Compilation of 10 Years of MIRU-VNTR Data: Canadian National Tuberculosis Laboratory's Experience.

Tuberculosis is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide and is a priority at the provincial and federal levels in Canada. It is known that tuberculosis transmission networks are complex and span many years as well as different jurisdictions and countries. MIRU-VNTR is a universal tuberculosis genotyping method that utilizes a 24-loci pattern and it has shown promise in identifying inter and intrajurisdictional clusters within Canada.

Genotyping Canadian Isolates to Supplement Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations.

is an emerging foodborne parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an enteric disease of humans. Domestically acquired outbreaks have been reported in Canada every spring or summer since 2013. To date, investigations into the potential sources of infection have relied solely on epidemiological data.

Comparison of CINtec PLUS cytology and cobas HPV test for triaging Canadian patients with LSIL cytology referred to colposcopy: A two-year prospective study.

Objectives & Methods: CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV tests were compared for triaging patients referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL cytology in a 2-year prospective study. Cervical specimens were tested once at enrollment, and test positivity rates determined. Test performance was ascertained with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and CIN3 or worse (CIN3+) serving as clinical endpoints.

A Novel Small Molecule Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Propagation in Cell Culture.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause acute and chronic infection that is associated with considerable liver-related morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there has been a shift in the treatment paradigm with the discovery and approval of agents that target specific proteins vital for viral replication. We employed a cell culture-adapted strain of HCV and human hepatoma-derived cells lines to test the effects of our novel small-molecule compound (AO13) on HCV.

Comparison of Alinity m HPV and cobas HPV assays on cervical specimens in diverse storage media.

Objective: To assess the concordance of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) testing with the Alinity assay on cervical samples collected with diverse collection/storage protocols (ThinPrep, SurePath, Cervicollect) and to assess inter-assay concordance of HR-HPV testing of cervical cell specimens with Alinity m HR HPV assay (Alinity) vs cobas® 4800 HPV assay (cobas).

Methods: Specimens were obtained from 560 women attending a Women's Health clinic. Two specimens were obtained from each woman with combinations of two of the three collection devices and aliquots were tested by the two assays.

Sexual Satisfaction: Exploring the Role of Flow.

Sexual satisfaction plays an important role in relationship, mental, and even physical health. Activities that produce a state of flow create meaning in people's lives. Although people who report high levels of sexual satisfaction describe their sex lives as being very meaningful, there is little research on the relationship between sexual satisfaction and flow.

Serological Evaluation of Human Antibodies of the Immunoglobulin Class A and G Against SARS-CoV-2 in Serum Collected in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ability to detect antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently under investigation with various performance characteristics and indications for use. In this article, we analyzed the ability of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin class G (IgG), EuroImmun SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG, and EuroImmun SARS-CoV-2 ELISA immunoglobulin class A (IgA) kits to detect evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2. We tested 49 known coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients and 111 prepandemic stored serology specimens.

CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV testing for triaging Canadian women referred to colposcopy with a history of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: Baseline findings.

Objective And Methods: CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV tests were assessed for triaging women referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL cytology. Both tests were performed at baseline using ThinPrep cervical specimens and biopsy confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) served as the clinical endpoint.

Results: In all ages, (19-76 years, n = 600), 44.

Real-time PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 detection in Canadian laboratories.

With emergence of pandemic COVID-19, rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is essential. This study compared laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian hospital and public health laboratories, and some commercially available real-time RT-PCR assays. Overall, analytical sensitivities were equivalent between LDTs and most commercially available methods.

Correction: Cumulative inactivation of Nell-1 in Wnt1 expressing cell lineages results in craniofacial skeletal hypoplasia and postnatal hydrocephalus.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Cumulative inactivation of Nell-1 in Wnt1 expressing cell lineages results in craniofacial skeletal hypoplasia and postnatal hydrocephalus.

Upregulation of Nell-1 has been associated with craniosynostosis (CS) in humans, and validated in a mouse transgenic Nell-1 overexpression model. Global Nell-1 inactivation in mice by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis results in neonatal lethality with skeletal abnormalities including cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD)-like calvarial bone defects. This study further defines the role of Nell-1 in craniofacial skeletogenesis by investigating specific inactivation of Nell-1 in Wnt1 expressing cell lineages due to the importance of cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) in craniofacial tissue development.

