Molecular Methods in Clinical Microbiology (by LabCE)

1.5 P.A.C.E. contact hour(s)

(based on 432 customer ratings)

Author: Cathy Dragoni, MT(ASCP)SM
Reviewers: Dawn Morong, BS, MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA); Michele Marshall, MT(ASCP)

Course provided by LabCE.

This course offers a historical look at the progression of molecular methods used in the clinical laboratory. The advantages of these molecular methods over traditional microbiology are discussed, along with the requirements and challenges faced during implementation in a routine clinical setting. Basic methods and molecular techniques are described, including the principle reactions of some assays of current interest for infectious diseases.

See more courses in: Microbiology

Included In These Course Packages

Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 1.5 hour(s)
Course number 578-110-20, approved through 11/30/2022
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1.5 hour(s)
Course number 20-799030, approved through 9/1/2022

Objectives

  • Describe some of the history of molecular methods and their introduction into the routine diagnostic laboratory.
  • Describe some of the advantages of molecular methods over traditional microbiology.
  • Describe the requirements and some of the challenges of implementing molecular methods in the setting of a routine clinical microbiology laboratory.
  • Describe the principles of the basic methods of molecular techniques.
  • Describe some of the assays of current interest for infectious disease and their principles of reaction.

Customer Ratings

(based on 432 customer ratings)

Course Outline

  • Some History of Development
      • Prior to 1985
      • Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
      • Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Mycobacterium
      • Hepatitis and Viral Load Testing
  • Potential Benefits of Molecular Methods over Traditional Microbiology
      • The Key Benefits: Improved Sensitivity of Detection
      • The Key Benefits: Improved Sensitivity of Detection, continued
      • The Key Benefits: Specificity of Identification
      • The Key Benefits: Reduced Turnaround Time
  • Challenges for Implementing Molecular Microbiology
      • Challenges for Implementation: Space Requirements
      • Challenges for Implementation: Separation of Key Activities
      • Challenges for Implementation: Workflow Requirements
      • Challenges for Implementation: Required Work Skills
      • Challenges for Implementation: Cost
  • Definitions and Principles of Basic Methods
      • Categories of Methods
      • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
      • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
      • Detection and Identification of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Products
      • Detection and Identification of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Products: Advantages of Real-Time PCR
  • Assays of Interest for Infectious Disease: Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)
      • Identification of Staphylococcus aureus with Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA)-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
      • Detection and Identification of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
      • Development of Assays
      • Molecular Versus Culture - Pros and Cons
      • Current and Future Prospects
  • Assays of Interest for Infectious Disease: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses
      • Prior Traditional Methods and the Need for Change
      • Introduction of Molecular Methods
      • 2009 - Swine Flu
      • Improvements for Influenza Testing
  • Assays of Interest for Infectious Disease: Clostridioides difficile
      • Clinical Significance
      • Previous Methodologies: Culture and Cell Cytotoxicity Neutralization Assay (CCNA)
      • Previous Methodologies: Antigenic Detection of Toxin and Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH)
      • Molecular Methods
      • BD GeneOhm™
      • illumigene®
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Intermediate 
 
Intended audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians, working in the microbiology section of the laboratory. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
 
Author information: Catherine Dragoni, MT(ASCP)SM received her BS degree in medical technology from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse. She began her career as a bench microbiologist at Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine. Currently she is the Assistant Chief Technologist of Microbiology and Molecular Pathology at NorDx Laboratories, Scarborough, Maine.
 
Reviewer information: Dawn Morong, BS, MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA) received her BS degree from the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine. She is currently a Senior Medical Technologist at NorDx Laboratories in Scarborough, Maine.
 
Reviewer Information: Michele Marshall, MT(ASCP) received her BS degree in Medical Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY after performing a one year internship at Region’s (St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center) Hospital in St. Paul, MN.  Michele worked for many years as a generalist before making the transition to her real passion in microbiology. Currently, she is the Laboratory Coordinator and the Microbiology Lead Technologist at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Maine.
 
Course description: This course offers a historical look at the progression of molecular methods used in the clinical laboratory. The advantages of these molecular methods over traditional microbiology are discussed, along with the requirements and challenges faced during implementation in a routine clinical setting. Basic methods and molecular techniques are described, including the principle reactions of some assays of current interest for infectious diseases.

Keywords

These are the most common topics and keywords covered in Molecular Methods in Clinical Microbiology (by LabCE):

specimens cepheids incubation improvements hairpin diseases increasingly assay fluorescent protocols quenched nucleic antimicrobial prospects influenza fluorescence slightest neisseria xpert infectious logical meca tcdb transport annealing amplified antibiotic obstacle amplification pipette seasonal conserved staphylococcus heated drug branched grant platforms anneal aerosol vancomycin stranded subtyping transcription amplicons hybrid methicillin-resistant infection control antigen cytotoxicity isothermal peroxidase clinicians workflow staphylococci employing prodesse cytotoxin clostridium orfx conditions swine cultivate organisms digene infections primers exogenous vaccine requirements identifying labeled pipetting cellular microbiology circulating roche disease rt-pcr respiratory primer delays samples cooled numbers introducing glutamate health denaturation pathogens laboratory pna-fish methodology hospital management entail transcriptase aureus cobas#174 methicillin stewardship lengths quencher toxins gen-probe platform assays illumigene#174 cdna enzyme cells specificity non-culture prospect diagnosis methods organism blood contains simultaneous treatment diagnostics mycobacterium differential capital reagents chlamydia toxigenic hybridization culture beacon aliquot ccna pathogen geometrically polymerase diagnostic ligase substrate gene one-step immunoassay coagulase instilling smartcycler#174 procedurally beacons volumes dehydrogenase clinical cepheid transcriptase-polymerase emission geneohm#8482 toxin evaluation multiplex real-time novel entails identification fluorogenic neutralization vial thermocycler controls turnaround bdna authorization sensitivity swine-lineage amplify nucleotides contamination cultivation virus procedures amplicor infection probes antigenic antibody
How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package (by LabCE)
Package of 107 online courses$95
Add to cart
Single online course$20
Add to cart
  • Order for instant access through any computer, any browser.
  • No shipping, faxing, or waiting for certificates.
  • Print or save your certificate of completion as soon as you've completed the course.
  • You'll have 90 days to complete your purchased courses.
Course provided by LabCE.
CDC PCR diagnostic testkit Accessed on 11-31-09 from: http://www.cdc.gov/H1n1flu/images.htm


Derivative melting curve


PCR Reaction


PNA FISH probes


Real-time PCR Stages


RNA-DNA-copying.JPG

 
ASCLS CE's design and platform are provided by MediaLab, Inc.