Despite the rapid growth of new diagnostic technologies which are used in research and for clinical needs, there are still unaccepted gaps in diagnosis of common and important diseases seen in travelers. These infectious diseases, either viral, bacterial or parasitic, have been known for decades and still suffer from gaps in diagnosis. Serology, which is still a key element in diagnosis for either viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, has a minimal sensitivity during the acute phase of the diseases, and lack of specificity with high rate of cross-reactivity with other pathogens. The gold standard of malaria diagnosis remains the blood-smear, a reasonable method, but one which is 120 years old. Thus the key challenge is the need to accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies into the field of travel medicine. This, in turn, will help many host countries to improve their diagnostic capacity and better public health information.

Christina Deschermeier
Novel Tools in the Diagnosis of Flavivirus Infections
OBJECTIVES:
• Discuss PCR diagnosis in different body-fluids
• Discuss other antigen detection tests
• Avoiding cross-reaction of serology tests in flaviviruses infection

Kevin Kain
What's New in Malaria Diagnosis?
OBJECTIVES:
• Evaluate gold standard approaches to malaria diagnosis
• Anticipate limitations of rapid diagnostic testing
• Reconsider the definition of severe malaria

Jacob Moran-Gilad
Advances in the Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections in Travellers
OBJECTIVES:
• Review the current methods of diagnosis of systemic bacterial infections (Lepto, typhoid)
• Understand the limitations of current diagnostic methods
• Discuss new diagnostic approaches on the horizon