Diagnostic Techniques in Public Health

Comprehensive overview of the various diagnosis techniques employed in disease detection and public health crisis management

Diagnostic Techniques in Public Health delivers an exploration into the specific role of the advanced chemometric techniques and modern diagnostic tools in deciphering complex datasets pertinent to global health crises. The book provides a systematic investigation into seven of the major international public health emergencies as defined by the World Health Organization such as COVID-19 and Monkeypox.

The book brings together a series of meticulously curated chapters that bridge the fields of molecular biology, analytical chemistry, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, and informatics to address one central question: how can diagnostic science evolve to meet the demands of a dynamic and interconnected world?

Each chapter situates its scientific discussion within the broader context of public health preparedness, emphasizing point-of-care deployment, low-resource adaptability, regulatory considerations, and ethical dimensions. Moreover, the interplay between core diagnostic principles and enabling technologies—such as artificial intelligence, smartphone-based data acquisition, and digital epidemiology—is carefully woven throughout the text, underscoring the systemic integration required for next-generation diagnostic infrastructures.

Diagnostic Techniques in Public Health provides in-depth coverage of sample topics including:

• Molecular diagnostic technologies, from classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to next-generation isothermal amplification methods
• Relevance of ELISA-based immunoassays and genomic sequencing as a cornerstone of pathogen surveillance
• Transformative technologies such as CRISPR-based diagnostics and microfluidic systems, which achieve unparalleled levels of automation, multiplexing, and reagent economy
• Plasmonic biosensors and flexible bioelectronics, where the convergence of material science and biomedical instrumentation opens entirely new vistas for non-invasive, continuous, and personalized health monitoring

Bridging the gap between intricate analytical methodologies and the dynamic world of public health emergencies, Diagnostic Techniques in Public Health is an essential resource for analytical, medicinal, and pharmaceutical chemists, molecular biologists, and public officials. Chapter 1: Public Health Emergencies in an International Context: The Crucial Intersections of Significance, Challenges, and Measures
1.1 Beyond Infectious Threats: Expanding the Horizons of Global Health Challenges
1.2 Tracing the Seven PHEIC Announcements by WHO: From H1N1 to the Outbreak of Monkeypox
1.3 Severe Respiratory Syndrome Spectrums: A Close Look at SARS, Smallpox, and Influenza Variations
1.4 Regulatory Insights and Guidelines in Public Health Emergencies

Chapter 2: Mastering Clinical Diagnostics: Modern Strategies for PHEIC Responses
2.1 Clinical Evaluation Comprehensive Pathway: From Cutting-edge Laboratory Analysis to Bedside Examinations
2.2 The Progression of Chemometric Techniques in PHEIC: A New Dawn in Detection and Analysis

Chapter 3: Diving into the ELISA Technique: Its Role and Innovations in Public Health
3.1 The Essence of ELISA: Bridging Biochemical Mechanisms to Diagnostic Insights
3.2 ELISA's Technological Evolution: Fine-tuning for Enhanced Diagnostic Sensitivity
3.3 Global Health and ELISA: Leading the Charge in Addressing Health Threats

Chapter 4: Deciphering Pathogens: The Power of Genomic Sequencing in Public Health
4.1 A Deep Dive: mNGS and its Role in Analyzing Microbial Ecosystems
4.2 Defying Boundaries: Nanopore Sequencing in Genomic Exploration
4.3 Modern Pathogen Detection: The Rise of Viral Capture High-Throughput Sequencing

Chapter 5: The Art of Molecular Diagnosis: Techniques and Implications for Public Health
5.1 Amplifying the Invisible: PCR's Pivotal Role in Genetic Detection
5.2 Breaking Conventional Limits: An Exploration of Isothermal Amplification Methods

Chapter 6: The CRISPR Revolution: Genetic Engineering and Diagnostic Implications
6.1 Dissecting CRISPR: Its Mechanisms, Tools, and Evolution
6.2 Pinpoint Accuracy: Utilizing CRISPR-Cas Systems for Pathogen Detection
6.3 The Health Implications of CRISPR: Future Therapeutic Avenues and Challenges

Chapter 7: Precision and Speed: The Rise of High-Throughput and Microfluidic Systems in Diagnostics
7.1 Miniature Might: The Potential of Biochip Technology in Biological Analysis
7.2 Shedding Light on Molecular Detection: The Role of Photonic Crystal (PC) Microarrays
7.3 The Confluence of Speed and Precision: Advancements in Integrative Microfluidics

Chapter 8: The Future of Detection: Instrumentation and Techniques on the Horizon
8.1 The Electrifying World of Detection: New-Age Electrochemical Methods
8.2 Probing the Minuscule: SERS in Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy
8.3 Sensor Synthesis: Merging Technologies for Superior Diagnostic Proficiency

Chapter 9: Redefining Point-of-Care Testing: Rapid Diagnostic Innovations
9.1 A New Wave in POCT: Tracking the Advances in Instruments and Methods
9.2 Enhancing the Existing: Integrating Viral Detection in Current POCT Platforms

Chapter 10: Looking Forward: Perspectives on the Future of Diagnostic Techniques

Dr. Jinghong Li is an Academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Cheung Kong Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, China. He is also the Director of the Academic Committee in the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University.

Dr. Yan Du is Professor at Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). She has been working on biosensing and molecular diagnosis for more than 15 years.