Canadian recommendations for laboratory interpretation of multiple or extensive drug resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, species and .

The goal of this document was to provide Canadian laboratories with a framework for consistent reporting and monitoring of multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) and extensively drug resistant organisms (XDRO) for common gram-negative pathogens. This is the final edition of the interim recommendations, which were modified after one year of broad consultative review. This edition represents a consensus of peer-reviewed information and was co-authored by the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network and the Canadian Association of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Heterophilic interference in specimens yielding false-reactive results on the Abbott 4th generation ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay.

Background: False-reactivity in HIV-negative specimens has been detected in HIV fourth-generation antigen/antibody or 'combo' assays which are able to detect both anti-HIV-1/HIV-2 antibodies and HIV-1 antigen.

Objectives: We sought to characterize these specimens and determine the effect of heterophilic interference.

Study Design: Specimens previously testing as false-reactive on the Abbott ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab combo assay and re-tested on a different (Siemens ADVIA Centaur HIV Ag/Ab) assay.

Identification of the benefits, enablers and barriers to integrating junior pharmacists into the ward team within one UK-based hospital.

Introduction: A high nurse-vacancy rate combined with high numbers of applications for junior pharmacist roles resulted in Colchester Hospital University National Health System Foundation Trust trial employing junior pharmacists into traditional nursing posts with the aim of integrating pharmacists into the ward team and enhancing local medicines optimization. The aim of the evaluation was to describe the implementation process and practice of the integrated care pharmacists (ICPs) in order to inform future innovations of a similar nature.

Methods: Four band 6 ward-based ICPs were employed on two wards funded within current ward staffing expenditure.

Comparison of two automated instruments for Epstein-Barr virus serology in a large adult hospital and implementation of an Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-based testing algorithm.

Serology remains the mainstay for diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. This study compared two automated platforms (BioPlex 2200 and Architect i2000SR) to test three EBV serological markers: viral capsid antigen (VCA) immunoglobulins of class M (IgM), VCA immunoglobulins of class G (IgG) and EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG. Using sera from 65 patients at various stages of EBV disease, BioPlex demonstrated near-perfect agreement for all EBV markers compared to a consensus reference.

Antibiotic susceptibility and molecular analysis of invasive Haemophilus influenzae in Canada, 2007 to 2014.

Background: Previously we studied the antibiotic susceptibility of invasive Haemophilus influenzae collected in Canada from 1990 to 2006 and characterized isolates by serotype, MLST and ftsI gene sequencing for significant PBP3 mutations.

Objectives: To provide an update based on isolates collected from 2007 to 2014.

Methods: A total of 882 case isolates were characterized by serotype using slide agglutination and PCR.

Characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis from Atlantic Canada, 2009 to 2013: With special reference to the nonpolysaccharide vaccine targets (PorA, factor H binding protein, Neisseria heparin-binding antigen and Neisseria adhesin A).

Background: Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) has always been a major cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Canada. With the successful implementation of a meningitis C conjugate vaccine, the majority of IMD in Canada is now caused by MenB.

Objective: To investigate IMD case isolates in Atlantic Canada from 2009 to 2013.

Heroin shortage in Coastal Kenya: A rapid assessment and qualitative analysis of heroin users' experiences.

Introduction: While relatively rare events, abrupt disruptions in heroin availability have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality risk among those who are heroin dependent. A heroin shortage occurred in Coast Province, Kenya from December 2010 to March 2011. This qualitative analysis describes the shortage events and consequences from the perspective of heroin users, along with implications for health and other public sectors.

Detection of enterovirus D68 in Canadian laboratories.

The recent emergence of a severe respiratory disease caused by enterovirus D68 prompted investigation into whether Canadian hospital and provincial laboratories can detect this virus using commercial and laboratory-developed assays. This study demonstrated analytical sensitivity differences between commercial and laboratory-developed assays for the detection of enterovirus D68.