https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/ Technical articles on clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostics, isothermal LAMP, lab equipment, and public health — by the manufacturer of Microbank®, Prolex™, and ProAmpRT™. en-US Copyright 2026 Pro-Lab Direct Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT info@pro-lab.us (Pro-Lab Direct Editorial) Clinical Microbiology Molecular Diagnostics Pro-Lab Direct https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/shared/images/logo.png https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/ https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/advancing-precision-diagnostics-the-clinical-utility-of-isothermal-naat-with-resistance-gene-profiling/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/advancing-precision-diagnostics-the-clinical-utility-of-isothermal-naat-with-resistance-gene-profiling/Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTClinical & DiagnosticsHow combining isothermal nucleic-acid amplification with built-in resistance-gene panels is reshaping antimicrobial stewardship at the bench. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/what-are-the-advantages-of-lamp/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/what-are-the-advantages-of-lamp/Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTMolecularSpeed (30–60 min), isothermal (no thermocycler), and 4–6 primer specificity — the eight reasons labs are switching from PCR. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/understanding-proampht-isothermal-amplification-a-breakthrough-in-molecular-diagnostics/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/understanding-proampht-isothermal-amplification-a-breakthrough-in-molecular-diagnostics/Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTMolecularHigh-throughput isothermal nucleic-acid amplification on the Optigene Genie® HT. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/antimicrobial-resistance-a-growing-global-threat/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/antimicrobial-resistance-a-growing-global-threat/Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTPublic Health10 million deaths/year projected by 2050 from AMR. Drivers, stewardship, and the role of the diagnostic lab. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-microbiome-and-gut-health-unlocking-the-secrets-to-well-being/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-microbiome-and-gut-health-unlocking-the-secrets-to-well-being/Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTMicrobiologyHow the gut microbiome shapes immunity, metabolism, and mental health. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/exploring-the-vital-role-of-soil-microbiology-in-environmental-health/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/exploring-the-vital-role-of-soil-microbiology-in-environmental-health/Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTEnvironmentalNitrogen fixation, decomposition, climate-carbon cycling — and why soil microbiome surveillance is a public-health priority. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/bioinformatics-and-microbial-genomics-unlocking-the-secrets-of-microbial-life/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/bioinformatics-and-microbial-genomics-unlocking-the-secrets-of-microbial-life/Sat, 10 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTBioinformaticsFrom 16S sequencing to whole-genome assembly — how computational tools reveal pathogenicity and resistance. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/biotechnology-and-industrial-microbiology-revolutionizing-industries/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/biotechnology-and-industrial-microbiology-revolutionizing-industries/Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTBiotechnologyFrom insulin and antibiotics to biofuels and bioplastics — how industrial microbiology turns metabolism into manufacturing. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/synthetic-biology-and-genetic-engineering-innovations-in-biotechnology/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/synthetic-biology-and-genetic-engineering-innovations-in-biotechnology/Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTBiotechnologyCRISPR-Cas9, designed pathways, and synthetic genomes — the engineering layer on microbial biology. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/microbial-pathogenesis-understanding-how-microbes-cause-disease/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/microbial-pathogenesis-understanding-how-microbes-cause-disease/Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTMicrobiologyAdhesion, invasion, toxins, and immune evasion. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/testoxidase-a-reliable-solution-for-oxidase-testing-in-microbiology/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/testoxidase-a-reliable-solution-for-oxidase-testing-in-microbiology/Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTMicrobiologyReady-to-use 0.3% TMPD oxidase reagent — 30-second read, 9-month shelf life. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-importance-of-food-and-water-microbiology-in-public-health/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-importance-of-food-and-water-microbiology-in-public-health/Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTPublic HealthSalmonella, E. coli O157, Listeria, Cryptosporidium, Vibrio across the food supply chain. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/so-your-manager-asked-you-to-source-gloves-for-your-lab-a-techs-guide/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/so-your-manager-asked-you-to-source-gloves-for-your-lab-a-techs-guide/Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTLab ResourcesA tech's no-nonsense buying guide — nitrile vs latex, ASTM standards, mils, sizing. