Initial laboratory testing for Lyme disease involves a screening ELISA to detect the presence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi.  Depending on the result, a Western blot or a different ELISA may be ordered and performed; the purpose of the Western blot or second ELISA is to:

As the result of EBV infection (infectious mononucleosis), the appearance of antibody to EBNA (EBV nuclear antigen) occurs in what timeframe:

A CT-scan of the brain in an otherwise normal patient (that is, not immunosuppressed) reveals an apparent abscess in the brain.  This finding leads to a spinal tap to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for lab testing.   Which of the following CSF findings would be MOST consistent with an acute (i.e., current) infection by Toxoplasma gondii in this brain abscess:

The process of producing cells for chimeric antigen receptor-T cell (CAR-T) therapy involves which one of the following manipulations of the patient’s T cells:

The serum measurement of IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in the adult population, for the purpose of making a decision whether to attempt to eradicate the infection, is of limited value because:

A nurse phones the lab, asking if their point of care rapid Group A streptococcal antigen test can be performed to investigate the cause of a perianal rash. Your response is no, because:

A patient is diagnosed with secondary syphilis (their RPR titer is positive at 1:64 and their treponemal antigen- particle agglutination (TP-PA) is positive).  The patient is treated with the intention of cure, with penicillin.  The best follow up test at one month after treatment, to monitor the effectiveness of therapy and ensure that the patient was not re-infected, would be:

A patient presents with signs of secondary syphilis; there is no past history of syphilis.  A rapid plasma reagin (RPR) screen is positive; the RPR is titered, revealing positivity at a dilution of 1:64.    Of the following, the next laboratory assay to perform is the following confirmation test:

Viral encephalitis presenting during the summer may be due to an enterovirus, but year-round, the presentation of viral encephalitis should prompt consideration of which of following viruses as the cause of the encephalitis:

A patient presents with glomerulonephritis and has a recent history of a sore throat which has since resolved.  The patient’s doctor suspects post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and wants to order laboratory testing to determine if the patient has had a recent Group A streptococcal infection.  Which of the following are the BEST two tests to detect recent Group A streptococcal infection?