Blog
-
September 16, 2024Posted: September 16, 2024Read More...When performing Growth Promotion on new batches of media, one of three plating techniques can be used: Spread Plate, Pour Plate, or Membrane Filtration. Each method aids in enumeration of the cells in the inoculum, but each is different in technique. Below we offer our Top 5 Best Practices for each plating method to help you ensure proper growth promotion of your agar media.
-
September 12, 2024Posted: September 12, 2024Comments: 1Read MoreGlobally, millions of individuals are affected by UTIs each year, of which, a portion of these cases may be caused by consuming ExPEC from food reservoirs. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the relationship between UTI risk and the presence of ExPECs in food reservoirs. It is important for researchers to identify the level of risk ExPECs pose to human health.
-
September 09, 2024Posted: September 09, 2024Read More...The birthrate in the United States has hit a new record low, according to an analysis of 2023 birth certificate data published this past spring by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last year’s slowdown marks an end to the uptick in new babies that began during t
-
September 03, 2024Posted: September 03, 2024Read MoreOn Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the most recent mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, outbreak in Africa is a global health emergency. “This is something that should concern us all ... The potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
To aid in the testing procedures, Hardy Diagnostics offers products that are in compliance with CDC guidelines, including Viral Transport Medium (VTM).
-
August 26, 2024Posted: August 26, 2024Read More...Hardy Diagnostics is proud to have sponsored a recent Food Safety Magazine webinar, “How Rapid Development of Technology Has Revolutionized Food Safety.” In this event, technology and policy experts Karen Beers, Eric Brown, and Frank Yiannas shared their perspective that an increasing number of recently recorded outbreaks is an indicator of the success of our modern food safety systems - and not of
-
August 21, 2024Posted: August 21, 2024Read More...A 503B compounding facility, also known as an outsourcing facility, is a type of pharmaceutical compounding business that operates under section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. The concept of a 503B pharmacy was introduced with the passage of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) in 2013. These facilities can manufacture bulk pharmaceuticals and are the only pharmacies
-
August 12, 2024Posted: August 12, 2024Read MoreA primary objective in the development of vaccines and therapeutics is to stimulate the body to produce antibodies that block pathogen entry into cells and tissues. Vaccines emulate infections by presenting an antigen to our immune system. This antigen may be a weakened or inactivated virus or bacteria, components of their outer surface, or genetic material. As part of the adaptive immune response, our bodies generate neutralizing antibodies that attach to pathogens, hindering their ability to infiltrate cells. However, on rare occasions, antibodies can act as a Trojan horse that facilitates the pathogen’s access into cells and potentially worsen the disease.
-
August 06, 2024Posted: August 06, 2024Read MoreExplore the remarkable life of Sir Alexander Fleming, the man behind penicillin, in our latest blog post. Born in 1881 in Scotland, Fleming's journey from a marksman in the Territorial Army to a Nobel laureate revolutionized modern medicine. Discover his accidental discovery of penicillin and its profound impact on global health. Dive into the history and personal stories that shaped one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. Click to read more about Fleming's enduring legacy and the medical marvels that followed his work.
-
July 29, 2024Posted: July 29, 2024Read MoreScientists are continually seeking new weapons in the arms race against increasingly resistant bacteria. One of our oldest weapons, copper, may hold the key to curbing the rise of these superbugs.
-
July 22, 2024Posted: July 22, 2024Read MoreThe World Health Organization (WHO) recently released its 2024 Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL). The 72-page document builds on its first list, released in 2017. The WHO BPPL 2024 focuses on the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that present the greatest unmet needs and pose the most significant public health burdens. The list includes 15 families of antibiotic resistant pathogens grouped as critical, high and medium categories.
-
July 17, 2024Posted: July 17, 2024Read MorePersonnel are a significant source of contamination in aseptic manufacturing, and reducing human intervention in critical zones is essential to ensure higher product purity. Isolators and RABS (Restricted Access Barrier Systems) work to control contamination during pharmaceutical production. Because these systems are equipped with a variety of sophisticated protections and physical barriers, they can protect the operator from harmful chemicals and safeguard the product from pathogens and other particulate contamination.
-
July 15, 2024Posted: July 15, 2024Read MoreFor a human pathogen with no known environmental reservoir, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has honed the art of survival and has persisted in human communities from antiquity through modern times. Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable infectious disease. Having said that, it is still one of the major contributors to morbidity and mortality in developing countries where there is less-than-adequate access to care.
-
July 11, 2024Posted: July 11, 2024Read MoreAs we navigate through 2024, the avian flu, or H5N1, continues to make headlines around the globe. Recent reports indicate an alarming spread of the virus, with new human cases anticipated, highlighting the urgent need for robust surveillance and diagnostic measures. At Hardy Diagnostics, we are committed to supporting the global healthcare community in the fight against infectious diseases with our Viral Transport Medium (VTM).
-
July 08, 2024Posted: July 08, 2024Read MoreThe award from Communify of Santa Barbara County is a significant milestone for Hardy Diagnostics and a testament to the incredible work of our CAC. We are grateful for the recognition and inspired to continue our mission of improving lives both inside and outside the laboratory. Congratulations to Lauren Hamilton and the entire committee for their outstanding contributions.
-
July 01, 2024Posted: July 01, 2024Read MoreWe’re all familiar with this ever-present dichotomy. Antibiotics are life-saving, until they’re not; until the delicate balance shifts, causing the oh-so-inevitable resistance. While antibiotic stewardship programs are becoming more and more prevalent, what does one do when working with a patient with a chronic condition in which daily, long-term antimicrobial treatment is the norm? How do we address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in patients with whom bacterial infections are typically never fully eradicated, despite the employment of a multitude of drug therapies?