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/mosquito-season-begins/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/mosquito-season-begins/Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTPublic HealthWest Nile, Zika, Dengue, and EEE — vector-borne disease surveillance starts with mosquito-pool homogenization and LAMP. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-laboratory-freezer/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-laboratory-freezer/Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTLab Equipment-20°C vs -40°C vs -86°C ULT — cascade vs single-stage refrigeration, IQ/OQ/PQ, alarms, and cost-of-ownership. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/how-do-biosafety-cabinets-keep-researchers-safe/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/how-do-biosafety-cabinets-keep-researchers-safe/Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTLab SafetyClass I, II-A2, II-B2, and Class III BSCs — HEPA airflow, NSF/ANSI 49 certification. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-essential-role-of-amniotic-fluid-in-pregnancy/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-essential-role-of-amniotic-fluid-in-pregnancy/Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTClinicalFetal protection, lung development, and what abnormal amniotic-fluid volume signals. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/premature-membrane-rupture-testing-amniotest/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/premature-membrane-rupture-testing-amniotest/Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTClinicalFDA 510(k)-cleared nitrazine swab for PROM bedside screening. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/rabbit-coagulase-plasma-a-key-tool-in-microbial-identification/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/rabbit-coagulase-plasma-a-key-tool-in-microbial-identification/Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTMicrobiologyEDTA-formulated rabbit coagulase plasma for S. aureus differentiation. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/understanding-staphylococcus-a-common-yet-potentially-dangerous-bacterium/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/understanding-staphylococcus-a-common-yet-potentially-dangerous-bacterium/Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTMicrobiologyFrom commensal skin flora to MRSA bacteraemia — identification, virulence, and rapid latex agglutination. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-prolex-streptococcal-grouping-latex-kit-a-breakthrough-in-rapid-bacterial-identification/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/the-prolex-streptococcal-grouping-latex-kit-a-breakthrough-in-rapid-bacterial-identification/Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTDiagnostics99% sensitivity, 100% specificity Lancefield A–G identification in 60 seconds. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/hix-farm-brewery-customer-success-story/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/hix-farm-brewery-customer-success-story/Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTCustomer StoryA craft brewery's QC program using isothermal LAMP for spoilage organism detection. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/public-health-collaboration/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/public-health-collaboration/Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMTBiotech & GovernmentWhat it takes to land USDA / FDA / CDC contracts as a mid-size manufacturer. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/public-health-collaboration-0/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/public-health-collaboration-0/Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTPublic HealthCollaborating with USDA, FDA, CDC, and NASA. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/pro-lab-diagnostics-validates-the-detection-of-all-ncov-2019-variants-including-omicron/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/pro-lab-diagnostics-validates-the-detection-of-all-ncov-2019-variants-including-omicron/Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMTCOVID-19In-silico and wet-lab validation of the Pro-Lab COVID-19 LAMP panel across all variants. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/microbank-the-original-bead-system/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/microbank-the-original-bead-system/Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMTProducts35+ years of peer-reviewed cryopreservation — how Microbank® works, the 6-step protocol, and 10-year viability evidence. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/a-guidance-on-interpreting-covid-19-testing-and-results/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/a-guidance-on-interpreting-covid-19-testing-and-results/Wed, 10 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMTCOVID-19Antigen, RT-PCR, and isothermal LAMP — sensitivity, specificity, and how to read a result. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/covid19-molecular-mobile-trailer-reduces-stress-on-major-hollywood-film-sites/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/covid19-molecular-mobile-trailer-reduces-stress-on-major-hollywood-film-sites/Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMTCOVID-19On-site LAMP testing for major Hollywood productions — results in under 30 minutes. https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/pro-lab-diagnostics-offers-on-site-covid-19-testing/https://www.pro-lab-direct.com/blog/pro-lab-diagnostics-offers-on-site-covid-19-testing/Thu, 01 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMTCOVID-19Mobile molecular testing units — sub-30-minute LAMP results.