From nostril swab to COVID test result: The unseen work of our laboratories

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From nostril swab to COVID test result: The unseen work of our laboratories

20 May 2020

Fiona

Cassie

fcassie@nzdoctor.co.nz

Wednesday 20 May 2020, 07:00 AM

Nucleic acids must be extracted from cells in a sample

Reporter Fiona Cassie wanted to know what happens to the thousands of nasal swabs that are sent away for analysis each day. The Southern Community Laboratories experts who answered her questions are clinical microbiologist Arlo Upton, molecular pathology department head Jenny Grant and clinical microbiologist James Ussher

What happens when the swab sample arrives at the laboratory? The lab staff, using a biological safety cabinet, place the sample into another tub

COVID-19

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How to Treat

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Heart failure

Pharmacist prescribers Linda Bryant and Leanne Te Karu discuss positive polypharmacy for heart failure. Current evidence shows the intensive implementation of four medications offers the greatest benefit to most patients with heart failure, with significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalisations and all-cause mortality

Wednesday 29 January 2025, 12:45 AM