COVID Purpura (Toes) Case Series: A Chilblains-Like Vasculopathy.

Biopsies were taken from 4 patients who presented to their dermatologist with violaceous papules and plaques of the dorsal toes (COVID Toes) associated with varying degrees of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 exposure and COVID-19 testing. Major histopathologic findings were lymphocytic eccrine inflammation and a spectrum of vasculopathic findings to include superficial and deep angiocentric-perivascular lymphocytic inflammation, lymphocytes in vessel walls (lymphocytic vasculitis), endothelial swelling, red blood cell extravasation, and focal deposits of fibrin in both vessel lumina, and vessel walls. Interface changes were observed to include vacuolopathy and apoptotic keratinocytes at the basement membrane.

Multicenter Evaluation of Meridian Bioscience HSV 1&2 Molecular Assay for Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 from Clinical Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Specimens.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes acute and relapsing symptoms characterized by ulcerative lesions. Laboratory diagnosis of HSV in cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesions has historically been performed with the use of viral cell culture systems; however, these tests are laborious and suffer decreased sensitivity for advanced-stage lesions. The recent availability of FDA-cleared moderately complex assays has resulted in the increased use of molecular diagnostics for the routine detection of HSV in superficial swab specimens.

Detection of high-risk papillomavirus DNA with commercial invader-technology-based analyte-specific reagents following automated extraction of DNA from cervical brushings in ThinPrep media.

We compared the performances of the Third Wave Technology Invader method and the Digene Hybrid Capture 2 assay to detect high-risk human papillomaviruses in 87 cervical brushing specimens submitted in Cytyc ThinPrep media. Two different methods for the extraction of DNA from squamous epithelial cells were also evaluated.

Comparative evaluation of three commercially available methodologies for hepatitis C virus genotyping.

We compared the performances of three hepatitis C virus genotyping methodologies supplied by Bayer, Abbott, and Third Wave Technologies. Genotypes were determined for 136 of 137 specimens by the Bayer method, 121 of 137 specimens by the Invader assay, and only 77 of 137 specimens by the Abbott assay. All reported genotypes were concordant by all three methods.

Intestinal amebae.

Although the intestinal amebae that infect humans are not thought of as classic agents of food-borne disease, food plays an important role in the transmission of these protozoa. This is particularly true for areas of the world where the organisms are endemic. Transmission of most intestinal protozoa occurs by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.