We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Combating Infectious Diseases Key Focus of AACC

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Aug 2017

At the 69th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, the world’s largest exposition for clinical laboratory products and services, over 750 exhibitors displayed pioneering diagnostic technology, including the latest in mobile health, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, point-of-care, and automation, with the focus being largely on speed and effectiveness in infectious disease detection.

According to Kalorama Information, (New York, NY, USA), an independent medical market research firm, diseases caused by infection are among the largest and most competitive markets for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) instruments, kits and reagents. The 2017 AACC Clinical Lab Expo held at the San Diego Convention Center from July 30–August 3, saw important product announcements for early and accurate detection for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Some of the product announcements at the event included a new method for detecting 5 gram-negative bacteria using genoproteomic peptide marker analysis on a combined MS/LC system. Additionally, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics showcased its Vitros Immunodiagnostic Products human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) combo assay for use on the Vitros 3600 immunodiagnostic system. A fourth-generation HIV assay, the Vitros HIV combo is designed to detect acute HIV-1 infection earlier than previous generations of HIV assays.

Further, Aalto Bio Reagents, a developer and provider of raw materials to the in- vitro diagnostics industry and to research laboratories globally, announced their first-to-market recombinant Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) protein. Also, Seegene Inc. announced a Random Access System, which can provide order-to-report on the same day by simultaneously performing high multiplex real-time PCR testing on a single platform, regardless of specimen type or assays.

Related Links:
Kalorama Information

Visit expo >

New

Gold Member

Immunochromatographic Assay

CRYPTO Cassette

Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®

New

Laboratory Software

ArtelWare

New

Gram-Negative Blood Culture Assay

LIAISON PLEX Gram-Negative Blood Culture Assay

Latest AACC 2017 News

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel

Image: Mesoporous gold nanoparticles have unique biosensing capabilities (Photo courtesy of The University of Queensland)

Gold Nanoparticles to Improve Accuracy of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

Ovarian cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers, in part because it rarely shows clear symptoms in its early stages, and diagnosis is often complex. Current approaches make it difficult to accurately... Read more

Simultaneous Cell Isolation Technology Improves Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy

Accurate cancer diagnosis remains a challenge, as liquid biopsy techniques often fail to capture the complexity of tumor biology. Traditional systems for isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) vary in... Read more

Image: Hair samples were collected from ALS-positive cases and ALS-negative controls (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai Health System)

Simple Non-Invasive Hair-Based Test Could Speed ALS Diagnosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that often takes more than a year to diagnose after symptoms appear. Early detection is critical, as it can improve... Read more

Image: The fluorescent “abnormal UA alarm” delivers smartphone-guided, enzyme-free gout screening for pennies per test (Photo courtesy of Shaanxi University)

Paper Strip Saliva Test Detects Elevated Uric Acid Levels Without Blood Draws

Diagnosing elevated uric acid (UA) levels—an important indicator for conditions like gout, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome—typically requires blood draws, lab equipment, trained technicians,... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel

Image: Over 100 new epigenetic biomarkers may help predict cardiovascular disease risk (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Routine Blood Draws Could Detect Epigenetic Biomarkers for Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, yet predicting individual risk remains a persistent challenge. Traditional risk factors, while useful, do not fully capture biological changes... Read more

Image: The trial will evaluate whether blood-based single-cell sequencing can reliably diagnose conditions such as Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Single Cell RNA Sequencing Could Enable Non-Invasive Blood Disorder Diagnosis

Hematologic disorders are often diagnosed using painful, invasive, and expensive bone marrow aspiration or biopsy procedures. These approaches limit patient compliance and broader utility, leaving a need... Read more

Image: The blood-based test opens a new path for HPV-associated head and neck cancer screening (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Blood Test Identifies HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancers 10 Years Before Symptoms

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes around 70% of head and neck cancers in the United States, and cases are rising each year. Unlike cervical cancers linked to HPV, there is currently no screening test for... Read more

Image: A schematic describing what Inocles do and where they are found (Photo courtesy of Kiguchi et al. CC-BY-ND)

Giant DNA Elements Discovered in Mouth Could Impact Oral Health

Modern medical science appears to know everything about the human body, but discoveries continue to be surprising. The microbiome, including the oral microbiome, is undergoing a research renaissance, revealing... Read more

Hematology

view channel

Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Image: Platelets sequester cfDNA during circulation (Murphy L. et al., Science, 2025; DOI: 10.1126/science.adp3971)

Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer

Platelets are widely recognized for their role in blood clotting and scab formation, but they also play a crucial role in immune defense by detecting pathogens and recruiting immune cells.... Read more

Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel

Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe, with more than 564,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths annually. Metastatic breast cancer is rising in younger populations and remains the leading cause... Read more

