Medical Laboratory Observer articles from April 2009

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from April 2009

Have you spoken to Ray Gambino?(From the guest editor)(Editorial)
April 1, 2009... The place--my office at Englewood Hospital, Englewood, NJ. The time--41 years ago. The scene--the arrival of two unexpected visitors from the Medical Economics Company in nearby Oradell, NJ, publishers of controlled circulation journals and...

Do techs want to eat their young?(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I want to respond to the question, "Not following protocol" on p. 32 of Management Q&A in the February 2009 issue. I really appreciated the gentle prodding of A. B. Sturtevant asking her [the questioner] to review her policy and the process. I...

Echoes of a profession in crisis.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... On Feb. 25, the heroic Capt. Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who successfully landed in the Hudson River, spoke before Congress expressing the concerns facing professional airline pilots in a post-September 11th world. As I listened to...

Confused in Iowa.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I was recently reading the February 2009, Vol. 41, No 2 issue of MLO. On the cover was a heading, "Recruiting and retaining lab techs." I found no such article in the magazine. I read the article "The staffing agency 'scoop' on how to find...

Two new publications from CAP.(Education)
April 1, 2009... Two new publications from CAP. The College of American Pathologists offers two new publications. First, An Algorithmic Approach to Hemostasis Testing edited by Kandice Kottke-Marchange, MD, PhD, FCAP, is a highly illustrated reference book with...

Beckman Coulter to acquire diagnostic-systems portion of Olympus' life sciences.(Industry watch)
April 1, 2009... Beckman Coulter to acquire diagnostic-systems portion of Olympus' Life Sciences. Beckman Coulter Inc., developer, manufacturer, and marketer of products that simplify, automate, and innovate complex biomedical tests, and Olympus Corp.,...

New prostate-cancer marker found in urine.(New tests)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... New prostate-cancer marker found in urine. Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have identified a new biological marker present in the urine of patients with prostate cancer that indicates whether the cancer is progressing and spreading....

New test helps doctors determine appropriate antibiotic use.(New tests)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... New test helps doctors determine appropriate antibiotic use. Nationwide, overuse of antibiotics is widely accepted as the reason that some bacteria develop resistance. In April 2008, BRAHMS Diagnostica LLC announced that it received FDA...

FDA 510(k) clearance of novel molecular assay to diagnose Clostridium difficile infections.(New tests)(Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... FDA 510(k) clearance of novel molecular assay to diagnose Clostridium difficile infections. BD Diagnostics received clearance from the FDA to market its BD GeneOhm C diff molecular assay for the rapid detection of the Toxin B gene found in...

West Nile virus: the current climate.(Cover story)
April 1, 2009... West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of flaviviruses, which are responsible for a range of clinical syndromes in humans, from mild fever to fatal encephalitis. WNV is transmitted by many different...

West Nile virus 2009: from emerging to endemic in 10 short years.(COVER STORY)(Cover story)(Report)
April 1, 2009... The first West Nile virus (WNV) cases that made chilling headline news in 1999 brought only questions: What is causing birds and humans to become ill and die? An unknown pathogen? How is it transmitted? How deadly? Today we know that WNV is...

Take the guesswork out of venipunctures.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
April 1, 2009... Superman would make a great phlebotomist. With his X-ray vision, he would never miss a vein, or have to apologize to a patient, or send in another superhero to try to draw blood. STAT draws would take half the time, and morning collections...

Winning teams: a common vision yields uncommon results.(LAB MANAGEMENT - MEDICAL LAB OF THE YEAR 2009)
April 1, 2009... Each year, MLO sponsors a friendly competition among laboratories in conjunction with National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 19-25, 2009). A three-judge MLO panel selects the winner as well as the first and second runners-up. Our...

Curt Johnson delivers Orchard to market.(Orchard Software Inc.)(Special Olympics Inc.)
April 1, 2009... Orchard's milestones. In 2008, Orchard celebrated its 15-year anniversary as a laboratory information systems company. Our goal when we started, and it continues today, is to enhance productivity and disseminate information efficiently into the...

Addressing management issues.(Management Q&A)(Larry Crolla)(Alton Sturtevant)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... Preferential treatment Q We work in a large lab. Recently, we have had an influx of several new employees. Those of us employed here for up to 25 years have noticed "preferential treatment" being meted out to these newcomers. Why they need...

