Medical Laboratory Observer articles from July 2004

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from July 2004

Can we afford to gamble?(From the Editor)(Medical Laboratory Observer (journal))(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... 'T is AACC season, and the staff at MLO is anxiously awaiting the end-of-July exhibits in Los Angeles in order to take a gander at some exciting new products whose introductions are already in the wind. Meanwhile, we returned in late May from...

New SARS transmission pathways suspected.(Disease Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * New SARS transmission pathways suspected. Separate research from the Netherlands' Groningen University Hospital and from the First Military Medical University in Guangzhou, China, came to similar conclusions: The SARS virus might be more...

Zoonoses on the rise.(Disease Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * Zoonoses on the rise. A United Nations expert on animal diseases stated on May 5, 2004, that zoonoses spreading to humans are a growing threat. Recent examples that have had a global impact are bird flu in Asia, Ebola in Africa, and West Nile...

CLMA audioconference available.(Education)(Clinical Laboratory Management Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * CLMA audioconference available. The Clinical Laboratory Management Association's (CLMA's) compliance officer training academy audioconference series is an affordable, convenient, and comprehensive training program that will help laboratory...

Roche offers scholarships.(Education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * Roche offers scholarships. Roche Diagnostics GmbH and the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, DAAD) are offering research scholarships for a post-doctoral program to qualified young scientists from...

AACC 2004 annual meeting and clinical lab exposition--July 24-29--Los Angeles.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This is your opportunity to view the newest clinical laboratory products, which incorporate the latest in technology, and to learn about new and upgraded services. Take along MLO's guide to find these companies throughout the AACC show floor at...

Diagnostic assays for HIV-1 infection.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... CONTINUING EDUCATION To earn CEUs, see test on page 22. LEARNING OBJECTIVES The objectives and test were prepared by Dianne M. Cearlock, PhD, CLS(NCA), MT(ASCP), professor and coordinator, Program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences,...

Bringing AIDS testing to developing countries.(Clinton Foundation, Nonprofit organizations)
July 1, 2004... In industrialized countries, antiretroviral treatment has turned AIDS from a death sentence into a chronic illness. Many countries in the developing world, however, do not have the funds to carry out effective care and treatment programs and...

From age to age: the American laboratory.(Lab Management)
July 1, 2004... From the 1890s' inception of the medical laboratory in the United States through the advent of futuristic technology in today's lab design, the workplace for medical technicians and technologists has required attention to the smallest detail....

Addressing management issues.(Management Q & A)
July 1, 2004... Managing by intimidation [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q Since two hospitals merged six years ago, our lab has been in turmoil. We have experienced the usual personnel shortages and increased workload. Equipment is good, but morale is low,...

Beckman Coulter's Kleinert commands a central strategy.(Executive Forecast)(Interview)
July 1, 2004... MLO: Since Beckman acquired Coulter Corp. in 1997, what major change(s) has taken place? Robert Kleinert: We are able to supply diagnostic laboratories with virtually 100% of all routine blood tests. We now offer our customers a much wider...

Pyridium crystals in a urine sediment.(Answering Your Questions)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q Are there such things as Pyridium crystals in a urine sediment? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A To my knowledge, crystals of Pyridium have not been described in urinary sediment. If other crystals are present in a urine specimen, however,...

Gram stains from EDTA tubes.(Answering Your Questions)
July 1, 2004... Q Do you have any references that address the issue of using specimens that are received in sterile vacutainer tubes with EDTA additive (liquid or dry) for Gram-stain examinations? I know that EDTA and other additives can be toxic to bacterial...

Refrigerating urine for uric acid analysis.(Answering Your Questions)
July 1, 2004... Q For the past 30 years that I have been working here, we have always asked our clients to refrigerate (or cool on ice) 24-hour urine collections. This is primarily to prevent offensive odors. For urine uric-acid analyses, we mix the collection...

New-gen hematology analyzers.(Product Focus)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... The ever-changing laboratory environment continues to challenge manufacturers to develop enhanced analytical instruments that offer the hematology lab more power for more reportable results with less review. This, in turn, assists medical...

Need malpractice insurance?(Liability and the Lab)
July 1, 2004... Q Does the frequency of technical and managerial litigation against allied health professionals warrant individual malpractice insurance? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A In general, lawsuits naming individual laboratory personnel as...

Breast-cancer predictor.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A next-generation breast-cancer susceptibility test, the OncoVue-BRE, determines a woman's age-specific and life-time risk of developing breast cancer, based on proprietary gene combinations and DNA-assessment technology. The noninvasive...

Heavy-duty lab chairs.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... BioFit AM Series laboratory chairs feature a saddle-shaped contoured seat with waterfall front and an oversize backrest for maximum support and comfort. Upholstered with molded foam cushioning, the seat has an internal board bumper guard for...

POCT connectivity.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Quick-Linc is an expandable, POCT-connectivity information system that connects results from tests performed at the point of care to the electronic medical record via electronic data interchange and script interfaces. The system is able to...

Rapid diagnosis of vaginitis.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Recently FDA cleared, the new OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test uses color immunochromatographic, capillary flow, "dipstick" technology to detect pathogen antigens directly from vaginal swabs. Not only are results rapid, occurring within...

Virtual microscopy.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The recent integration of WebSlide virtual microscopy software with Nikon's Web-enabled and network-ready COOLSCOPE VS allows the virtual capture and viewing process of specimen slides to take place through a standard Internet connection. The...

Kidney arthritis assay.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Developed for the IMMAGE immunochemistry system, the b2M Assay delivers quantitative determination of Beta-2 Microglobulin in human serum and plasma by rate nephelometry. The test requires a sample volume of 48 mL and offers a measuring range...

New lipid panel control.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Specifically developed for use with the Piccolo chemistry analyzer, the new NOVAONE Low-Interference Liquid Lipid Control reduces the work required to validate patient test results and meet regulatory guidelines. Requiring no reconstitution,...

True continuous access.(Industry Spotlight)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Newly introduced, the Galileo Instrument offers transfusion service labs, blood-donor centers, and clinical labs next-generation blood-banking automation. This fully automated system allows technologists to load samples, order tests, and...

TAFI test kits.(Industry Spotlight)(Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI))(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The new Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) line of optimized test kits provides the accurate quantitation of both TAFI, along with its activated form, TAFIa, for the determination and diagnosis of vascular disorders, heart...

The laboratory approach to patient safety.(Washington Report)
July 1, 2004... Medical errors have a great impact on patient outcomes, since they can cause patients serious injury or even result in death. In 2000, in U.S. hospitals, medical errors were estimated to cause between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths annually, making...