Blue Mountain Diagnostics

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm

Nearly One in Five American Adults Who Have Had COVID-19 Still Have "Long COVID" National Center for Health Statistics

https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/clinical-conversations/challenging-uti-testing-gold-standard-pcr-vs-suc/

Challenging the UTI Testing Gold Standard: PCR vs. SUC While the SUC is the current standard for UTI diagnosis, PCR testing offers key advantages. For one, PCR has a faster turnaround time than SUC. PCR tests, unlike the SUC, are also not dependent on bacteria growth in culture to detect and identify infection. This makes PCR more accurate.

PCR wins!

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Here it comes.

Sometimes you just have to laugh

Flu stats

Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update A Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report Prepared by the Influenza Division

Current COVID stats

COVID Data Tracker CDC’s home for COVID-19 data. Visualizations, graphs, and data in one easy-to-use website.

Why qPCR is the gold standard for COVID-19 testing

Every day there’s a new headline about the best ways to test for SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. In the following Q&A, Joshua Trotta, Senior Director Business Development, at ThermoFisher discusses what you need to know about qPCR, the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. This is a follow-up to our “How does a COVID-19 test work?” interview with Joshua on Science with a Twist earlier this year.

What is an RT-qPCR test?
“PCR” is shorthand for “polymerase chain reaction,” a scientific methodology to make millions and billions of copies of a specific DNA sample, which for the past 25 years has been one of the most widely used techniques in molecular biology.

The genetic material in SARS-CoV-2 virus is stored in RNA. In the case of COVID-19 testing, RNA from a SARS-CoV-2 sample is first converted to its complementary DNA sequence by a process called reverse transcription (RT). The DNA thus transcribed is amplified by qPCR, where “q” stands for “quantitative”; hence the technique is called RT-qPCR.

RT-qPCR can detect the genetic information (RNA) of the novel coronavirus—even if the virus is present in extremely small amounts. Researchers estimate that RT-qPCR can detect as little as ~1,000 copies of viral RNA per milliliter, or 10 copies per analytical limit of detection (LoD). This means it is possible to diagnose someone as positive for COVID-19 even when their sample contains a very small amount of virus.

This means that COVID-19 RT-qPCR tests are not only able to detect the virus’s genetic information, they are also able to quantify the amount of that genetic information that is present in a sample. The Applied Biosystems TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit from Thermo Fisher Scientific is designed to detect the presence of the virus at very low levels and uses an algorithm to provide a positive or negative result.

How is a SARS-CoV-2 sample collected for RT-qPCR testing?
Samples can be collected in a

We have moved to 10 Enterprise Blvd.
COVID Testing is available.

Schedule your COVID test now!

Blue Mountain Diagnostics Personalized Medical Care

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-mu-covid-variant-now-found-in-49-u-s-states/ar-AAO9Uf6

New ‘mu’ COVID variant now found in 49 U.S. states Since being discovered in Colombia in January, the Mu variant of COVID-19 has spread to nearly four dozen countries and has made its presence known in Hawaii and Alaska. It has so far been found in 49 states with Nebraska being the only state to not have a Mu variant case detected.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/louisiana-doctor-says-exponential-surge-in-covid-19-hospitalizations-isn-t-a-controllable-thing-at-this-point/ar-AAMF2Cm?ocid=entnewsntp

Louisiana doctor says 'exponential' surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations 'isn't a controllable thing at this point' Infectious disease specialist Dr. Catherine O'Neal told CNN it feels like Louisiana is headed toward becoming like New York City was as an early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/what-does-the-delta-variant-mean-for-the-fully-vaccinated/ar-AAMvL4p?ocid=entnewsntp

What does the Delta variant mean for the fully vaccinated? The U.S. is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant. Just how dangerous is it? Here's everything you need to know.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/you-will-know-or-possibly-be-someone-who-gets-covid-19-after-a-vaccine-here-s-what-to-expect-according-to-2-people-with-breakthrough-cases/ar-AAMs0ko?ocid=entnewsntp

