[Comparison of Cytomegalovirus Polymerase Chain Reaction Test Results Obtained with Fully Automated Systems: Roche Cobas 6800 and Qiagen NeuMoDx Experience].

Viral load monitoring is important in identifying patients at risk of developing cytomegalovirus (CMV) related complications after transplantation and for this purpose, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Rt-qPCR) tests are most commonly used. The main problem in CMV DNA Rt-qPCR tests that make quantitative measurements is that there are significant differences in measurements performed with different kits in different laboratories. Comparability of viral load measurements between laboratories has increased with the introduction of quantitative PCR tests calibrated with the CMV International Quantitation Standard (IQS) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Bacterial and fungal secondary infections occurring in COVID-19 patients followed in intensive care: a retrospective study.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the effects of secondary bacterial and fungal infections on patient outcomes in patients followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients followed in the ICU of our hospital between March 2020 and June 2021, using the hospital information system. Demographic data, pathogens causing a secondary infection, onset time of secondary infection, and patient outcomes were recorded.

Evaluation of the Effect of Sampling Strategy on Test Results in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The oronasopharyngeal (ONP) sampling phase is critical in the diagnosis of infection during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effect of the standardized operational team in the sampling unit on test results and repetitions.

Methods: Patients who applied to the Adult Pandemic Polyclinic between August 2020 and October 2021 and whose ONP samples were taken for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test were included in the study.

[Comparison of Two Different Quantitative Tests for Anti-Spike Measurement After Two Doses of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Healthcare Professionals].

Serological tests developed to detect antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus disease-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens are used to demonstrate immunity level, vaccine efficacy and duration of protection. However, the evaluation of these tests and the interpretation of the results are still under investigation. In this study, it was aimed to compare the anti-spike measurement values in healthcare workers who have not experienced Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) after vaccination with two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with two commercial quantitative antibody detection tests which were used to give results in the same unit and work with different methods.

[Evaluation of the Rapid Antigen Detection Kit with the Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Respiratory Samples].

The disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was named as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 11, 2020. The rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 patients is essential to reduce the disease spread. The reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard test to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 acute infection.

Evaluation of Aspergillus Lateral-Flow Test in Serum Samples of Pediatric Patients.

Background: Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with hematologic malignancies and under the risk of IA may be uncertain or may delay because of nonspecific clinical presentation of the patients and difficult application techniques of conventional methods. Early diagnosis can provide initial antifungal therapy and prevent high mortality. In this study, we investigated the performance of an Aspergillus lateral-flow device (LFD) test (OLM Diagnostics, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) for the diagnosis of IA in pediatric febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies.

[Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotypes Among Intravenous Drug and Non-Drug User Patients].

Genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) can vary over the years between different patient groups and regions. The prevalence of intravenous drug users (IVDU) is known to increase in our country, yet there are a limited number of studies investigating the distribution of HCV genotypes in this group. These data are essential for monitorization of the changes in HCV epidemiology.

[Comparison of Two Commercial Quantitative Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests Calibrated by World Health Organization International CMV Standard].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load quantitation is important in diagnosis, follow-up, and monitoring of antiviral therapy in transplanted patients. In this study, it was aimed to compare the results of the two commercial World Health Organization (WHO) International CMV standard calibrated polymerase chain reaction tests, CMV Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Taqman (CMV-CAP/CTM) (Roche, Germany) and Artus CMV QIASymphony-Rotorgene (CMV-QS-RGQ) (Qiagen, Germany). Both tests were performed simultaneously on 244 plasma samples.

Investigation of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) DNA as an immunological and virological marker in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients.

Background: High viral loads are observed in Torque Teno Virus (TTV) infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We aimed to analyze the kinetics of plasma TTV-DNA load in pediatric patients who received immunosuppressive therapy and developed infection complications in the first 100 days after HSCT.

Methods: As a patient group; 113 plasma samples taken from 33 pediatric HSCT recipients at a time interval after transplantation and as a control group; 38 plasma samples from 38 children without known chronic disease were included in the study.

Evaluation of Commercially Available Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Haematological Malignancies.

Early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a challenge. Non-specific clinical and radiologic findings, as well as difficulties in conventional diagnostic method application, may delay correct diagnosis. Nowadays, nucleic acid-based assays have reduced the need for conventional antigen detection and culture-based methods and provided new opportunities for patient care.

[Evaluation of the Two Different Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Methods Used for BK Virus (BKV) Quantification and BKV Genotype Assignment].

BK virus (BKV) viral load quantification has a distinct role in the clinical control of BKV nephropathy and organ rejection among renal transplant recipients. In this study, it was aimed to compare BKV DNA measurement values performed with two different real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods and to determine BKV genotypes in renal transplant recipients. Totally, 150 clinical samples tested previously in two different laboratories (Lab-1 and Lab-2) from adult and pediatric renal transplantation patients were included in the study.

Evaluation of a chromogenic medium for detection of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.

Background: Because of the emergence and spread of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains which are resistant to many antibiotics, reliable detection of ESBL is very important for infection control. Several chromogenic media have been proposed for the detection of ESBL producers in addition to the conventional phenotypic and genotyping methods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of Brilliance ESBL agar (Oxoid; Thermo Fisher Scientific, UK), a selective chromogenic agar for the detection of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (E.

Evaluation of vancomycin resistance 3 multiplexed PCR assay for detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci from rectal swabs.

Background: Active screening for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) using rectal specimens is recommended to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance within certain high-risk populations. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay (AusDiagnostics, Australia), a rapid multiplex real-time PCR assay that detects vanA and/or vanB.

Methods: Two-hundred-and-eleven rectal swabs from Hematology and Oncology unit were submitted for VRE surveillance via direct detection of vanA and/or vanB by culture and by using Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay.