Category: Disease States

Disease States

Early Flu Season Activity Climbs as H1N1 Dominates Lab Detections

CDC surveillance data show influenza activity higher than typical for early November, with Washington state public health laboratories confirming two new H5 infections.

Disease States

FDA Clears Cepheid Panel for Four Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses

The FDA has cleared Cepheid’s Xpert Hemorrhagic Fever Panel, a multiplex PCR test that detects four hemorrhagic fever viruses and delivers results in about an hour on GeneXpert Dx systems, according to the company.

Disease States

Pennsylvania Law Mandates No-Cost Coverage for Colorectal Cancer Blood Tests

A new Pennsylvania law will require state-regulated insurers and Medicaid to cover blood-based colorectal cancer screening tests with no cost-sharing, Dec 21, 2026.

Cancer

Twist Bioscience Launches Custom MRD Panels for Cancer Assay Development

The new platform offers custom panel manufacturing in as little as one day to support development of tumor-informed MRD assays.

Infectious Diseases

Researchers Develop Rapid Syphilis Test That Combines Two Tests Into One

A Penn State-led team has developed a rapid syphilis test using multilayer nanoparticles, achieving up to 46% stronger signal intensity and enabling single-step detection of low antibody titers.

Womens Health

FDA Clears Point-of-Care Vaginitis PCR Panel with CLIA Waiver

The 20-minute multiplex test delivers eight results covering bacterial vaginosis, Candida species, and trichomoniasis from clinician- or self-collected swabs.

Allergy & Autoimmune

Scipher Medicine Plans Launch of Blood Test to Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Response

The molecular test could help identify patients more likely to respond to abatacept, with early access expected in 2027.

Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular

Blood Test Using 10 Biomarkers May Help Predict Chronic Disease Risk

Researchers developed a simplified metabolic health score using routine blood markers to identify people at greater risk of developing cardiometabolic disease.

Dementias & Alzheimer’s

Diadem Secures US Patent for Blood-Based Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker Detection

The patent expands intellectual property coverage for the blood-based assay ahead of its planned commercial launch.

Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases

Studies Identify Blood Tests That Could Reduce Need for Liver Biopsies

New findings show how blood-based biomarkers could improve detection of advanced liver disease and guide decisions about further testing.

Kidney Disease

Urine Biomarker Test Improves Prediction of Donor Kidney Outcomes

A Johns Hopkins study reports that adding three urine biomarkers to standard assessments raises the accuracy of predicting deceased donor kidney transplant success from 80% to 86%.

Respiratory Disease

Yourgene Health Cystic Fibrosis Assay Receives IVDR Accreditation

The Cystic Fibrosis Base assay has received IVDR accreditation, ensuring high standards for detecting cystic fibrosis mutations.

Sepsis

Tampa General Adopts Host-Response Test After Study Shows 33% Drop in Cefepime Use

Tampa General Hospital is the first in the Southeast to implement the MeMed BV host-response test in its emergency workflow, reporting a 33% reduction in cefepime use and 13% fewer hospitalizations, according to hospital-led research.