You will know, or possibly be, someone who gets COVID-19 after a vaccine. Here's what to expect, according to 2 people with breakthrough cases. Two young people who were vaccinated and got mild COVID-19 breakthrough cases described to Insider how their symptoms progressed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cdc-director-delta-variant-is-growing-threat-to-unvaccinated-people/ar-AALFpcV?ocid=entnewsntp

CDC director: Delta variant is growing threat to unvaccinated people Nearly 25 percent of recent infections have been linked to Delta, up from 6 percent in early June.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/delta-covid-variant-has-a-new-mutation-called-delta-plus-here-s-what-you-need-to-know/ar-AALojMg?ocid=msedgntp

Learn about Delta+

Delta Covid variant has a new mutation called 'delta plus': Here's what you need to know A mutation of the delta variant has emerged, it's called "delta plus."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-fast-spreading-delta-covid-variant-could-have-different-symptoms-experts-say/ar-AAL8UKO?ocid=entnewsntp

The fast-spreading delta Covid variant could have different symptoms, experts say The Covid delta variant that was originally discovered in India is now spreading around the world.

Lots of information coming out today about the latest COVID-19 strands: here's what you need to know.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/who-says-delta-covid-variant-has-now-spread-to-80-countries-and-it-keeps-mutating/ar-AAL7hAY?ocid=entnewsntp

WHO says delta Covid variant has now spread to 80 countries and it keeps mutating The WHO is also tracking recent reports of a "delta plus" variant that has an additional mutation, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead.

BMD is following the latest info on the Delta variant.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/delta-is-the-most-serious-covid-19-variant-scientists-say-how-will-it-affect-the-us/ar-AAL72uo?ocid=entnewsntp

Delta is the 'most serious' COVID-19 variant, scientists say. How will it affect the US? The Delta variant of COVID-19 accounts for 6% of US cases. The danger, if any, will be to those are are not vaccinated, experts say.

On June 15, 2021, CDC announced the classification of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2 (Delta) as a variant of concern. This variant was initially identified in India in December 2020 and was previously classified as a variant of interest. The B.1.617.2 (Delta) lineage has been detected in at least 66 countries, including the United States. BMD is working with our research labs to bring testing for the Delta stran to Upstate.

We are asked a lot about quarantining:

If you need to quarantine, here are some options to consider when to stop your quarantine:

The CDC continues to endorse quarantine for 14 days. Here is a link to the article on the CDC website for more info:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html

COVID-19 and Your Health Symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.

We are continuing to learn more and more ways COVID effects the body. Here is the latest of what is being reported:

Doctors in Wuhan, China reported a link between COVID-19 and elevated blood sugar levels back in April 2020.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-new-diabetes-cases-linked/

New diabetes cases linked to COVID-19, and doctors are "working like crazy" to understand why People with diabetes are more at risk for severe COVID-19 illness, and now scientists are trying to confirm whether the virus can also cause some patients to develop the condition.

The cases are still VERY high in Greenville County. If you think you have been exposed, please get tested.


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/greenville-south-carolina-covid-cases.html

Greenville County, South Carolina Covid Case Tracker See the latest charts and maps of coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Greenville County, South Carolina

Open today by appointment only. Go to bmdhealth.com to schedule.

We are open today and 5 days a week. Book your appointment today.
www.bmdhealth.com

Come get your Rapid Covid test and feel safe...results in 2 hours.
www.bmdhealth.com/schedule

We're testing in Greenville near the Taylors Publix. Come get tested today and have a safe and Merry Christmas!

2 Hour Results $100

www.bmdhealth.com/schedule

Schedule | Blue Mountain Diagnostics Our lab is located at 2724 Wade Hampton Blvd in Greenville. (Use GPS to 2718 Wade Hampton Blvd. Then drive in the ally to go behind 2718. There is a sign in our window.)

Blue Mountain Diagnostics updated their phone number.

https://bmdhealth.com/schedule/

Schedule | Blue Mountain Diagnostics Our lab is located at 2724 Wade Hampton Blvd in Greenville. (Use GPS to 2718 Wade Hampton Blvd. Then drive in the ally to go behind 2718. There is a sign in our window.)

Blue Mountain Diagnostics updated their address.