Genes, blood types linked to severity in COVID-19

Labs should consider using digital microscopy | Genes, blood types linked to severity in COVID-19 | Excessive opportunistic gut bacteria tied to Parkinson's

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June 23, 2020

Top Story

Labs should consider using digital microscopy

Laboratories should consider using digital microscopy systems as it could help improve efficiency and allow flex staffing by enabling remote reviewing, said Megan Nakashima, a staff hematopathologist and medical director for automated hematology and urinalysis at the Cleveland Clinic at Ohio. Complete blood counts can be performed by technologists with their differentials even if the latter is not near the slides, microscope or in the hematology area.

Full Story: Clinical Laboratory News (6/2020)

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Science Briefs

Genes, blood types linked to severity in COVID-19

Researchers found that specific blood types and gene variants were linked to higher risk for disease severity among people with COVID-19, with those having type A blood at 45% higher risk for severe illness and those with type O blood at 35% lower risk for severe illness. Clusters of genes, including those affecting the ACE2 protein, were also associated with increased risk of disease severity, according to the study in The New England Journal of Medicine, which was based on data for more than 4,000 people.

Full Story: Reuters (6/18)

Excessive opportunistic gut bacteria tied to Parkinson's

A study in npj Parkinson's Disease found that individuals with Parkinson's disease had guts that contained excessive numbers of opportunistic pathogens that weaken the immune system and prompt infection, as well as elevated carbohydrate-metabolizing bacteria, but reduced levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing microbes. "The identity of [opportunistic gut pathogens] will enable experimental studies to determine whether and how they play a role in [Parkinson's disease]," researcher Haydeh Payami said.

Full Story: New Atlas (6/21)

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Tech Briefs

Highly sensitive blood test for cancer in trials

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a highly sensitive finger prick blood test for cancer that is able determine if a patient is at risk of relapsing after treatment and can detect one mutant DNA molecule among a million molecules. The researchers said the test, which is in clinical trials, is years away from clinical use.

Full Story: Daily Mail (London) (6/18)

Policy Briefs

Health providers warned against using some COVID-19 tests

The FDA has released a statement recommending health care providers and laboratories stop using certain COVID-19 antibody tests on its "removed" list to avoid incorrect assessments.

Full Story: MassDevice (Boston) (6/19)

Practice Briefs

Roche's CDx approved by FDA for follicular lymphoma drug

Roche's cobas EZH2 mutation test has been approved by the FDA for use as a companion diagnostic test for Epizyme's Tazverik, or tazemetostat, for treating patients with EZH2-positive follicular lymphoma.

Full Story: Seeking Alpha (free registration) (6/19)

Coronavirus antibody test from Emory Medical earns EUA

The FDA has given emergency use authorization to Emory Medical Laboratories for its SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G test. The test can only be performed at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Full Story: FDAnews (6/17)

COVID-19 test from Applied BioCode receives EUA

The FDA has given emergency use authorization to Applied BioCode for its BioCode SARS-CoV-2 assay. The test can only be performed at laboratories certified to perform high-complexity tests.

Full Story: FDAnews (6/17)

AACC News

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