SCC soft computer: celebrating 30 Years of innovation and excellence.(CORPORATE PROFILE)(Company overview)
April 1, 2009... Company Overview Founded in 1979, SCC Soft Computer has been meeting the needs of the healthcare industry by providing powerful, clinical information solutions to hospitals, large IDNs, and laboratories for three decades. Today, as SCC...

Answering your questions.(Tips from the clinical experts)(Column)
April 1, 2009... Max detection time for ETOH Q What is the maximum detection time for ETOH? Any new tests available for legal testing? A The average adult eliminates ethanol at a rate of 15 mg/dL/h to 20 mg/dL/h (7 g/h to 10 g/h, or the equivalent of...

Differences between INR instruments.(Tips from the clinical experts)(international normalized ratio)
April 1, 2009... Q Am I incorrect in my understanding that INR is a standardized measure of prothrombin time, regardless of the testing method used or the number of seconds measured? I ask because of the following data reported on samples from a patient: ...

Prepare for occupational bloodborne pathogen exposure.(Liability and the lab)
April 1, 2009... Q Our lab is reviewing the Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure-Control Plan. We have had few incidents. What concerns should we keep in mind in revising our protocols? A Most occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens results from a failure...

Disasters require POC technology.(SPECIAL FEATURE)(point-of-care testing devices)(Survey)(Statistical data)
April 1, 2009... During disasters, emergency medical responders deploy to disaster sites. (1) They carry point-of-care testing (POCT) devices, such as oxygen-saturation monitors (pulse oximeters), blood-glucose meters, and other small hand-held devices. (1)...

Reduce reporting errors.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "There is an ongoing trend to make rapid diagnostic testing faster, easier, and more accurate. Additionally, laboratories are seeking ways to incorporate automation and advanced data-management capabilities to increase efficiency and improve...

Demand grow while resources are limited.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "The newest trend in rapid tests, specifically in the area of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), is driven, in large part, by a graying population and shifting reimbursement policies. The high-sensitivity performance of fecal immunochemical...

Highly accurate biomarker provides fast turnaround.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "Maturation of biomarker science has been one of the most promising innovations within the healthcare industry over the last several years--a development that holds true potential to improve patient outcomes. Biomarkers can play a large role in...

Ongoing simplification of methods.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "The industry has seen the tremendous growth in 'near patient' rapid testing, particularly in diabetes, cardiac, and a few infectious diseases. The demand for more rapid testing has put pressure on the laboratory and diagnostic manufacturers to...

Latest methods for trichomoniasis detection.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "We know that trichomoniasis is associated with ascending infection (i.e., pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, and post-operative infections). Other preventable health consequences can include increased risk of HIV infection, tubal...

Enhance your infection-control program.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "Our new selective and differential culture medium facilitates the isolation and identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from environmental surfaces. This new contact plate contains a chromogenic medium that aids in...

Physicians' choose for patients' convenience.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer has emerged as the nation's second leading cause of cancer deaths. Recent screening rates are increasing among U.S. adults aged 50 years and older (60.8 % in 2006...

One test detects 12 viruses--fast.(Trends in rapid testing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "Molecular testing for respiratory viruses is an exciting development. Viruses cause the majority of respiratory infections, yet physicians rarely test for them because it is difficult to get clinically relevant results with traditional testing...

Important tests for the ED.(Trends in rapid testing)(emergency department)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "There has been an emerging need for rapid diagnostic tests, especially in the areas of the hospital such as the emergency department, where a fast result for critical-care tests for situations such as a heart attack are needed. An example of...

The fight against MRSA.(Trends in rapid testing)(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... "Hospitals must do more with less, especially in light of current economic conditions. There is also the consistent desire for faster results leading to earlier patient diagnosis and treatment. The challenge is to 'marry' the two without...

CLIA-waived system quickly measures hematocrit.(Centrifuges)
April 1, 2009... HemataSTAT is a microhematocrit system that provides a quantitative hematocrit and has a 60-second spin time, quiet operation, a built-in digital tube reader with LCD display of prompts and results, and a six-place rotor. The hematocrit method...

