I just went to the doctor yesterday and was amazed at finding my results in my e-mail this morning - I thought this article might be of interest.
Getting fast lab results helps a medical professional a make timely and potentially life-saving diagnosis. Older methods sometimes required days to produce useful results. Today’s rapid tests such as those offered by Diagnostic Automation/Cortez Diagnostics Inc. give fast and accurate answers when hours matter.
Serology tests are useful when any of a number of conditions are suspected. For public health clinics, stopping and treating syphilis begins with a rapid confirmation of Treponema pallidum infection. Pregnant women carrying the organism are at risk of passing the disease along to their babies or experiencing still births. Early diagnosis and treatment is of paramount importance, and a rapid test for the disease is the first step in saving a life.
Similarly, rapid confirmation of an streptococcal infection’s exact strain guides a medical practitioner’s selection of the appropriate antibiotic to use. While most strep infections are relatively mild, some may cause such life-threatening illnesses as pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, cellulitis and certain types of toxic shock.
Clinics serving educational facilities often find themselves treating an epidemic of mononucleosis. Rapid test results make identifying and treating an acute outbreak on a campus easier and more effective.
While these are a couple of the more urgent circumstances requiring rapid serology results, more chronic conditions do not always have distinct symptoms. For example, lupus erythematosus may be mistaken for a number of other conditions. A faster diagnosis means that a patient will begin receiving the right treatment which can add years to his life.
A separate serology test aids in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Once again, this is a condition that can mimic a number of other disease. Without the right diagnostic results, time is wasted in finding the right treatment for a patient.
No matter what the condition is, the most accurate test results at the right time can mean a world of difference in the future health of a patient.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”