Medical Laboratory Observer articles from August 2006

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from August 2006

Is there meth-od to this madness?(From the editor)(disaster planning for medical laboratories)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... Last month's comments on Dr. Tom Williams' Executive War College disaster-preparedness seminar brought an e-mail from him. "I know it when I see it. You are a subliminal disaster junkie! Disaster "junkie," yes. "Subliminal," hardly. People who...

Readers respond.(Letters to the editor)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Editor's Note: Daniel Garen, senior counsel at Bayer HealthCare in Tarrytown, NY, authored May's Washington Report, "New enforcement environment affects healthcare" [p. 48]. Here, he provides a response to a question in June's Letters to the...

Avian-flu "firsts.".(Global diseases)(World Health Organization report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Avian-flu "firsts." On May 23, The World Health Organization (WHO) reported the first confirmed case of human-to-human avian-flu transmission. The science journal Nature subsequently reported the virus had mutated 32 times among family members...

HPV vaccine approved.(Merck & Company Inc.'s Gardasil for human papilloma virus )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... HPV vaccine approved. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Gardasil, the first human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, which Merck & Co. will market. It has proven effective in blocking two types of HPV that account for 90% of...

New lab-on-a-chip technology.(News)(Colorado State University developed this technology)(Advanced MicroLabs market diagnostic equipment )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... New lab-on-a-chip technology. A Colorado State University research team has developed new "lab-on-a-chip" technology that offers rapid, inexpensive testing for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The hand-held device combines the fields of...

Super bug traced to tattoos.(News)(methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Super bug traced to tattoos. Recent occurrences of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been traced to illegal tattoo artists hosting tattoo parties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Vermont. The MRSA super bug is typically found among...

Med-lab techs in the making.(Education)(University of Nevada School of Medicine's Science Bound program)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Med-lab techs in the making. The University of Nevada School of Medicine's Science Bound program is one example of collaboration between universities, private foundations, and government agencies designed to encourage middle- and high-school...

Honorable mention.(The Observatory)(pathology reports)(Reprint)
August 1, 2006... February's Liability and the Lab column, entitled "Re-reading pathology reports" written Barbara Harty-Golder, was reprinted in American Pathology Review Spring 2006, published by the American Pathology Foundation. Harty-Golder, a...

Conferences.
August 1, 2006... Sept.28-29. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) 6th Biennial Lab 200X Conference at the Wyndham San Diego at Emerald Plaza, CA, "Fast Forward: Achieve Success in the Lab of the Future," will offer expert opinion on how lab...

Markers of angiogenesis in breast cancer.(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels, has been an active area of cancer research over the past few decades. Folkman first described the need for neovascularization for tumors to grow greater than 1 mm to...

Clarification.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2006... In the June 2006 issue's cover story entitled "Antigen retrieval: a review of commonly used methods and devices" by Joe Myers, p. 10, on Table 2, p.13, the Operating Temperature (range) of Biocare Medical should be 25[degrees]C to...

CE test on markers of Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer.(CONTINUING EDUCATION)
August 1, 2006... MO and Northern Illinois University (NNI), Deal, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (Zeus) for this issue's article on MARKERS OF ANGIOGENESIS IN BREAST CANCER. Zeus or contact hours are granted by the College of Health...

Instrumentation and analytical methods.(CLINICAL ISSUES)(assessing diagnostic equipment)
August 1, 2006... Instrument systems and analytical methods for clinical diagnostics must provide accuracy and precision, speed and convenience for the quantification of specific molecular and particulate species, ideally with no or minimum system downtime. In...

Design of Lean work cells: a Lean lab layout (part II).(LAB MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2006... Adoption of Lean principles is producing dramatic performance improvements for many laboratories. "Design a Lean laboratory layout" [see MLO, February 2006, p. 24] (1) dealt with high-level layout of the laboratory in order to maximize the...

Efficient laboratory design.(LAB MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2006... Achieving optimal operational efficiency in today's clinical/diagnostic laboratory is imperative for short- and long-term success in this competitive marketplace. Operational efficiency can be achieved, maintained, and improved upon with...

CLSI evaluation protocols.(LAB MANAGEMENT)(Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute)
August 1, 2006... Over the years Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly NCCLS) has developed a comprehensive series of reference documents to promote best practices in laboratory testing throughout the world, using a consensus-driven process...

