PathAdvantage Journal
Welcome to our PathAdvantage Journal. We strive to keep you up to date with the latest in testing, treatments, biopsy techniques and clinical management guidelines as part of your patient care team. We also welcome dialogue, feedback and questions from providers on topics you’d like to read more about.
Why We Use PCR-Based GBS Testing
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most important — yet often overlooked — infections screened for during pregnancy, because identifying it early can make all the difference in protecting a newborn’s health. Why is GBS Testing Important? Group B Streptococcus is a type of bacteria...
Behind the Microscope: An Interview with Pathologist Dr. Vargas
At PathAdvantage, compassionate client care is the foundation of an excellent physician. Pathologist Alejandro Vargas M.D. takes this objective seriously, letting passion and empathy guide his work. Dr. Vargas obtained a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Notre...
At-Home HPV Testing: Promise or Peril in a New Screening Era
The FDA approval of at-home HPV testing is being marketed as a paradigm shift in cervical cancer screening, touting benefits such as superior convenience, accessibility and comfort. However, while at-home HPV testing addresses barriers to traditional in-clinic visits, it cannot replace more...
Behind the Microscope: An Interview with Dr. Fong
At PathAdvantage, accurate diagnosis is the foundation of exceptional care— and pathologist Erika Fong, M.D., plays a critical role in making that possible. Dr. Fong earned her medical doctorate from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, School of Medicine with...
A Promising New Approach to Bacterial Vaginosis
What is Bacterial Vaginosis? Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a widespread vaginal infection, impacting roughly one in three women globally during their lifetime. It is a serious illness, resulting from a disruption in the vaginal microbiome where healthy lactobacilli are...
Behind the Microscope: Women’s Health with Dr. Gaston
At PathAdvantage, advancing women’s health care remains our core objective. Key to achieving that? Emily Gaston M.D. and her passion and advocacy for women’s health. She is board-certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and specializes in gynecologic and obstetric pathology. She...
Shattering the Stigma: Syphilis in the 21st Century
Syphilis. Speaking as a pathologist, it is time we looked at this disease through the lens of modern medicine with a clear-eyed view. There is a dangerous misconception that syphilis is a relic of the past, an obsolete condition — a disease of top hats, corsets, Victorian prostitutes, and...
Behind the Microscope: An Interview with Richard Hopley, M.D.
As associate medical director and director of clinical pathology at PathAdvantage, Richard Hopley, M.D., is at the forefront of our patient-centered approach and cutting-edge testing. Board-certified in both anatomic and clinical pathology, his education began at the University of Central...