Detecting Early Signs of Pregnancy Using i-STAT
Pregnancy testing is done by confirming the presence of the beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) hormone in the blood or urine of the patient. Most doctors would usually advise women to use urine hCG tests at home to determine if they are pregnant. While this type of test is widely accessible and cheaper, urine self-test kits […]
The Importance of Getting Your 2nd COVID-19 Booster Shot
The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting the world for over three years now. The end may be nearing soon since worldwide vaccination efforts have helped successfully decreased infections and prevented more serious cases and hospitalizations. Aside from the initial COVID-19 vaccine doses, additional booster shots are given to decrease the risk of a severe COVID-19 […]
5 Important Benefits of Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
Throughout the years, medical testing has generally been centralized within the lab. Large volumes of samples need to be tested in clinical laboratories, and it would take a long time before results can be interpreted. Nowadays, new technologies give way to tests which could be performed at the patient’s bedside and beyond the laboratories. This […]
Understanding the COVID-19 Omicron Subvariant BA.4
The COVID-19 subvariant Ba.4 was first detected in South Africa and now has been found in more than a dozen countries. According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and data from the GISAID – hCov19 Variants, this subvariant appears to be more transmissible than the Omicron variant and can impact the immunity from […]
How COVID-19 has Impacted our Fight Against Dengue
On May 18, 2022, PAGASA declared the onset of the rainy season for the Philippines. Like clockwork, cases of dengue have also begun to rise this past month, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. Despite this, the public is assured by DOH that our dengue situation remains manageable. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje stated […]
Point of Care (POCT) vs Laboratory Testing
The healthcare industry has made strides in providing fast, easy-to-use, and accurate healthcare testing to patients. We now have healthcare testing in different types of facilities, from large hospital laboratories to small outpatient centers and even beside the patient! This innovation has helped push healthcare testing to new heights, but this also signifies a crossroad […]
Long COVID: What We Know About This Long Term COVID-19 After Infection
Long COVID: What is it? Long COVID is a term used to describe the persistence of symptoms in those who have recovered from COVID-19. Those infected with the virus developed persistent or new symptoms that can last for weeks or months. This term was first used by a COVID-19 patient in Italy named Elisa Perego. […]
IHU Variant: Get to Know the Newest Monitored Variant
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen multiple strains of this deadly virus, and these variants have made it challenging to handle the pandemic. News of a new COVID-19 variant has recently appeared, and people are starting to worry. Here’s everything we know so far about the most recent COVID-19 variant. What […]
What Is Flurona and Should We Be Concerned?
Since the start of 2022, the Philippines has seen a massive increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, and with the colder temperature, more and more people are also getting sick because of the flu. Some countries are now reporting people getting BOTH the FLU and COVID-19 What is this new illness? Should we be […]
Holidays in the Time of COVID-19
‘Tis the season to be jolly and safe! The holidays are fast approaching and, it is the second time we are celebrating Christmas amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five (5) ways on how to enjoy the holidays in the time of the pandemic: 1. Stay safe! Again, the pandemic is still rampant, so before […]