it occurs all over the world. HIV-2 is mainly present in West Africa, but it is slowly starting to appear in other regions, including the United States, Europe, and India.
Though HIV-1 and HIV-2 are both retroviruses that can have similar effects on the human body, they are genetically distinct.
Pathogens Tested
HPV-222: Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)
HPV-223: Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2)
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Serum or EDTA Blood(>=3mL).
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Influenza A viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and are further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes H1- H18 and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes ( N1- N11). These two glycoproteins both recognize the sialic acid and have complementary activities, the HA binds the sialic acid through its receptor-binding site, the NA is a receptor-destroying enzyme that cleaves 2-3 and 2-6-linked sialic acids. Therefore, the functional HA/NA balance is a critical factor for a good viral fitness and plays a major role in overcoming the host barrier and the efficiency of sustained human-to-human transmission.
Influenza A (FluA) is associated with acute respiratory infections of varying severity, ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. Typical influenza symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, headache and myalgia. Complications include primary influenza viral pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia and exacerbation of underlying chronic conditions. Illness tends to be most severe in the elderly, in infants and young children, and in the immunocompromised. The swine-lineage influenza A virus subtype H1N1 A(H1N1)swl) was reported in spring 2009. In June 2009, the WHO declared an H1N1 pandemic, moving the alert level to phase 6, marking the first global pandemic since the 1968 Hong Kong flu. Influenza B (FluB) viruses cause the same spectrum of disease as influenza A. However, Influenza B is less common than influenza A and does not cause pandemics.
Influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Annual immunization is strongly recommended for older people, pregnant women, those at risk and those who work or live with vulnerable groups.
There are nine known subtypes of H5 viruses (H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N4, H5N5, H5N6, H5N7, H5N8, and H5N9).The first confirmed human case of infection with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of AIV was reported in Hong Kong in 1997, the first recognized case of virus transmission directly from poultry to humans; a second outbreak of H5N1 viruses occurred in 2003, and continuing occurrences have been reported (Yamaji et al., 2015).
Sporadic H5 virus infection of humans has occurred, such as with Asian lineage HPAI (highly pathogenic) H5N1 viruses currently circulating among poultry in Asia and the Middle East. Human infection of H5N1 virus infections have been reported in 16 countries, often resulting in severe pneumonia and greater than 50% mortality. Asian HPAI H5N1 viruses have infected the respiratory tract of humans, causing severe illness (e.g. pneumonia and respiratory failure) and death in some people.
There are nine known subtypes of H7 viruses (H7N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N5, H7N6, H7N7, H7N8, and H7N9). H7 virus infection in humans is uncommon. The most frequently identified H7 viruses associated with human infection are Asian lineage avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses, which were first detected in China in 2013. While human infections are rare, these have commonly resulted in severe respiratory illness and death. In addition to Asian lineage H7N9 viruses, H7N2, H7N3, H7N7 virus infections have been reported. These viruses have primarily caused mild to moderate illness in people, with symptoms that include conjunctivitis and/or upper respiratory tract symptoms.
There are nine known subtypes of H9 viruses (H9N1, H9N2, H9N3, H9N4, H9N5, H9N6, H9N7, H9N8, and H9N9). All H9 viruses identified worldwide in wild birds and poultry are LPAI viruses (low pathogenicity). LPAI viruses are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. H9N2 virus has been detected in bird populations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Rare, sporadic H9N2 virus infections in people have been reported to generally cause mild upper respiratory tract illness.
Pathogens Tested
HPI-070 : Influenza Panel (A, B and H1N1 - swine flu) *
HPI-012 : Influenza A *
HPI-201 : Influenza B *
HPI-017 : Influenza N1
HPH-016 : Influenza H5
HPH-015 : Influenza H7
HPH-014 : Influenza H9
*
Accredited Tests.
Method
Real-Time RT PCR
Sample Type
Swab/Secretion(Respiratory)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses causing mainly respiratory and enteric disease in a range of animals and in humans. Four different human coronaviruses (hCoV) circulate at a global population level. These cause the common cold. The fifth important hCoV is SARS-CoV, which appeared for a limited time period during 2002 and 2003. It caused an outbreak affecting at least 8,000 people. During September 2012, health authorities were notified of several cases of severe hCoV infection caused by a novel virus type hCoV-EMC. The strain was redefined by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses into Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus MERS-CoV since it was first reported in Saudi Arabia.
MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. Most people infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab / Secretion (Respiratory).
