Graduation Date
5-2018
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Department or Program Chair
Mary Sevigny, PhD
First Reader
Keith Ng, MPH, CLS, MT(ASCP)
Second Reader
Maria C. DeSousa, JD, MPA, CLS
Abstract
Laboratory processing pathways have a significant impact on the overall management of patients with sepsis. Retrieval and isolation of the suspected pathogen from a patient blood culture specimen is required for a definitive diagnosis of bacterial septicemia. Reference laboratories are high-volume facilities most often located some distance away from the collecting facility. Given the lengthy work up already required for blood culture pathogen analysis, reference laboratories must identify ways to optimize every step of the blood culture pathway in the effort to decrease turnaround time and mitigate lag time to final pathogen identification incurred by prolonged collection-to-incubation times. Rapid molecular diagnostic methods independent of culture results is an available potential solution. The focus of this paper is to consider published literature on the evaluation of rapid blood culture testing to identify its potential benefits and ultimately layout a properly developed implementation plan that integrates the Verigene microarray-based rapid blood culture testing system (Nanosphere, Northbrook, IL, USA) into the blood culture workflow at a high-volume reference laboratory.