Biotia, a clinical metagenomics company, has secured $9 million in oversubscribed financing to scale its infectious disease diagnostics platform. The New York City-based firm's flagship BIOTIA-ID Urine Test identifies causes of recurrent and complicated urinary tract infections with 97% sensitivity and 99% specificity, available across all 50 US states. The funding will support laboratory expansion, new women's health diagnostics, and entry into orthopaedic diagnostics. Biotia also strengthened its board, adding Michele Colucci as chair and Tim Barry as director, alongside several advisors. Investors include Convergent Ventures, DigitalDx Ventures, Cloquet Capital Partners, Continuum Health Ventures, and others. The company, a spinout from Cornell Tech's Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, collaborates with Mayo Clinic, Hospital for Special Surgery, and NASA.

The value of automated treponemal testing and optimized algorithms. BY Stephanie Mitchell, PhD, D(ABMM) | September 4 2026 Learn how syphilis testing is helping patients at the Marshfield Clinic Sanford Health in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Why maternal syphilis screening matters more than ever. At ADLM 2026, Dr. Sarah Bissonnette, Laboratory Director at Marshfield Clinic-Sanford Health in Marshfield, Wisconsin, shared practical insights into how clinical laboratories can strengthen maternal syphilis screening programs through modern diagnostic workflows and optimal screening strategies. Her presentation, Integrated Diagnostic Pathways for Maternal Screening to Reduce Incidence of Congenital Syphilis, highlighted a growing public health challenge that is increasingly relevant across Wisconsin, Michigan, the broader United States, and around the world. Dr. Bissonnette's message was clear: syphilis is no longer a rare infection encountered occasionally. Rising rates of both adult and congenital syphilis1 require healthcare systems to rethink screening approaches, improve testing access, and adopt technologies that help identify infections earlier and more reliably. A growing public health concern in Wisconsin and beyond. Dr. Bissonnette noted that congenital syphilis cases in Wisconsin increased by 24% from 2023 to 2024, despite the decrease in overall syphilis cases as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during that time.[2] While syphilis is treatable, congenital syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, and death.[3] Therefore, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and many other places, recommend syphilis testing during pregnancy at multiple time points, including the first trimester, around 28 weeks gestation, and at delivery.[2] These local trends mirror broader national concerns. CDC surveillance data shows increases in both adult and congenital syphilis infections, reinforcing the need for proactive screening programs and timely laboratory testing.[4] The growing number of cases has prompted several states in the U.S. to update prenatal testing requirements and screening policies.[5-7] Rural communities, geographically dispersed patient populations, and variable access to specialty care can create barriers to screening and follow-up. In these settings, laboratory testing becomes an especially important gateway to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of transmission. Syphilis has re-emerged as a global public health concern, with the World Health Organization reporting millions of new infections each year worldwide.[8] In many regions, health systems are grappling with rising rates among reproductive-age adults and a corresponding increase in congenital syphilis cases.[9] Limited access to healthcare, delayed prenatal care, and gaps in routine screening continue to contribute to preventable maternal and neonatal infections.[10] Whether in rural Wisconsin or underserved communities around the world, early identification remains one of the most effective tools for reducing disease transmission and improving outcomes.[10,11] The role of the clinical laboratory. As cases rise globally, laboratories play a critical role in delivering accurate testing to detect infections, guide timely treatment, and support public health efforts, highlighting the importance of modern diagnostics and coordinated screening programs. Dr. Bissonnette also highlighted the importance of looking beyond traditional prenatal settings. Emergency departments represent an often-underused opportunity for screening, particularly for patients who may not consistently engage with routine prenatal care. Stronger coordination between emergency medicine, obstetrics, public health programs, and laboratory services can help close screening gaps and identify infections that might otherwise go undetected. The value of high-sensitivity testing. One of the central themes of Dr. Bissonnette's presentation was the role of updated treponemal laboratory tests in modern infectious disease screening programs. Laboratories may need Automated testing solutions may aid laboratories in addressing the increase in syphilis testing demands. Ensuring tests and testing algorithms must combine both accurate detection with efficient workflows and rapid turnaround times to ensure screening program success. CDC recommendations recognize the value of automated treponemal immunoassays for supporting both traditional and reverse screening algorithms in high-volume testing environments.[12] The Beckman Coulter Access Syphilis assay, available on the DxI 9000 and Access 2 immunoassay analyzers, is an automated treponemal immunoassay solution that may enable laboratories to streamline workflows and realize the benefits of using the reverse algorithm. When a treponemal test, such as Access Syphilis, is used in conjunction with a non-treponemal test, such as RPR, using the reverse algorithm workflow, laboratories may see both operational and clinical benefits, such as reduced TAT and improved detection of early-stage infections.