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease, caused by Monkeypox virus which is recognized as the most important orthopoxvirus infecton after the eradication of smallpox. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus. Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name Monkeypox. The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that can occur in both humans and some other animals. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pains, shivering, backache, and feeling extremely tired. Typically there are swollen lymph nodes behind the ear, below the jaw, in the neck or in the groin. This is followed by a rash that forms blisters and crusts over; most frequently in the mouth, on the face, hands and feet, genitals and eyes. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is on average 12 days; though ranges from five to 21 days. The duration of symptoms is typically two to four weeks. Cases may be severe, especially in children, pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus. Transmission of Nipah virus to humans may occur after direct contact with infected bats, infected pigs, or from other NiV infected people. Infection with Nipah virus is associated with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). After exposure and an incubation period of 5 to 14 days, illness presents with 3-14 days of fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion. These signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours. Some patients have a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections, and half of the patients showing severe neurological signs showed also pulmonary signs. During the Nipah virus disease outbreak in 1998-99, 265 patients were infected with the virus. About 40% of those patients who entered hospitals with serious nervous disease died from the illness. Long-term sequelae following Nipah virus infection have been noted, including persistent convulsions and personality changes. Latent infections with subsequent reactivation of Nipah virus and death have also been reported months and even years after exposure.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA Blood, CSF, Swab / Secretion (Respiratory)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C. Urine sample must be frozen after collection and delivered within 24 hours.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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease that can affect all mammals. It is caused by Rabies lyssavirus, which is a neurotropic virus and is the type species of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. These viruses are enveloped and have a single stranded negative-sense RNA genome. Rabies virus is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Saliva becomes infectious a few days prior to the onset of clinical signs. Infection occurs primarily via bite wounds, or infected saliva entering an open cut or wound or mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth, nasal cavity, or eyes. Occasional, albeit rare, transmission by inhalation of infected aerosol has been described.
The incubation period varies from a few days to 6 months. Clinical observations may only lead to a suspicion of rabies because signs of the disease are not pathognomonic and may vary greatly from one animal to another. The only way to undertake a reliable diagnosis is to identify the virus or viral antigen / viral RNA using laboratory tests.The disease has important social costs due to human mortality and high economic consequences due to the losses in livestock and the cost of the implementation of preventive and control measures in both animals and humans.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Saliva, Tissue (Brain)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24h of collection.
Specimens must be sent in RNA Preservative media. Please contact MBG Lab in advance for correct package and transport requirements.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
Acute respiratory infections present one of the most serious threats to global public health and are established to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children and immune compromised adults. Most of the viruses and bacteria are the causative agents for these respiratory infections. Bacterial infections like Legionella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumonia also viral infections such as Respiratory syncytial Virus (RSV), human influenza and Parainfluenza Virus (HPIV), human Adenovirus (HAdV), human Coronavirus (HCoV), human Rhinovirus (HRV), human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and human Bocavirus (HBoV) are associated with a broad spectrum of symptoms such as cough, fatigue and fever.
Acute respiratory infections represent a category of infectious disease caused by multiple pathogenic agents and this increases the difficulty of diagnosis and complicates treatment strategies due to the diversity and complexity of the infectious pathogens. Rapid identification of the causative agent and timely treatment can be life saving.
Multiplex RT-PCR assays display a variety of benefits, including a significant reduction in the turnaround time of the assay compared to the use of multiple assays. Thus, this highlights the importance of establishing a rapid, effective, and accurate screening approach for the identification of causative agents of acute viral and bacterial respiratory infections.
HPP-228- Panel 2- Human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV-4), Human parainfluenza virus 1 (HPIV-1) Human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV-3)
HPP-229- Panel 3- H1N1 Influenza virus, Human Rhinovirus (HRV), Human parainfluenza virus 2 (HPIV-2)
HPP-230-Panel4-Chlamydia pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae all of which are bacteria
HPP-231- Panel 5-Echovirus (EV), Human bocavirus (HBoV), Parechovirus (HPeV)
HPP-232- Panel 6- Human respiratory syncytial virus A/B (RSV), Human adenovirus (HAdV), Human metapneumovirus (HMPV)
Method
Real Time RT-PCR
Sample Type
Recommended specimen types: Respiratory swab/secretion in RNA preservative media (>=3mL)
Transport Condition
Sample should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
The Turnaround (TAT) for routine samples is within 3 working days.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family of Coronaviruses. The virus is primarily transmitted through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks in close vicinity to other individuals. People can also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the droplets of infected persons. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to fourteen days.
Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste. Complications may include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Swab/ Secretion (Respiratory)
Alternatives :
Culture
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C and delivered within 24 hours.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
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.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a positive-sense, ssRNA virus of the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. It causes West Nile fever, which is a mosquito-borne viral disease and can affect birds, humans and horses causing inapparent infection, mild febrile illness, meningitis, encephalitis, or death. The arbovirus is maintained in nature by cycling through birds and mosquitoes. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
EDTA blood, Tissue, Culture, Serum, CSF.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
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. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
The Zika virus belongs to Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, and is related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Like other flaviviruses, Zika virus is enveloped and icosahedral and has a nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome.
The infection, known as Zika fever is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a mild form of dengue fever. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). People usually dont get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Zika infections in adults can result in Guillain-Barr syndrome. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Method
Real-Time RT-PCR.
Sample Type
Accredited :
Serum.
Alternatives :
EDTA blood, Body fluids (Saliva)
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
TAT for routine samples is within 3 working days. Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day (unless urgent).
Urgent Samples will be reported within 24-48 hours and will be charged double.