At bioMerieux, a family's history melds with microbiology's future: the Merieux mantle is again passed.(Christophe Merieux )(Obituary)
August 1, 2006... The history of the Merieux family business 1897: Marcel Merieux, assistant to Louis Pasteur, founds the Institut Merieux, which begins as a medical analysis laboratory. 1937: Dr. Charles Merieux, Marcel's son, takes...

Testing controversy highlights CLIAC's June gathering.(CLIAC update)(Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee)
August 1, 2006... A special session of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) on June 20-21, 2006, addressed updating proficiency testing (PT) for gynecologic cytology methods. The agenda included a Center for Medicare and Medicaid...

Recruiting for the future of the clinical laboratory.(EDUCATION)
August 1, 2006... For those who have worked in a scientific laboratory, there are several critical success factors. These include technology, facilities, processes, funding, and people. With all things being reasonably equal, the greatest differentiator is the...

How and why to start in-house phlebotomy training.(SPECIAL FEATURE)
August 1, 2006... Increasing turnover rates, decreasing morale, and the growing unavailability of qualified, properly trained phlebotomists challenge today's laboratories. In response, the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon created a unique training...

Addressing management issues; I got fired.(Management Q&A)(unemployment benefits)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q My manager forced me to train two individuals who had no prior skills or background to do my work at half my wages. She then fired me, accusing me of profane language so that she would not have to pay unemployment benefits. Other workers in...

Addressing management issues; Bad work situation.(Management Q&A)(lab technicians shift times)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q I am a medical laboratory technologist, proud of it, work in a physician's office lab (POL), and love my career. We have four physicians and two nurse practitioners on staff. I am the only person who works in the lab. They let go one of the...

Answering your questions; Urine eosinophils screened by dipstick?(Tips from the clinical experts)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q We are interested in eliminating negative tests of urine eosinophils with the Hansel stain. Is it clinically correct to perform a dipstick on the urine and--if it is negative for leukocyte esterase--to eliminate the staining process? This...

Answering your questions; Safety of blood after radiation therapy.(tips from the clinical experts)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q We currently have a dialysis patient undergoing 131I radiation therapy for thyroid cancer. The patient requires pre- and post-dialysis blood work several times per week while undergoing weekly radiation therapy. The hospital radiation-safety...

Answering your questions; Elderly reference ranges.(Tips from the clinical experts)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q We are told that we should have age-specific reference intervals. We can find ones for pediatric ages, but where are the ones for the elderly? A With respect to reference values in the elderly, I have serious doubts that these should be...

Answering your questions; Heparin drawing tubes.(Tips from the clinical experts)(Column)
August 1, 2006... Q What is the difference between sodium heparin and lithium heparin tubes when drawing for a digoxin? I have been taught to draw all drug levels in a plain top red tube with no gel separator. We have an Axsym, and it says to use serum or sodium...

Liability for inadvertent arterial draws.(Liability and the lab)
August 1, 2006... Q It is well known that phlebotomists occasionally and inadvertently draw blood from an artery instead of a vein in the cubital fossa, particularly in patients with "difficult veins" (e.g., drug addicts and so forth). Fortunately, this does not...

Save time, labor.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... The OLA2500 Lab Automation System is a high-throughput aliquotting solution with pre- and post- analytical sample-processing capabilities. Designed for medium- to high-volume laboratories. This front-end processor saves time, labor, and...

Celebrate calibration.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... Three new additions to the MicroCV Calibration Verification/Linearity product line are now available: MicroCV Tumor Markers, MicroCV RF/CRP, and MicroCV ASO Linearity Sets. Five unique levels of linearity material are provided with each to...

Cool without contamination.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... A new reusable reagent reservoir cooler is a custom-fit companion for the company's 100-mL reagent reservoirs and will maintain fluid temperatures at [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VistaLab Technologies Visit www.rsleads.com/608ml-152

Detect flus A and B.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... Clearview Exact Influenza A & B is a rapid, simple, and accurate test to detect influenza A and B viral antigens. This immunochro-matographic membrane assay utilizes sandwich immunoassay technology and consists of a dipstick device containing a...

