Unit 7- Diagnostics

Question 1

What is the role of Public Health Ontario (PHO) within the healthcare system?

Answer 1

• Laboratory testing and reference microbiology services
• Surveillance and data analysis
• Expert consultation
• Outbreak detection and response coordination
• Education and training for laboratories

PHO provides scientific and technical advice to protect and promote the health of Ontarians.

Question 2

Public health microbiology uses laboratory testing and molecular tools for surveillance. What does this include?

Answer 2

• Routine diagnostic testing
• Genomic sequencing and molecular typing
• Monitoring antimicrobial resistance trends
• Environmental surveillance

This helps track the presence, spread, and evolution of pathogens across populations.

Question 3

In outbreaks, PHO provides several key supports. Name them.

Answer 3

• Confirmatory laboratory testing
• Epidemiological support
• Communication and coordination
• Guidance and protocols

PHO plays a central role in managing outbreaks like Listeria or COVID-19.

Question 4

What are the three main phases of clinical diagnostic testing in microbiology?

Answer 4

• Pre-examination phase
• Examination phase
• Post-examination phase

Each phase is crucial for ensuring accurate and reliable test results.

Question 5

List the four main categories of diagnostic tests in microbiology.

Answer 5

• Direct observation methods
• Growth or isolation methods
• Detection of components (molecular or antigen tests)
• Detection of host response (indirect tests)

Each category has its own methods and applications.

Question 6

What does diagnostic stewardship mean?

Answer 6

• Using diagnostic testing appropriately
• Ensuring accurate and rapid testing
• Providing actionable results

It aims to improve patient outcomes and conserve healthcare resources.

Question 7

True or false: Low-burden diagnostics are designed for high-burden diagnostics requiring specialized labs.

Answer 7

FALSE

Low-burden diagnostics are easy to perform and require minimal equipment, suitable for low-resource settings.

Question 8

What are the advantages of cell-free protein expression systems?

Answer 8

• Portability
• Rapid synthesis
• Safety and simplicity
• Versatility

These systems are ideal for portable diagnostics and manufacturing.

Question 9

What is the mechanism of toehold switch-based diagnostics?

Answer 9

• The switch is ‘off’ until target RNA binds
• Isothermal operation
• Detects viral or bacterial RNA

It allows for sensitive detection without sophisticated lab equipment.

Question 10

What are the features of paper-based diagnostic platforms?

Answer 10

• Lightweight and portable
• No cold chain needed
• Simple readout
• Minimal training required

They are suitable for resource-limited settings.

Question 11

What are aptaswitches?

Answer 11

• Nucleic acid-based sensors
• Change structure upon binding a specific target
• Can detect multiple targets simultaneously

They are used for advanced diagnostics in various applications.

Question 12

What is PLUM in the context of diagnostics?

Answer 12

• A portable, user-friendly device
• Supports cell-free diagnostics
• Provides controlled reaction conditions

It enables distributed testing outside centralized labs.

Question 13

List broader applications of cell-free systems beyond diagnostics.

Answer 13

• Vaccine production
• Therapeutic proteins
• Reagent synthesis

These applications help accelerate responses to emerging diseases.

Question 14

How do low-burden molecular diagnostics contribute to global health equity?

Answer 14

• Increase access to timely healthcare
• Enable local disease surveillance
• Support decentralized production

They help reduce disparities in health outcomes.