Medical Laboratory Observer articles from February 2008

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from February 2008

Life's other little instruction books.(From the editor)(Editorial)
February 1, 2008... This month's Management Q & A instructs MLO readers on using voicemail effectively: "First and foremost, read the user manual for your system to be sure you are fully aware of its capabilities in order to use them to your best benefit."...

Error is human.(Readers respond)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... While I enjoyed reading Jeffrey Hays' article on toxicology ["Toxikon: an ancient words fits modern-day poisons," December 2007, page 10], I observed a lack of the term "presumptive" associated with any screening result. Whether it be the "DRE"...

Labs Are Vital teams up with Facebook.(Special report to MLO)
February 1, 2008... Facebook--an online network that connects young people with friends and other peers who work, study, and live around them--is being used as a tool to educate high-school and college students about career opportunities in the...

Virus moves into Italy from tropics.(Infectious diseases)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The New York Times reported on Dec. 23, 2007, that in Castiglione de Cervia, Italy, last summer, one person after another fell ill until mid-August when more than 100 were sick. People blamed pollution in the river, the government, and then...

MLO Board member helps author new report.(Worth noting)
February 1, 2008... MLO's Editorial Advisory Board member, C. Anne Pontius, is one of five laboratory professionals and legal experts who helped prepare the CLIA Compliance Handbook: A Guide for the Clinical Laboratory, 2nd ed. This research report, written with...

Predicting prostate risk.(New Tests)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A prostate test to be offered in a few months by ProActive Genetics, a company formed by Wake Forest University's School of Medicine, is the first of what is expected to be a revolution in medical prognostication, say some medical experts. For...

ID 12 viruses from single sample.(New Tests)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A test that simultaneously detects and identifies 12 specific respiratory viruses has been cleared for marketing. The xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel can differentiate influenza A subtypes H1 and H3; influenza B; respiratory syncytial virus...

FDA announces quick test for MRSA.(New Tests)(Food and Drug Administration)(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... On Jan. 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its clearance for marketing the first rapid blood test for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to be used only in patients suspected of a staph infection, not to monitor...

Conferences.(The Observatory)(Brief article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... * Feb. 13. Join in at AACC's "Going Green and Saving Green" Creating a More Eco-friendly Lab," from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (ET). Find out what kind of impact your lab could make if you changed a few simple policies to incorporate "green"...

HIV testing: an update.(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... CONTINUING EDUCATION To earn CEUs, see current test at www.mlo-online.com under the CE Tests tab. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to: 1. List the new CDC recommendations for HIV...

Adulterants and drugs-of-abuse testing: an update.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
February 1, 2008... There are two categories of products that are commercially available in order to "beat" drug tests. The first category includes taking specific fluids or tablets (hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic), along with substantial water intake to flush...

Wireless, paperless, anything but careless.(LAB MANAGEMENT)
February 1, 2008... Long gone are the days of manually checking lab and hospital appliances to make sure they have remained within prescribed value limits. With all of the emerging regulations and standards, many labs and hospitals cannot afford not to have a...

IRIS' CEO Garcia spearheads global growth.(Executive snapshot)(Editorial)
February 1, 2008... Watershed moment. At the launch of our automated urine microscopy analyzer in August 2003, we were the only company promoting the importance of an automated complete urinalysis, that is, an integrated urine chemistry and image-based urine...

Trends in flow cytometry.(EDUCATION)
February 1, 2008... Initially, flow cytometers were used as experimental devices; however, as in other industries, the strides made in technology mean that flow-cytometry instruments and their accompanying products have become a major market. Today's flow...

Basics of home glucose monitoring.(SPECIAL FEATURE)
February 1, 2008... Statistics from the American Diabetes Association reflect that 20.8 million children and adults--7% of the population in the United States--have diabetes. Of these, 14.6 million have been diagnosed, while the remaining 6.2 million are not aware...

Using voicemail effectively.(Addressing management issues)
February 1, 2008... Q Voicemail consumes a large part of my day. Does the panel have any time-management tips for using voicemail effectively? A Voicemail is an automatic electronic telephony answering feature that many companies employ, its main advantage...

Validation testing for low-volume tests.(Answering your questions)
February 1, 2008... Q How are laboratories handling validation testing for rare results? For example, we are having difficulty with IgM-positive hepatitis samples and negative samples for commonly vaccinated diseases (measles, mumps, rubella). Twenty positive or...

Stabilizing whole blood for glucose-comparison testing.(Answering your questions)
February 1, 2008... Q We have over 100 glucose meters in our hospital for which we perform monthly comparison testing. We use a heparinized whole-blood sample, which also is assayed on our main lab instrument. It is a continual frustration because the glucose, of...

Screening for CF.(Answering your questions)(Cystic fibrosis)
February 1, 2008... Q Our lab would like to retire the sweat-chloride test we do on a Westcor conductivity analyzer because we believe the test is antiquated. There must be other, more modern analytes (e.g., CF mutation) that could replace it. What is the current...

Tube coagulase and glass.(Answering your questions)
February 1, 2008... Q Concerning the tube coagulase test, I have always known to store (freeze) the bovine serum in glass tubes (12 mm x 75 mm). I have always believed that glass plays a part in the clotting process. Lately, I have seen plastic tubes used for...

Sue over review?(Liability and the lab)(employee performance)
February 1, 2008... Q In a recent evaluation, my supervisor indicated that I was chronically tardy to work. In fact, I have never been late. I imagine she confused me with another employee--similar name, same shift. I fear this will cost me my annual raise and...

Strength and comfort.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A broad selection of rugged and dependable ergonomic workplace chairs and stools combine the latest advanced features and industrial-strength design. These chairs help reduce the occurrence of many work-related musculoskeletal disorders, such...