CCA simplifies operations.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... The OPTI Critical Care Analyzer is designed for low-volume use, provides a clinically relevant test menu in an always-ready, easy-to-use instrument that is portable and economical. Its automated sample aspiration and menu-driven display...

Forms, checklists, and guidelines.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... From human resources to daily operations, from health and safety concerns to LISs, Medical Laboratory Management: Forms, Checklists & Guidelines offers proven methods and effective suggestions the cover crucial issues like budgets, contracts,...

Bedside glucose testing.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... An advanced new blood-glucose monitoring system--Nova StatStrip--incorporates four-well measuring strip technology. The Multi-Well system measures and corrects hematocrit interference and those from acetaminophen; uric and ascorbic acids,...

Eliminates biohazard.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2006... The SPS Evolution slide preparation system offers improved productivity and standardization of blood smear, while providing an integrated, fully automatic slide maker for safe staining with a variety of staining protocols. Barcode reading;...

Slide makers and slide stainers; slide ID system.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... Fully utilize bar-code technology to improve the tracking process of slides and eliminate potential lab errors with StainerShield, a bar-code identification system designed for pre-stain labeling of tissue and specimen slides. Lab technicians...

Slide makers and slide stainers; Forced hot-air slide dryer.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... A programmable temperature-controlled 12-slide processing system called the ThermoBrite can be used as a fixed-temperature slide warmer. The system allows the user to program up to 40 temperature/time protocols and automates the denaturation...

Slide makers and slide stainers; Genomic-age workstation.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... Designed to advance the histopathology lab into the age of standardizing cell- and tissue-based in situ testing, the i6000 consolidated workstation provides accurate and highly reproducible staining results for better patient-therapy selection....

Slide makers and slide stainers; thin-layer cytology system.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... The PrepStain Slide Processor is a semiautomated liquid-based cytology sample-preparation system that produces and stains representative slides with a homogeneous, thin layer of cervical cells while maintaining diagnostic cell clusters. The...

Slide makers and slide stainers; morphological detail preserved.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... Designed for implementation in large-volume laboratories, the ThinPrep 3000 Processor is a fully automated instrument capable of processing four batches of up to 80 ThinPrep Pap Test samples per eight-hour shift. It offers a standardized...

Slide makers and slide stainers; standardized urinalysis.(Product focus)
August 1, 2006... Designed specifically for standardized urinalysis in the laboratory, the KOVA Glasstic Slide 10 is an optically clear plastic, 10-chambered slide that is available with or without a cell-counting grid. Minimizing exposure to biohazardous...

Using bar codes in the lab.(Massachusetts General Hospital, TriCore Reference Laboratories )
August 1, 2006... Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston and TriCore Reference Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, are among a growing number of hospitals and laboratories implementing bar-code solutions to help improve lab workflow, reduce lab errors, and...

GAO findings and recommendations.(Washington report)(Government Accountability Office )
August 1, 2006... In June, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the first comprehensive review of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory oversight system. The report, which took 15 months to complete and required the...

CLR: the right guide for the right people.(Clinical Laboratory Reference )(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... "Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit." So said William Pollard, chairman of the board of The ServiceMaster...

Table of critical limits.(clinical test values)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Critical limits define the boundaries of the life-threatening values of laboratory test results. Critical results, also called critical values, are those that fall outside the high and low critical limits. Urgent clinician notification of...

Table of reference intervals.(medical tests)(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Table of reference intervals Specimen Test Reference interval Conversion (conventional units) factor (multiply by) S ...

Critical values for therapeutic drug levels.(Statistical table)
August 1, 2006... Critical values for therapeutic drug levels The concept of critical values for drug levels was developed by Daniel M. Baer, MD, professor emeritus of laboratory medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, and first...

Cut-off and toxicity levels for drugs-of-abuse testing.(Chart)
August 1, 2006... Cut-off and toxicity levels for drugs-of-abuse testing This table summarizes information useful in the interpretation of drugs-of-abuse assays. It was developed by Daniel M. Baer, MD, professor emeritus of pathology, Oregon Health...

Product information.(directory)(Directory)
August 1, 2006... ABAXIS INC. 3240 Whipple Road Union City, CA 94587 Ordering/Pricing/Product Information Toll Free: (800) 822-2947 Website: www.abaxis.com Changing the Way You Practice Medicine Abaxis provides Lipid,...