Medical Laboratory Observer articles from August 2008

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from August 2008

Million-dollar babies in a 5&10C home.(From the editor)(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... Schoolteacher-turned-comic Sam Levenson's fame began with his 1969 bestsell-ing funny book. His humor was clean, wry, and always well-delivered: "Somewhere on this globe, every 10 seconds, there is a woman giving birth to a child. She must be...

The lab's "plus" side.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... After reading the many negative letters to the editor regarding our field that you have published of late, I feel the need to respond from a somewhat different perspective. The major complaints I read in most of the letters seem to focus on low...

Try the government on for size.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I just finished reading the article "Alternate careers for 'burned-out' medical lab personnel" in your May 2008 issue. I feel strongly that the lack of respect, combined with the disparity in pay, is going to greatly impact staffing in the lab,...

Looking at the hard question.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I read with some interest the responses to the editorial published in the January 2008 issue ["Retirement challenge looms," page 4], and I thought you might find a different perspective interesting. I am the spouse of a medical technologist...

Infectious diseases.(The Observatory)(care and treatment of clostridium difficile)
August 1, 2008... Killing superbugs. In early June, News-Medical. net reported that scientists in the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the U.K.'s University of Southampton have found that infectious bacterium Clostridium difficile is killed when exposed to...

Genomics.(The Observatory)(454 Life Sciences, Illumina Inc. and Applied Biosystems join hands to develop new sequencing technologies )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Sequencing companies join project. Leaders of the 1000 Genomes Project announced in mid-June that three firms pioneering development of new sequencing technologies joined the international consortium. New participants are 454 Life Sciences, a...

Worth noting.(The Observatory)(Geraldine S. Hall receives Sonnenwirth Award for Leadership in Clinical Microbiology at the American Society for Microbiology)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Leadership award in clinical microbiology. Geraldine S. Hall, PhD, received bioMerieux' 2008 Sonnenwirth Award for Leadership in Clinical Microbiology during the June 2nd awards ceremony at American Society for Microbiology's (ASM's) 108th...

Conferences.(The Observatory)(Conference news)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... * Sept. 24-25. The 2nd annual Lab Quality Confab at the Atlanta Hilton welcomes quality-management practitioners interested in advancing their knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in diagnostic medicine. Go to www.labqualityconfab.com for...

The wheel of misfortune prepare to win if disaster strikes.(CONTINUING EDUCATION)(Cover story)
August 1, 2008... In a Miami hotel auditorium two years ago, medical laboratory scientists, managers, supervisors, and directors sat through a daylong program, while laboratory experts presented their hands-on adventures with various disaster scenarios. As each...

Increased protection and comfort.(All-hazards laboratory needs)
August 1, 2008... The full cut of the Protection Plus DL151-BJ Lab Coats provides improved top-of-leg protection (no separation) when seated. These coats offer increased roominess for the lower body, and promote air circulation from the lower to the upper body...

Biothreat-agent detection.(All-hazards laboratory needs)
August 1, 2008... The GeneXpert System makes biothreat-agent detection possible in minutes--all from unprepared samples. Its rapid turnaround time gives first responders results in less than 45 minutes vs. two days in culture-based testing. This easy-to-use,...

Adapted for small spaces.(All-hazards laboratory needs)
August 1, 2008... Give constant, non-injurious streams of fluid to the orbital and facial areas for optimum irrigation after biohazard exposure. These Eyewash and Drench Hoses for hand-held and handsfree operation have a compact design, which is specifically...

Learn and be prepared.(All-hazards laboratory needs)
August 1, 2008... Introduction to Bioterrorism addresses what clinical laboratorians can do to be prepared for the threat of bioterrorism. The course covers major biological and chemical agents, including their warning signs and symptoms, and the laboratory's...

Three-layer construction.(All-hazards laboratory needs)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... These Super Absorbent Underpads, with three-layer construction, act as a cushion to protect lab ware from breakage--and lab personnel from exposure to biohazardous fluids. Each under-pad contains a top sheet that is made of a soft white...

Against the grain: a celiac disease review.(CLINICAL ISSUES)(Disease/Disorder overview)
August 1, 2008... Between 9,000 and 4,000 BC, in the age when glaciers melted and the earth warmed, nomadic hunter-gatherers settled down to more agrarian pursuits and began to cultivate wheat as a source of food. The establishment of this behavior, as it spread...

Aid in diagnosis.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... QUANTA Lite Celiac IgA Profile is a fluorescent immunoassay for the semiquantitative detection of IgA antihuman tissue transglutaminase (h-tTG) and anti-deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibodies, the detection of an insufficient amount of...

Antibody test.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... This Endomysial Antibody Kit is an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test for the qualitative and semiquantitative detection of endomysial antibodies (EMA) in human serum, as an aid in the diagnosis of celiac disease and dermatitis...

Celiac testing.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center screens for celiac disease through both genetic and antibody tests. A positive result for either requires further action for diagnosis. A free blood screening is offered every October. Click on...