Mobile for POC needs.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Point Of Care Cart )
February 1, 2008... Adjustable in height and compact in size, the POC Cart can be used in either sitting or standing positions. Simply pull the lever to adjust the height of the shelf from 32" to 42". Choose from the standard version (lift capacity 15 lbs. to 27...

Protected workstation.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Protected workstation from NuAire)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The LabGard 425 combines reliability, performance, and quality construction creating a large workstation. It allows all items required for a complete procedure to be placed within the work zone thereby minimizing air-barrier penetration, which...

Modular-furniture system.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Unilab Furniture's laboratory furniture)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Design and build your own layouts to suit your lab's individual needs with this unique modular-furniture system for clinical laboratories. Start simply--with benches, supports, and upper cabinets, space-saving rollout workstations--and add on...

Online design tool.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)
February 1, 2008... Lab Planner is an easy-to-use online tool that allows you to design a basic lab in just minutes. Whether planning a new lab or remodeling an existing one, quickly developing a concept design and budgetary estimate is simple by using...

Custom configuration.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)
February 1, 2008... Designed for the demanding versatility of applications, such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, or pathology, the line of E-Lab Casework provides chemical, moisture, heat, and abrasion resistance. Several design solutions include...

Easy comfort control.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... This highly Adjustable Lab Stool has controls located right where they are needed for users to customize their own comfort. The seat, seat back, and foot ring are all height-adjustable, as is the tension of the seat tilt. Stools can also be...

Practical and flexible solutions.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)
February 1, 2008... Custom lab benches and laboratory furniture offer a myriad of options. Equipped with phenolic resin tops that furnish the highest standard of durability and chemical resistance, standard features include super-duty shelves that support up to...

Comfort for patient and tech.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)
February 1, 2008... SP Blood Drawing Chairs were designed with guidance from medical technologists and phlebotomists for greater ease of use. The elevated seat reduces technician back strain. The wide- chair frame provides increased stability and accommodates...

Endless possibilities.(Product focus: Lab furnishings)(Sigma Flex )
February 1, 2008... Sigma Flex Systems Furniture successfully meets laboratory-design challenges by delivering architectural style. An extensive range of stylish and ergonomically sound reconfiguration possibilities are available, allowing the laboratory designer...

Affordable method.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The TypeSafe segment sampling device is an alternative to other segment-piercing devices on the market. The device features a ribbed exterior for easy handling and an enclosed piercing needle to lower the occurrences of blood spatter when cross...

Latex alternative.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... Derma Prene IsoTouch powder-free, non-latex surgical gloves are made from synthetic polyisoprene, which delivers the performance of natural-rubber latex without the risks of natural-rubber sensitization. These gloves provide premium infection...

Convenience enhancers.(Industry spotlight)(Carl Zeiss Inc.'s Axioskop 40 )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Special accessories for the Axioskop 40 upright microscope make pathology and other routine applications more convenient and user-friendly. The white ceramic-coated stage is designed especially for pathology, as the bright stage surface ensures...

High capacity.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... HighSpin and HighSpin-R centrifuge packages are now available. Developed for high-volume sample processing, these packages can spin 78 Vacutainer tubes at once. Both packages have a maximum rpm/rcf of 4,500/4,030, and include a four-place...

Automate every step.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The SYMPHONY system completely automates every step of slide preparation with one-touch operation from drying through the application of a glass coverslip. Slides are cured and immediately available for pathologist interpretation upon...

Designed to perform.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The Revco PLUS -86[degrees]C upright freezers are designed for high performance, provide maximum heat-removal capacity, and consume less power to properly maintain cabinet temperature, reducing heat emissions into the lab environment. ...

Early identification.(Industry spotlight)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The Isletest-ICA is a simpler, easy-to-use ELISA test for the detection of circulation of autoantibodies to islet antigens in human serum. It is especially useful in early detection of high-risk individuals who may develop insulin-dependent...

Ergonomic flexibility.(Industry spotlight)(Olympus America Inc.'s BX45 Microscope)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The BX45 Microscope was designed with ergonomic concerns, including the low stage height and the adjustable observation tube. Optional tilting-telescoping observation tube ensures that every user can adjust the microscope to suit his individual...

Virtual slide software.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The COOLSCOPE VS Suite is a complete software solution for scanning, viewing, serving, and organizing a WebSlide virtual-slide collection, designed especially for the COOLSCOPE digital microscope. Included is an Internet appliance that can be...

Immediate visual display.(Industry spotlight)(The Vizion System by Trek Diagnostics)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The Vizion System provides cost-effective, true MIC susceptibility testing with LIS capability. The immediate visual display projects images on a touch screen monitor with the complete antimicrobic format overlaid on it. The system links to a...

Accurate readouts.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The AccuMAX Series of digital radiometer/photometers allows for accurate readouts for UV irradiance, visible illuminance, and luminance light readings. The readout units are specially calibrated for use with a full line of interchangeable...

Complete semen-evaluation system.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The M2 Plan Semen Evaluation Labscope is a complete package for live-specimen microscopy. Its built-in heated stage maintains accurate and stable temperatures with a variable digital temperature-control. The plan phase contrast objectives and...

Open, random access.(Industry spotlight)
February 1, 2008... The intelliPATH FLX is a fully open, random-access immunohistochemistry staining instrument, that has STAT capability with priority processing, rapid four-step multistaining and on-board preparation of chromogens and reagents. Intuitive...

Laying the foundation for HIEs.(Washington report)(health information exchange)
February 1, 2008... Hospitals are engrossed with implementing electronic medical records. Integrated delivery networks (IDN) are forming in larger enterprises. Therein lies the promise of health information exchange (HIE). Interoperability within a health exchange...