Laboratoryconfirmed

Laboratory-confirmed is a term used in public health and clinical reporting to designate a disease case for which a pathogen has been detected by an accredited laboratory test. It provides objective evidence of infection and is used to distinguish confirmed cases from clinically diagnosed or suspected cases. In many surveillance systems, a case is classified as laboratory-confirmed when a validated diagnostic test yields a positive result for the etiologic agent, or when an organism is isolated or a specific antibody response is demonstrated according to established case definitions.

Tests that support laboratory confirmation include nucleic acid amplification tests (such as PCR), antigen detection assays, viral culture, and serologic testing that demonstrates an acute infection or a conclusive antibody response. The exact criteria for confirmation vary by disease and jurisdiction, and official case definitions are published by health authorities. Results may come from centralized reference laboratories or accredited local facilities, depending on the setting.

Limitations and considerations accompany laboratory confirmation. Test sensitivity and specificity, timing of specimen collection, and the quality of the specimen affect results. False positives and false negatives can occur, and confirmatory testing or repeat testing is sometimes required. Resource availability, laboratory capacity, and reporting lags can influence how quickly cases are confirmed and counted. Despite these caveats, laboratory confirmation remains central to accurate disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and evidence-based public health decision-making.