Indonesian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology

Screening of Haliclona sp. symbiont bacteria that have the potential as MDR (Multidrug-Resistant) antibacterial from Tanjung Tiram Beach

Sri Anggarini Rasyid — 2024-03-04

Sponge Haliclona sp. is a type of sponge living in marine waters and is found in many areas of coral reef ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the potential for sponge Haliclona sp. obtained from Tanjung Tiram waters, Konawe, as a source of bioactive compounds of MDR (Multidrug-Resistant) antibacterial. The isolation method of Haliclona sp. symbiont was carried out by pouring and purification of Haliclona sp. symbiont using the scratch method. The purification results obtained 12 isolates of symbiont bacteria that were successfully isolated. Then the bacterial isolate was tested for its antibacterial ability against MRSA and ESBL Escherichia coli bacteria qualitatively using the agar diffusion method. Bacteria that have strong inhibitory activity are identified by morphological and biochemical tests. The results of the qualitative screening test produced four bacterial isolates that have inhibitory activity against MRSA (Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) pathogenic bacteria with the isolate codes H3 and H8 belonging to the strong category while H4 and H10 belonging to the medium categoy. Additionally, two bacterial isolates that have inhibitory activity against ESBL Escherichia coli pathogenic bacteria with the isolate codes H3 and H8 belonging to the strong category. Based on morphological observations and biochemical tests, the H3 bacterial isolate was identified as the genus Corynebacterium spp. and the H8 bacterial isolate was identified as the genus Micrococcus spp. In conclusion, Haliclona sp. sponge exhibits promising potential as a source of microorganism producing antibacterial compounds, particulary againts MDR (Multidrug-Resistant) strains.

Effect of dengue infection on liver profile and hematological parameters

Muthalibu Muhammed Hunais — 2024-03-15

Dengue fever is endemic in Sri Lanka. Liver damage is common in dengue fever. Understanding the pattern change of the liver profile and haematological parameters is crucial for managing dengue patients and minimising liver damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern change in liver profile and the haematological parameters of dengue patients. Sixty apparently healthy volunteers and 169 acute dengue patients aged 20 or older had their blood samples examined. Liver enzymes, albumin, protein, bilirubin, white blood cell count, platelet count, haematocrit, and haemoglobin were measured. There was an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (105.6 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (82.6 IU/L), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (68.9 IU/L), which were 3.4, 3.9, and 3.2-fold higher, respectively, than those of the control group, suggesting liver injury. Eighty-four percent of patients had raised levels of aspartate aminotransferase, and 74% of patients had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, indicating the prominence of aspartate aminotransferase over alanine aminotransferase. The presence of a positive correlation between the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase indicates that the elevation of enzymes is primarily due to a single cause, liver injury. White blood cells and platelet counts were significantly lower. Platelet count demonstrated a negative correlation with both haematocrit and haemoglobin in dengue patients. In conclusion, aspartate aminotransferase was identified as the most significant marker of dengue-associated liver injury, followed by alanine aminotransferase. Low platelet and white blood cell counts were the major unfavourable changes in dengue patients' haematological characteristics.

Clinical and diagnostic utility of platelet count and its parameters in COVID-19

Kevin Manuel — 2024-04-12

The majority of the published studies have described the alterations in platelet count and platelet indices in both severe and non-severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, their association with COVID-19 mortality remains unclear. In the present study, our aim is to determine the temporal evolution of platelet count and its parameters between survivors and non-survivors, as well as their potential association with clinical outcomes. This cross-sectional study included 1118 inpatients (≥18 years old) diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 positive by a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and hospitalized between May 1st, 2020 and November 1st, 2020. Data of complete
blood count (CBC) parameters evaluated on different days after admission was gathered and the median value of each CBC parameter was considered for assessing the difference between survivors and non-survivors. There was statistically significant variation between survivors and non-survivors for platelet count [p<0.001, mean difference-80 x 10⁹/L], mean platelet volume [p<0.001, mean difference- 0.7 fL], platelet distribution width [p<0.001, mean difference-2.5%] and platelet-lymphocyte ratio [p<0.001, mean difference-123.8]. Thrombocytopenia occurred more commonly in deceased patients compared to survivors. Platelet count, Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors, revealing distinct trends indicating their importance in the management of COVID-19 patients. These cost-effective parameters can be easily obtained from a CBC.

Comparison of the sigma metrics using the total error allowable algorithm with variation of bias source

Sonny Feisal Rinaldi — 2024-04-16

Sigma Metrics, as a quality indicator, have been widely applied in clinical laboratories to assess the performance of analytical methods. Described in the document Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP15- A3, the use of target values can be sourced from certified reference standards, survey materials from the Proficiency Testing (PT)/External Quality Assessment (EQA), materials used in inter-laboratory quality control programs and internal quality control materials with predetermined targets. This research aims to determine whether there is a difference in the sigma metrics between the bias derived from the manufacturer's target value and those from the peer group source in the External Quality Assurance Services (EQAS) program. The research methodology employed is descriptive comparative analysis, utilizing the results of material inspection data for 15 internal quality control parameters of Clinical Chemistry over a span of 2 years at the Pramita Laboratory in Bandung. The calculation of the sigma metrics commences with computing the coefficient of variation (CV), and the appropriate Total Error aalowable (Tea) sources for each parameter are determined beforehand using the TEa algorithm. The research findings indicate a difference between the sigma metrics derived from the manufacturer's target value and those from the EQAS-peer group target value, accounting for 33% or 10 parameters out of the total parameters with 2 levels of inspection are calculated on the sigma scale. However, in 67% or 20 parameters out of the total parameters, no such difference is observed. Bias associated with the target value from the manufacturer and the EQAS peer group shows no significant difference, suggesting that the laboratory can utilize pre-existing target values confidently.

Comparative analysis of various laboratory biomarkers based on the severity of COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital in South India

Karthick Elango — 2024-04-21

COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) was a life-changing pandemic with impact on social, environmental, health, and economic issues. Various inflammatory and hematological biomarkers studied individually or in combination in the literature have shown significant results with regard to COVID-19 pathology, severity, and prognosis. Yet the question of interest is how covid-19 inflammatory cascade impacts the interlink between the biomarkers during different stages. This study aims to retrospectively analyse ferritin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, D-dimer, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), C Reactive Protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels between two groups based on COVID-19 severity. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with laboratory data of COVID-19 patients admitted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital, India. The sample size was 104 [Group1: severe disease, n=52; Group-2: mild disease, n=52]. After normality testing, data were compared between the two groups followed by correlation analysis between the variables. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. On comparison, Group 2 (severe COVID-19 disease) showed significant difference in the levels of all the biomarkers (p<0.005) except Creatinine (p<0.128) when compared with Group 1 (mild COVID-19 disease). Significant correlation was obtained between all biomarkers (p<0.005) except creatinine. The correlation analysis primarily explains the inflammatory cascade involved in disease. Ferritin appears to have a standalone effect on disease severity, progression, organ dysfunction. This understanding can be used to provide better and more timely care.