Author: Paul Towet
HOW DISEASE SURVEILLANCE BEGINS IN THE LABORATORY
Laboratory results can reveal unusual patterns that help public health teams detect, investigate and monitor outbreaks, making laboratories an important part of disease surveillance and early warning.
THE FUTURE OF GENETIC TESTING: FROM RESEARCH LABS TO EVERYDAY MEDICINE
Genetic testing is moving from research settings into everyday medicine, expanding how clinicians can investigate inherited conditions, support diagnosis and use genetic information in care.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE: WHY THE LABORATORY MATTERS
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become able to survive medicines that once worked against them. Laboratories help identify bacteria, test their response to antibiotics, support treatment decisions and track resistance patterns that matter to public health.
WHY GOVERNMENTS INVEST IN LABORATORY NETWORKS
Laboratory networks connect local, regional and national testing services, helping health systems share information, expand capacity and support coordinated responses to public health needs.
HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS CHANGING DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in diagnostic laboratories to support workflow, data analysis, image interpretation and other tasks, while laboratory professionals remain responsible for oversight and quality.
WHAT WASTEWATER CAN TELL US ABOUT COMMUNITY HEALTH
Wastewater can contain biological signals from a community. When sampled and analyzed carefully, it can complement clinical surveillance by helping public health teams observe population-level trends and possible changes in disease activity.
THE ROLE OF LABORATORIES IN PREVENTING THE NEXT PANDEMIC
Laboratories are central to pandemic preparedness, helping health systems detect unusual infections, confirm emerging threats, monitor pathogens, maintain reliable testing and provide evidence for coordinated public health action.
THE TRIGLYCERIDES TEST: WHAT TRIGLYCERIDES CAN AND CANNOT TELL YOU
The triglycerides test measures a type of fat in the blood and is usually part of a wider lipid profile. Higher levels can be linked with cardiovascular risk, while very high levels can raise the risk of pancreatitis, so results need context.
THE SERUM BILIRUBIN TEST: WHAT BILIRUBIN CAN AND CANNOT TELL YOU
The serum bilirubin test measures bilirubin in the blood and can help investigate jaundice and problems involving the blood, liver or bile flow. The result is useful, but it is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
HANTAVIRUS TESTING: WHAT THE LABORATORY CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THIS RODENT-BORNE INFECTION
Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause serious illness. Laboratory testing can look for antibodies or, in selected situations, viral genetic material, but the right test and timing depend on the clinical situation and specimen.