Image: AiPlex VAS for the MosaiQ platform is designed to help reduce time-to-diagnosis for patients with autoimmune vasculitis (Photo courtesy of AliveDx)

Novel Multiplex Assay Supports Diagnosis of Autoimmune Vasculitis

Autoimmune vasculitis and related conditions are difficult to diagnose quickly and accurately, often requiring multiple tests to confirm the presence of specific autoantibodies. Traditional methods can... Read more

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Simple Genetic Testing Could Predict Treatment Success in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients starting therapy often face a choice between interferon beta and glatiramer acetate, two equally established and well-tolerated first-line treatments. Until now, the decision... Read more

Microbiology

view channel

Image: The CD Chip (top) and The CD² Chip (bottom) (Photo courtesy of YANG Xiao)

Microfluidic Platform Assesses Neutrophil Function in Sepsis Patients

Sepsis arises from infection and immune dysregulation, with neutrophils playing a central role in its progression. However, current clinical tools are unable to both isolate these cells and assess their... Read more

New Diagnostic Method Confirms Sepsis Infections Earlier

Sepsis remains one of the most dangerous medical emergencies, often progressing rapidly and becoming fatal without timely intervention. Each hour of delayed treatment in septic shock reduces patient survival... Read more

Image: New diagnostics could predict a woman’s risk of a common sexually transmitted infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more

Portable Spectroscopy Rapidly and Noninvasively Detects Bacterial Species in Vaginal Fluid

Vaginal health depends on maintaining a balanced microbiome, particularly certain Lactobacillus species. Disruption of this balance, known as dysbiosis, can increase risks of infection, pregnancy complications,... Read more

Pathology

view channel

Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma

Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more

Clinicopathologic Study Supports Exclusion of Cervical Serous Carcinoma from WHO Classification

High-grade serous carcinoma is a rare diagnosis in cervical biopsies and can be difficult to distinguish from other tumor types. Cervical serous carcinoma is no longer recognized as a primary cervical... Read more

Image: The mobile-compatible, AI-powered assistant for malaria improves diagnostic accuracy in real-world rural conditions (Photo courtesy of Universiti Malaya)

Mobile-Compatible AI-Powered System to Revolutionize Malaria Diagnosis

Malaria remains a major health burden in Malaysia, with Plasmodium knowlesi now the leading cause of human cases. Its rapid replication cycle and similarities to other malaria species make timely and accurate... Read more

Compact AI-Powered Microscope Enables Rapid Cost-Effective Cancer Scoring

Digital pathology is essential for modern cancer diagnostics, particularly for evaluating biomarkers like HER2, which guide breast cancer treatment decisions. However, conventional whole-slide imaging... Read more

Technology

view channel

Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more

Image: Zeteo Tech’s digitalMALDI technology pushes MALDI technology to a whole new level for speed, sensitivity and specificity (Photo courtesy of Zeteo Tech)

Rapid Diagnostic Technology Utilizes Breath Samples to Detect Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are leading causes of illness and death worldwide, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.... Read more

Graphene-Based Sensor Uses Breath Sample to Identify Diabetes and Prediabetes in Minutes

About 37 million U.S. adults live with diabetes, and one in five is unaware of their condition. Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood draws or lab visits, which are costly and inconvenient.... Read more

Image: The wireless and wearable device measure specific biomarkers in a person’s sweat (Photo courtesy of Roozbeh Ghaffari)

Wireless Sweat Patch Could Be Used as Diagnostic Test for Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that causes excessive mucus to accumulate in the lungs, impairs digestion, and can affect multiple organs. More than 40,000 children and adults in the U.... Read more

Industry

view channel

Image: Under the agreement, Werfen will gain access to the components of Volition’s proprietary Nu.Q® H3.1 NETs assay (Photo courtesy of VolitionRx)

Werfen and VolitionRx Partner to Advance Diagnostic Testing for Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to produce abnormal antibodies, making the blood “stickier” than normal. This condition increases the risk of... Read more

Image: The partnership aims to improve early detection and management of chronic kidney disease (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Siemens Healthineers and Carna Health Partner to Advance Kidney Care Innovation

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health challenge, particularly for high-risk and underserved populations. Early detection and management are essential but often hindered by limited access... Read more

Tempus AI Acquires Digital Pathology Company Paige

Tempus AI (Chicago, IL, USA) has acquired Paige (New York, NY, USA), an artificial intelligence (AI) company specializing in digital pathology. The acquisition allows Tempus to grow its dataset, expand... Read more

Vircell Launches New Website for Molecular Control Products

Vircell, a Spanish company specializing in human infectious diseases, has launched a new website for its AMPLIRUN® molecular control products. The site is designed to offer laboratories and professionals... Read more