Three-minute TAT for LEAN lab operation.(Centrifuges)
April 1, 2009... The StatSpin Express is a high-speed horizontal centrifuge that allows for fast turnaround time and greater productivity for a LEAN laboratory. Place it next to any STAT analyzer and serum or plasma gel tubes are ready in just minutes. With...

Automated centrifugation for 300 tubes/hour.(Centrifuges)
April 1, 2009... The Centrifuge Module EC1 forms a complete front-end automation process and has a throughput of 300 sample tubes per hour. The tube type is identified via cap recognition by a camera. After detection, tube type is selected and tubes are loaded...

Easy sample loading for large holding capacity.(Centrifuges)
April 1, 2009... The Horizon 755VES features the largest holding capacity in the Performance Series line of centrifuges by this company. Its horizontal rotor carriers can accommodate up to 24 test tubes. The 755VES offers control over almost every aspect of the...

Automated assay for anemia diagnosis, treatment.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... Access sTfR Assay and the sTfR/Log Ferritin Index (sTfR Index) are used as an aid in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia, and the differential diagnosis of that and anemia of chronic disease. The automated assay, used in combination with...

Graves' disease assay with TAT of only 27 minutes.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... The Anti-TSHR Assay is the only fully automated TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) available for use on the cobas e 601 and 411 analyzers, MODULAR ANALYTICS E 170 module, and Elecsys 2010 system. Used in the determination of Graves' disease, as well...

One-stop shopping for medical laboratory needs.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... VWR elements is a catalog that contains medical laboratory industry news, products, and services. Featuring products from water purifiers by Thermo Scientific, reagents from BDH, biohazard bags from Scienceware, and gloves by Microflex, this...

Control assayed for many new instruments.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... The Cell-Chex Auto, the first body-fluid control for automated body-fluid analysis, is now assayed for the XE-5000. It is also assayed for use of the Sysmex XE-2100, XT-1800i, XT-2000i, Abbott CELL-DYN 3200, CELL-DYN 4000, Sapphire, Ruby, and...

Antibodies for specific diagnosis of breast cancer.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... A comprehensive panel of antibodies for breast carcinoma includes ADH-5 (atypical ductal hyperplasia). ADH-5 is an antibody cocktail composed of CK5/CK14 + p63 + CK7/CK18 antibodies and can solve multiple clinical problems. The antibody panel...

Minimize mislabeling while enhancing safety.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... A new line of blood-bag labels, the 8000T, are available to support the ISBT standard and are designed to enhance patient safety in the blood-transfusion process. Made with a polypropylene face sheet, the 8000T primary blood-bag labels have a...

Highly customizable specimen-storage solution.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... Store and track tens of thousands of specimens in a fully automated storage system (ambient to -20[degrees]C) with 100% selectivity. This system allows for fully automated put-away, direct access to any specimen in seconds, and an automated...

Improved qPCR results quality.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... The PCS Pipette Calibration System is for use in qPCR applications, and is an ideal solution due to its ability to rapidly measure small liquid volumes at high accuracy and to give NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)-traceable...

Eco-friendly tip packaging.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... The VistaStak and VistaRak are new, "greener" recyclable rack systems for pipette tip products. These new products use up to 62% less plastic than existing industry packaging and reduce package waste. Featuring a 12 x 16 tip layout, the rack...

Portable cooling tubes/plate racks.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... CoolSystem Thermoadaptive Tubes and Plate Racks are for portable benchtop cooling and ensure the integrity of samples by quickly raising them above the ice surface on thermal conductive trays and racks made of patented hard anodized aluminum....

Monitor celiac-disease activity.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... Measurement of antibodies to gliandin is useful in monitoring celiac-disease activity and compliance to a gluten-free diet. Conventional ELISA methods use crude gliadin antigen and have shown limited sensitivity and specificity; the BINDAZYME...

Assess risk for CAD, ischemic stroke.(Industry spotlight)
April 1, 2009... The PLAC Test is the only blood test cleared by the FDA to aid in assessing risk for both coronary-artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke. The test measures levels of Lp-PLA,. a cardiovascular-specific inflammatory enzyme, that is carried to...

Seize the day.(Washington report)
April 1, 2009... President Barack Obama indicated in his inaugural address that making quality healthcare more affordable to all Americans would be one of his Administration's top priorities. Even without current economic conditions, this is a Herculean...