Rapid Diagnostic Methods for Infectious Diseases

A special issue of LabMed (ISSN 2813-9038).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 595

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Laboratory Haematology, General Oncology Hospital "Metaxas", Pireas, Greece
Interests: microbiology; haematology; virology; laboratory medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid diagnostic methods for infectious diseases are at the forefront of modern healthcare, driven by the urgent need to identify pathogens swiftly and accurately. Traditional culture-based tests, though highly specific, can be time-consuming—requiring days or even weeks to yield definitive results. In contrast, newer rapid diagnostic technologies leverage advances in molecular biology, immunology, and biosensor engineering to significantly reduce detection times often to mere hours or minutes. From polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time nucleic acid amplification tests, to immunochromatographic assays and point-of-care biosensors, these methods perform the more rapid identification of pathogens and can even detect specific strains or resistance markers. Such prompt diagnoses are vital in preventing the spread of highly contagious diseases, enabling clinicians to initiate targeted therapies swiftly, and reducing inappropriate antibiotic use—one of the key factors contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Moreover, rapid tests benefit resource-limited settings in which immediate medical interventions can drastically alter patient outcomes. As infectious diseases continue to cause high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, ongoing research into rapid diagnostic methods remains essential. These innovative approaches not only advance clinical practice but also play a crucial role in public health, helping curb outbreaks and guiding evidence-based treatment decisions.

This Special Issue, entitled “Rapid Diagnostic Methods for Infectious Diseases”, seeks to showcase recent advances and innovations that enable the quicker, more accurate, and more accessible detection of pathogens in clinical and field settings. Rapid and reliable diagnostic tools are critical for initiating timely treatment, preventing the spread of disease, and improving patient outcomes. As infectious diseases evolve and novel pathogens emerge, the development of cutting-edge approaches that are able to diagnose these threats is more important than ever.

We welcome the submission of original research, review articles, and case studies that focus on the design, validation, and application of rapid diagnostic platforms for bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Point-of-Care Testing and Mobile Health: Innovative technologies that allow accurate diagnosis at or near the site of patient care, particularly in resource-limited regions.
  2. Molecular and Genomic-Based Detection: Novel methods that employ nucleic acid amplification, next-generation sequencing, CRISPR-based diagnostics, and other molecular approaches.
  3. Immunological and Serological Techniques: The development of immunoassays, biosensors, and other rapid antibody/antigen detection methodologies.
  4. Biosensor Innovation and Biomarker Discovery: Emerging platforms, biomarkers, and nanotechnologies that enhance the sensitivity and specificity of infectious disease testing.
  5. Data-Driven and AI-Assisted Diagnostics: Integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics to support diagnostic accuracy and speed.
  6. Translational and Clinical Studies: The implementation and performance evaluation of new diagnostic tools in diverse healthcare settings, including cost-effectiveness and policy implications.

By compiling multidisciplinary research and experiences, this Special Issue aims to foster collaboration among scientists, clinicians, engineers, epidemiologists, and policymakers. Through these contributions, we hope to accelerate the adoption of rapid diagnostic methods that reduce the global prevalence of infectious diseases, saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes for communities worldwide.

Dr. Emmanouil Magiorkinis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • rapid diagnostic methods
  • infectious diseases
  • point-of-care testing
  • molecular diagnostics
  • immunodiagnostics
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • biosensors
  • public health
  • clinical microbiology
  • emerging pathogens

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 454 KiB  
Article
Direct PCR for Rapid and Safe Pathogen Detection: Laboratory Evaluation Supporting Field Use in Infectious Disease Outbreak
by Ivan Brukner and Matthew Oughton
LabMed 2025, 2(3), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/labmed2030012 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Rapid, safe, and field-deployable molecular diagnostics are crucial for the effective management of infectious disease outbreaks, particularly those involving highly infectious pathogens, which can produce clinical symptoms similar to less infectious pathogens, thus raising potential biosafety concerns. In this study, we evaluated DNA/RNA [...] Read more.
Rapid, safe, and field-deployable molecular diagnostics are crucial for the effective management of infectious disease outbreaks, particularly those involving highly infectious pathogens, which can produce clinical symptoms similar to less infectious pathogens, thus raising potential biosafety concerns. In this study, we evaluated DNA/RNA Defend Pro (DRDP) buffer, a novel viral-inactivating transport medium designed to stabilize nucleic acids and allow direct PCR without nucleic acid extraction. To ensure critical qPCR parameters were not compromised by using DRDP, we conducted serial dilution tests using herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), comparing DRDP to standard universal transport medium (UTM). Detection sensitivity, determined by cycle quantification (Cq) values, favored DRDP, as UTM samples required a 2–3-fold dilution to mitigate PCR inhibition. DRDP maintained reliable PCR compatibility at reaction volumes containing up to 25% buffer. At higher DRDP concentrations (30–35%), PCR inhibition occurred due to EDTA content but was fully reversible by adding supplemental magnesium. Furthermore, DRDP samples did not require an initial 95 °C thermal lysis step, thus simplifying the procedure without reducing PCR sensitivity or efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rapid Diagnostic Methods for Infectious Diseases)
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