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Have you ever read a vaccine study and quickly tried to skip to the heart of the matter? Perhaps there is someone there, a teacher, a colleague or a vaccine representative. You ask, “What’s the bottom line here? How well does the vaccine work? What percentage of pets are protected?” The other person says, “The Continue Reading
Despite life, work, and intense studying, you have taken time to purchase flowers for that all-important holiday that occurs near the ides of February. We are talking of course, about Lupercalia, the ancient Sabine celebration which the Romans later renamed as Februa. During this time, we purify evil I-can’t-possibly-pass-this-test self-doubts and rejuvenate our health Continue Reading
When flipping through a news article involving infectious disease, it’s likely you have some across the terms of incidence and prevalence. “There is an alarming rise in prevalence for Disease XYZ in recent years” the story might say to hone your interest. The article might warn you without any specific numbers, but both terms have Continue Reading
It has been fifteen minutes, fifteen long minutes. You look at the two blue lines that have been formed in your point-of-care test. One blue line would indicates that the control is working and that the result is negative. Two blue lines is a positive test. You just tested positive for Zombie disease. But how Continue Reading
Typhus, apoplexy, dysentery, dropsy, and coryza are all medical terms of yesteryear, and many of these words have not survived in common medical usage. This is due, in large part, to a lack of specificity in their meaning. Apoplexy, for example, could refer to both strokes and heart attacks. Dropsy is generalized edema. Abdominal dropsy Continue Reading
So, you have decided to sit for the ACVPM board exams and have been accepted. Congratulations! What now? Well, with more than a few months to go, a short plan may develop: study hard in the beginning, study hard in the middle and then, wait for it, study hard at the end. Head to Ohio Continue Reading
Like incidence and prevalence, sensitivity and specificity are twin sons of different mothers. And there is no Fogleberg fallout here. These guys stick together. Knowing their similarities and differences is vital to understanding diagnostic testing and the associated biostatistics.