MLAB 1235 Unit 4 Objectives

Describe the morphological characteristics of spirochetes.
Describe the disease affects that Spirochete diseases have in common.
Describe the prevalence of syphilis in comparison with other spirochete diseases.
State the genus and species of Spirochete which causes syphilis.
List 4 other pathogenic Treponemes stating the transmission and the disease they cause.

State 4 modes of transmission of spirochete which causes Syphilis.
Discuss the different stages of syphilis, including length of each stage and signs and symptoms which may be present.
Discuss the signs and symptoms associated with congenital syphilis.
List three key elements involved in diagnosing Syphilis.
Define reagin.
Distinguish treponemal tests from nontreponemal (reagin).
Describe the principle of the following tests for syphilis: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL), rapid plasma reagin (RPR), Treponema Pallidum Immobilization test (TPI), Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption Test (FTA_ABS), Hemagglutination and ELISA.
Define “Biologic False Positive” (BFP) as it relates to screening tests for Syphilis.
Define “Biologic False Negative” as it relates to screening tests for Syphilis.
State three causes of BFP and false negative reactions in reagin test results.
Discuss limitations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing and testing for congenital syphilis.
State the treatment for Syphilis.
Part 2 Lyme Disease
State the genus and species of Spirochete which causes Lyme’s disease.
State the genus and species of tick which is the vector involved in this disease as well as animals which are natural reservoirs of the organism.
List and describe the signs and symptoms which occur during the three stages of Lyme’s disease.
State the antibody response which occurs during Lyme's disease including antibody class involved, timing of production and significance.
Compare immunofluorescence assay (IFA), EIA, and immunoblot testing for Lyme’s disease as to sensitivity and ease of performance.
Discuss causes of false positive and negative results in serologic testing for Lyme’s disease.
State the treatment used for Lyme disease
Part 3 Streptococcal Serology
Describe the morphologic characteristics of Streptococci.
Describe how Streptococci are divided into groupings.
State the genus and species of the Streptococcal organism which frequently causes disease in humans.
List 5 exoantigens which are produced and excreted by Streptococci.
Distinguish suppurative from nonsuppurative complications of streptococcal infections and give 2 examples of each.
List the two major sites of infection for Group A Streptococcus.
Describe the immunologic mechanism that is thought to be the cause of Rheumatic Fever.
Describe the immunologic mechanism that is thought to cause the pathogenesis which occurs in acute post-Streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
State the most reliable test for diagnosing a Streptococcal infection.
State the advantages and disadvantages of the rapid tests used for screening purposes for Streptococcal infections.
Discuss reasons for performing antibody rather than antigen testing for sequelae of streptococcal infections.
Describe the characteristics of streptolysin O (SLO) and streptolysin (S).
List and describe the principle of 3 types of serological tests used to aid in the diagnosis of Streptococcal infections.
State the principle of the PCR test for detecting a Streptococcal infection.
Part 4 Hepatitis
Differentiate between the different hepatitis viruses including:
1. whether the virus is DNA or RNA
2. mode of transmission
3. incubation period
4. whether or not the infection will be chronic.
5. complications of the disease, if any.
Correlate the various serologic markers of hepatitis with their diagnostic significance.
Indicate the laboratory methods that are most commony used to screen, confirm or monitor hepatitis virus infections.

Part 5 Other Viral Infections
Associate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with the specific diseases it causes.
Define the following terms: heterophile antigen, heterophile antibody, Forssman antigen and Forssman antibody.
Describe the transmission, signs and symptoms associated with infectious mononucleosis.
Describe the cell known as the “Downey cell”.
State the principle of the Davidson Differential test for infectious mononucleosis.
Properly interpret the results of a Davidson Differential test.
State the principle of the slide test for infectious mononucleosis including the species of red blood cell used.
List the EBV antigens and the timing of appearance of antigens as markers for the disease.
Discuss the clinical significance of cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Compare and contrast the transmission, signs and symptoms of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and 2 (HSV2).
List the diseases associated with varicella zoster virus, rubella virus, rubeola virus, and mumps virus.
Correlate viral IgM and IgG antibodies with their clinical significance in terms of detecting current infections, congenital infections, or immunity to infection.
State the most common serology method used to detect antibodies to these viruses.
Part 6 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Describe the makeup of the HIV particle.
Differentiate the three main structural genes of HIV and their products.
Describe replication of the HIV virus.
Explain conditions under which transmission of HIV can occur.
Describe the effects of HIV on the immune system.
Describe the three stages of HIV infection including signs and symptoms, opportunistic infections which may occur and CD4 cell counts.
Describe the signs and symptoms which occur in infants born infected with HIV.
Describe the immune response to HIV infection including the antibodies produced in response to specific HIV antigens.
Describe retroviral treatments and the impact they have had on HIV infection.
State the reason that ELISA tests for HIV continue to be the screening test of choice.
State the principle of the dot blot test for HIV.
State the principle of the Western blot test for HIV.
State the number and types of bands which must be positive and required to be present in order for a Western blot test to be interpreted as positive.
Define “indeterminate result” as it relates to the Western blot test for HIV.
List three causes of an indeterminate Western blot test.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the p24 antigen test.
Describe the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for HIV.
List the clinical samples which may be submitted for HIV viral growth and isolation.
Discuss the clinical utility of HIV viral load testing.
State the difficulty encountered when testing neonates for HIV infection.

Last Update: November 16, 2011

Unit 4 Objectives: Serological Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases