News & Intelligence
Caribbean health intelligence, FDA alerts, vendor news, and industry trends — updated daily from 130+ sources.
FDA Recalls Abbott Alinity ci Reagent Kits Affecting Caribbean Reference Labs
The FDA has issued a Class II recall for select Abbott Alinity ci immunoassay reagent lots due to potential false-low troponin results. Caribbean laboratories using Abbott systems should verify lot numbers immediately and switch to alternative cardiac marker testing until replacement reagents arrive.
PAHO Updates TB Screening Guidelines: IP-10 Assays Now Recommended for Caribbean Programs
PAHO has revised its tuberculosis screening guidance for the Caribbean region, formally recommending IP-10-based assays as an alternative to QuantiFERON-TB Gold. The updated protocol cites higher sensitivity in tropical populations and better performance in immunocompromised patients.
CARPHA Issues Dengue Surveillance Bulletin: Case Counts Rising Across Eastern Caribbean
CARPHA reports a 40% increase in confirmed dengue cases across the Eastern Caribbean compared to the same period last year, with Barbados, St. Lucia, and Grenada reporting the highest case density. Laboratories are advised to ensure adequate rapid diagnostic test stock and confirm positive results with NS1 antigen or PCR.
Tosoh AIA-CL2400 Receives New FDA 510(k) Clearance for Expanded Assay Menu
Tosoh Bioscience has received FDA 510(k) clearance for five new assay parameters on the AIA-CL2400 chemiluminescent immunoassay platform, including high-sensitivity troponin I and a procalcitonin sepsis marker. Caribbean laboratories running the CL platform can now consolidate more testing on a single analyzer.
Hardy Diagnostics Publishes Caribbean AMR Stewardship Guide for Clinical Microbiology Labs
Hardy Diagnostics has released a free antimicrobial resistance stewardship guide tailored for Caribbean clinical microbiology laboratories. The guide covers CLSI breakpoint updates, MIC testing best practices with Liofilchem strips, and reporting protocols aligned with CARPHA surveillance requirements.
WHO Revises Drinking Water Quality Standards: Implications for Caribbean Water Utilities
The WHO has published revised Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality with updated microbial indicator thresholds and new guidance on cyanotoxin monitoring. Caribbean water utilities using Colilert-based testing should review their sampling frequency and consider adding cyanobacteria screening to their programs.
ZOLL AED 3 Receives Caribbean Medical Device Registration in 12 Territories
ZOLL Medical has completed medical device registration for the AED 3 automated external defibrillator across 12 Caribbean territories, clearing the way for direct procurement by Ministries of Health, airports, and emergency services. Caribbean Diagnostics is the authorized regional distributor with full training and program management support.
Chikungunya Outbreak Monitoring: Eastern Caribbean Reports Sustained Transmission
Sustained chikungunya transmission has been reported across Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe with increasing case counts since late January. PAHO recommends laboratories maintain molecular confirmation capacity and ensure adequate serological testing supplies for differential diagnosis against dengue and Zika.
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