Rapid detection.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... Anti-Gliadin(IgA)-Ab EIA -The Gliadin IgG, and Gliadin IgA kits are rapid ELISA methods for the detection of antibodies to gliadin, a principal component of wheat, barley, and rye gluten. The assays are intended to aid the diagnosis of celiac...

Valuable information source.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... The Celiac Sprue Association is a valuable source of information for people affected by celiac disease. The site is full of information on the diagnosis and disease treatment, and lifestyles of celiac sufferers. The site is an interactive forum...

Celiac information site.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... Celiac.com offers celiac-disease and gluten-free-diet information on gluten-free recipes, food and drug lists, vitamins and make-up, restaurant guides, and more. Articles blogs, and newsletter available. Click on MLO's rslead below to find out...

Automation-ready.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... A new generation of antitissue transglutaminase (tTG) Iga and IgG ELISA assays for celiacdisease diagnosis. Assays are CE-marked and automation-ready. Coated with purified complex of tTG, covalently cross-linked with deamidated gliadin peptides...

Comprehensive panel.(Celiac disease products)
August 1, 2008... The Celiac Disease Comprehensive Panel assists physicians in differentiating celiac disease from irritable bowel syndrome. It enables early detection of gluten sensitivity, which may help to avoid the progression of celiac disease, especially...

Kaizen--LEAN in a week: how to implement improvements in healthcare settings within a week.(LAB MANAGEMENT)
August 1, 2008... LEAN manufacturing has developed from being a way to streamline mass production, as in the automobile industry, to a lifestyle with continuous process improvement events that can be applied in all industries--as in healthcare. One of the key...

CLST founder Peter Francis helps build sales volume.(Executive snapshot)
August 1, 2008... Master-class reps. Remarkable sales people, in part, drive remarkable sales results. Clinical Laboratory Sales Training (CLST) has developed more than 60 lab-test and disease subjects and 23 topics related to selling methodologies within the...

Addressing management issues.(Management Q&A)(In memoriam)
August 1, 2008... In Memoriam It was a sad day at MLO when the news came about our dear Editorial Advisory Board member, Chris Frings. By now, in one way or another, you may have heard this news, but it is still very fresh in our minds and hearts. Larry...

Semiquantitative xanthochromia.(Answering your questions)
August 1, 2008... Q Our pathologist is interested in offering a semiquantitative assay for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) xanthochromia. Other than visual inspection, is there an available method for this? A Xanthochromia is the yellow color of CSF caused by...

Biosafety cabinet for blood cultures.(Answering your questions)
August 1, 2008... Q My lab currently does not provide a biological safety cabinet (BSC) in the blood-culture room to sub blood cultures. In light of bioterrorism concerns--not to mention exposure to certain pathogens--is a biosafety cabinet recommended, and/or...

Blood drawing with IVs.(Answering your questions)
August 1, 2008... Q How long should an IV be shut off before a peripheral blood sample is drawn from the same arm? A The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) is quite detailed in its venipuncture standard on the proper procedure for drawing...

Hemolyzed specimens from patients with acute pancreatitis.(Answering your questions)
August 1, 2008... Q We occasionally receive specimens on patients experiencing acute pancreatitis. They are typically very lipemic and significantly hemolyzed. I understand the lipemia (we airfuge/ultrafuge them to remove the lipemia). But I wonder about the...

Intricacies of disability insurance.(Liability and the lab)
August 1, 2008... Q One of our technologists involved in a car accident is unable to work because of her injuries. Our hospital provides disability insurance but informed her that she must pay taxes on benefits. It that true? I thought that disability benefits...

A Flordia hospital's POC solution.(EDUCATION)
August 1, 2008... Recongnized as one the best hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Florida Hospital (FH), an 880-bed acute care hospital in Orlando, is part of one of the largest hospital systems in the country and cares for almost one million...

Cleared for neonatal testing.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The StatStrip Glucose Monitor System has received FDA clearance for use in neonatal testing. It is the only monitor that measures hematocrit on the strip, automatically correcting glucose values for abnormal hematocrit values, and has a...

High accuracy and memory.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The GLUCOCARD 01 System requires no coding, displays results in seven seconds, and requires a tiny 0.3-ml sample size. GLUCOCARD 01 is highly accurate and has a 360-count test memory with time and date stamp. It also has a large, easy-to-read...

Rapid and accurate.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test gives accurate results and only requires 30 seconds of handS-on time. Results are realized in 10 minutes or less without using a microscope. It is dipstick-simple, more sensitive than wet mount, and CLIA waived....

All-in-one CBC system.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The QBC STAR Centrifugal Hematology System for performing in-office CBC testing employs advanced dry hematology technology. All of the reagents needed to perform a CBC test with the QBC STAR System are contained in the QBC STAR Tube. ...

Adjunct QC test.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The Platelet PGD Test is a rapid, qualitative immunoassay for the detection of areobic and anaerobic Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria in leukocyte-reduced apheresis platelets (LRAP) as an adjunct QC test following testing with a...

New upgrade.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... OneTouch TGC Advisor is an upgrade for the OneTouch DataLink Data Management System that measures and manages the information necessary for tight glycemic-control programs configurable by location and reportable by patient. It generates...

