Dallas County Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 31

The Latest Technology in Testing for Viruses and
Bacterial Infections, So You Can Feel Better Sooner
Courtesy of Healthcare Associates of Texas
a ve you ever been so sick and didn’t know
what exactly was causing your illness?
Healthcare Associates of Texas has the latest
technology in lab testing that can determine
what is causing your ailments. Healthcare Associates
of Texas has added BioFire's FilmArray system to their
practice. This testing can scan for 42 bacteria and virus
strands in approximately one hour. This means no more
guessing what your infection is from and unnecessary
use of antibiotics when not really needed.
The FilmArray system works by detecting the DNA of
pathogens for both Gastrointestinal (GI) and Respiratory
(RP) panels. The GI panel targets for 22 different viruses,
bacteria, and parasites. The RP panel tests for 17 viruses
and 3 forms of bacteria that can cause upper respiratory
infections.
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There are approximately 73 million cases of food-
borne illnesses every year in the United States. This,
in turn, leads to 1.8 million hospitalizations, and 3,100
annual deaths as a result of bad bacteria entering
the GI system. FilmArray’s fast and accurate
diagnoses can assist in the reduction of these
numbers significantly while also saving money on
healthcare costs.
As we all know, upper respiratory infections are
common in both children and adults, with adults
contracting 2-4 infections per year, and children
having 6-12 infections. The estimated economic
impact of this illness is about $40 billion each year
in the United States.
results back, further delaying the treatment-specific
care a patient should receive, and we all know that a
lot of diagnoses can present with similar symptoms;
the flu, pneumonia, and RSV. They all start by showing
signs of fever, fatigue, chest pain, cough, etc. So how
amazing would it be to know exactly which of the three
illnesses is ailing you? Healthcare Associates of Texas
now can use this technology to provide doctors with
the information they need to treat you much quicker
than was ever thought possible – and in most cases, the
test is complete within one hour!
BioFire’s FilmArray is a catalyst in modern medicine.
Clinicians now have the opportunity to design a specific
treatment plan from a much earlier viewpoint than
before, and this not only has a positive outcome for the
patient, but also pro-actively protects the community
by inhibiting the spread of viruses in the environment.
Preventing the spread of infection is just as important
as treating the infection itself, and BioFire allows for
both the former and the latter to be done at a much
quicker rate than ever before.
So the next time you are feeling under the weather
and want to feel better faster, visit one of Healthcare
Associates of Texas convenient locations in Coppell,
Irving, and McKinney.
This type of technology was only available in some
advanced hospital settings, and now Healthcare
Associates of Texas is the first outpatient primary
care clinic in the southern United States to bring this
remarkable instrument to its patients.
Currently, hospital testing can take days to get lab
Healthcare Associates of Texas provides its patients with a total continuum of care by offering comprehensive family medicine
and ancillaries under one roof. For more information, you can visit their website at www.healthcareassociates.com.
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