[11,12] Dr. Bissonnette emphasized that testing accuracy alone is not enough. In an environment where laboratories must ensure that results are reported quickly, interpreted appropriately, and connected to timely clinical action, testing accuracy must function within an optimized workflow from preanalytical specimen collection through treatment initiation to enable timely testing, reporting, interpretation, and treatment. Looking ahead. The resurgence of syphilis serves as a reminder that infectious disease threats do not disappear simply because they become less visible - and that diseases reemerge and cause significant harm when left unchecked. As incidence rises across many regions of the U.S., laboratories are being called upon to provide faster, more reliable screening and stronger support for public health initiatives.[13] Dr. Bissonnette's ADLM 2026 presentation underscored how integrated diagnostic pathways using updated treponemal tests alongside non-treponemal tests, and collaboration across care settings can help address this challenge. By strengthening screening programs and reducing missed opportunities for diagnosis, laboratories can support earlier detection and help facilitate timely patient management. Watch the recording of Dr. Bissonnette's ADLM 2026 presentation below. She offers a valuable perspective for laboratory professionals, clinicians, and public health stakeholders working to modernize STI screening and improve maternal and overall health outcomes. About Dr. Sarah Bissonnette Dr. Sarah W. Bissonnette is a board-certified clinical chemist who serves as Laboratory Director, Section Head, Program Director, consultant, and educator at Marshfield Clinic-Sanford Health. She is a faculty member in the Medical Laboratory Science training program at Marshfield Medical Center and an active member of both ADLM and ACLPS. Her work focuses on advancing diagnostic innovation while fostering collaboration among laboratory professionals and clinicians to improve patient care. Her responsibilities place her at the intersection of laboratory operations, clinical decision-making, and public health. Stephanie Mitchell, PhD, D(ABMM) Stephanie Mitchell, PhD, D(ABMM), is Senior Director, Medical and Scientific Affairs-Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Beckman Coulter. She received her PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Tufts University and is board certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) in Medical Microbiology.

Marshfield Clinic offers free Sept. suicide prevention training online. Marshfield Clinic offers two free online suicide prevention classes in September for those who support farmers, first responders and military personnel. Wausau Daily Herald Sept. 4, 2026, 4:05 a.m. CT Marshfield Clinic will offer two free online suicide prevention training sessions in September aimed at community members who support farmers, first responders, military personnel and veterans. The trainings are part of a community outreach effort organized by the Marshfield Clinic Veterans Care Coordinator program and the Marshfield Clinic Military & Veterans Employee Resource Group in partnership with AgriSafe Network Inc., according to a community announcement. The sessions are intended to increase awareness, reduce stigma and provide practical suicide prevention tools for rural communities. The announcement comes as Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services unveiled a statewide Injury and Violence Prevention Strategic Plan focused on reducing injuries, violence and violent deaths in Wisconsin, including suicide, according to the announcement. "Suicide prevention training can empower any of us - friends, neighbors, coworkers, parishioners, farmers, veterans - to recognize warning signs, start difficult conversations, and help connect someone to the support that could save a life," said Bryan Weichelt, research scientist and past chair of Marshfield Clinic's Military & Veterans Employee Resource Group. "Every person trained in suicide prevention becomes a bridge between silence and support, hope and healing." QPR training scheduled for Sept. 14. A Question, Persuade, Refer, or QPR, training session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14. The 90-minute training is geared toward rural firefighters, emergency medical services professionals, veterans and others who serve rural communities. Participants will learn how to identify signs of mental health distress, respond to someone experiencing a crisis and connect individuals with support resources. The session will include practical examples and scenarios designed to help participants apply QPR principles. AgriSafe Network population health scientist Noah Hopkins and Total Farmer Health Director Tara Haskins will lead the training. Organizers said the evening time was selected based on feedback from rural fire and EMS partners to better align with regular training schedules. Registration is available through us02web.zoom.us. Participants will receive a confirmation email with access information and additional instructions after registering. CALM counseling workshop set for Sept. 17. A second training, Conversations on Access to Lethal Means, or CALM, will begin at 5 p.m. Sept. 17. The four-hour workshop is intended for mental health clinicians, primary care providers, substance use counselors, hotline responders and crisis intervention professionals. According to the announcement, participants will use case studies, video examples and interactive exercises to build skills for supporting people experiencing suicidal crises. Topics will include developing safety plans with clients and families, discussing safe storage of lethal means and strengthening intervention and counseling techniques. Haskins and Olivia Bury, behavioral health coordinator and licensed professional counselor, will facilitate the workshop. This story was produced by reporter Nida Tazeen,[email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more atcm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.