Assess risk.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... The automated Procalcitonin (PCT) Kryptor test is to be used on critically ill patients on the first day of ICU admission as an aid to assess their risk for progression to severe sepsis and septic shock. This sensitive Kryptor test enables...

Results in 30 minutes.(POCT products)
August 1, 2008... UltraCrit uses ultrasound technology and has shown an accuracy of [less than or equal to]0.4% Hct, resulting in a decrease in both "false deferrals" and "false accepts." Just wick a drop of blood into the single-use cuvette, and insert it into...

How could we truly revolutionize the medical laboratory?(SPECIAL FEATURE)
August 1, 2008... The "instrument of all trades" An ideal diagnostic instrument for the future would be a multifunctional diagnostic analyzer, with integrated decision-management capabilities. First, it would be intuitive, requiring no special training...

Oral fluids to change DOA testing.(SPECIAL FEATURE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Imagine the day when employers no longer have to tap off a bathroom's hot water pipe or ensure that a bluing agent is present in the toilet before they provide access to the room where potential employees are charged with literally showing what...

The lab morphs into mobile and Internet-based.(SPECIAL FEATURE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The future of clinical testing technologies centers on molecular testing and the automation thereof, greater simplification and automation of today's basic tests, and the patient's ability to have direct access to testing even self-administered...

Wireless, wireless, wireless ....(SPECIAL FEATURE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The ability to transmit clinical laboratory results via a secure wireless transmission has the potential to revolutionize laboratory testing. There are some instances today where wireless technology is being utilized, but there are some...

High-def hematology.(SPECIAL FEATURE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... False positives and manual intervention continue to vex hematology testing, even after notable advances in sample processing. The battle to reduce turnaround times, especially for emergency departments, is constant. And when you consider the...

MLO received permission from the National Guard.(SPECIAL FEATURE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... MLO received permission from the National Guard to use the photo of three soldiers and a gun in silhouette against an orange sky on page 36 of the July 2008 issue in a Clinical Issues article entitled "A day in the life of Bagdad's Ibn Sina...

Newly developed kit.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... The D3DFA Chlamydiae Culture Confirmation Kit for the detection of chlamydia in cell culture features a blend of newly developed monoclonal antibodies that detect the presence of all 15 Chlamydia trachomatis serovars, as well as Chlamydophilia...

Membership organization.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... A nonprofit, non-governmental, public service, membership association with a mission to provide comprehensive accreditation services for labs, inspection bodies, product-certification bodies, proficiency-testing providers, and...

Cross-platform printing.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... A cross-platform direct thermal printer for use in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories is designed to work seamlessly with several commonly used systems and, with its compact design, takes up considerably less space than traditional printers....

Detect 12 viruses.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... The xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel (RPV) is the first FDA-cleared assay to simultaneously detect and identify a dozen viruses and viral subtypes that together are responsible for more than 85% of respiratory viral infections. With a...

Non-isotopic ELISA.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... The TSH Receptor Antibody (TRAb) ELISA Test Kit has been improved to increase assay sensitivity while simultaneously reducing assay time. This ELISA utilizes the proprietary thyroid stimulating human monoclonal autoantibody M22 (directly...

Software solution.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... Hosted NovoPath is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for this com-pany's AP lab-workflow management, specimen-tracking and reporting platform. By deploying and maintaining software on a central NovoVision server with user access over the...

Integrate to LIS.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... AutoLims microbiology module is completely integrated into this company's general lab system, based on the same database structure solution. This integration allows the general lab and the microbiology lab to share information, common features,...

End hand-labeling.(Industry spotlight)
August 1, 2008... The TubeWriter is the first direct printer for clinical and laboratory media and vials, including glass or plastic vials, microcentrifuge tubes, cryogenic vials, cluster tubes, plates and slides. Information entered in Excel spreadsheets prints...

Sustaining the future of lab medicine.(Washington report)
August 1, 2008... As we shift from the use of traditional diagnostics to additional personalized disease diagnostics and treatment, the value of lab testing in healthcare continues to grow. Meanwhile, we need to consider what lies ahead for lab reimbursement in...

Team: together everyone achieves more.(From the editor)
August 1, 2008... "It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit." I know this is true. Our annual reference guide is the culmination of not only the work of the CLR staff and the employees at and volunteers for Nelson...

Table of critical limits.
August 1, 2008... 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.(Statistical table)
August 1, 2008... Specimen Test Reference interval (conventional units) S Albumin 3.8-5.0 g/dL B ...

Critical values for therapeutic drug levels.(Statistical table)
August 1, 2008... 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 published in the April 1982 issue of MLO. This table is an...

Cut-off and toxicity levels for drugs-of-abuse testing.(Statistical table)
August 1, 2008... 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 Sciences University, Portland OR, and updated by Richard A. Paulson,...

Product information.(Directory)
August 1, 2008... A2LA AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ACCREDITATION 5301 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 350 Fredrick, MD 21704 Ordering/Pricing/Product Information Phone: (301) 644-3248 Website: www.A2LA.org ABBOTT DIAGNOSTICS 100...