Medical Laboratory Observer articles from March 2004

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from March 2004

To juggle is divine.(From the Editor)
March 1, 2004... MLO has a small, caring editorial staff. At lunch recently, one of them suggested that I take up juggling. (Not surprising, for I do spend my days seated at the computer, and exercise is good for a body.) Another demonstrated with three pieces...

The law of supply and demand.(Readers Respond)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... I am finding it quite entertaining seeing the feedback coming in on the "bread crumbs" column (August 2003, "The magic in fairy tales," p. 6). I think common sense should tell us that we are now a business and, as such, should expect the rule...

Frey's fast food.(Readers Respond)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... Re: Letter to the editor from William Frey (January 2004, "Fast food for thought," p. 7) I have been a registered medical technologist for 34 years, not counting four years... as a corpsman with the Navy and Marines... in dispensaries...

A myth to be questioned.(Readers Respond)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... Re: Myth #7: Hematology commercial controls must be parallel tested before being put in use (November 2003, "HeMYTHology: 10 myths of hematology," p.24) The author apparently uses Beckman Coulter hematology analyzers, which--like all...

Waiver criteria engenders lively discussion.(CLIAC Update)(Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee law states waived test)
March 1, 2004... The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) met in Atlanta, Feb. 11-12, 2004, with a conviction from its leaders to give the FDA and industry a long-awaited draft of criteria for establishing a CLIA-waived test. (The CLIAC is...

Cryptosporidium cases could have been higher.(News)(dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Cryptosporidium cases could have been higher. A federal report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the Cryptosporidiosis outbreak last summer in Lawrence, KS, might have infected up to 600 people, rather than...

Nodding disease.(Global Disease Update)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Nodding disease. Nodding Syndrome, a relatively new and baffling disease indigenous to southern Sudan, attacks children, causing convulsions, stunted growth, and mental retardation. The cause is unknown, and the disease is often fatal. Three...

Polio surfaces in Africa.(Global Disease Update)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Polio surfaces in Africa. The Central African Republic, which had been polio free since July 2000, reported its first case in January when its health ministers held an emergency meeting in Geneva to intensify immunization campaigns with the aim...

Zoonotic diseases.(Global Disease Update)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Zoonotic diseases. The Wildlife Trust Alliance agrees with the CDC that most emerging diseases are zoonotic--animal diseases which can be transmitted to humans and are being spread by wildlife trade. The president of the New York-based...

Blood test for ovarian cancer.(Testing Potentials)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Blood test for ovarian cancer. A new test may detect early stage ovarian cancer from a fingerstick blood sample. The director of the Long Island Cancer Center at New York's Stony Brook University, told reporters, "I've been in cancer research...

Upcoming events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... * Legislative symposium 2004. The American Society for Clinical Laboratory (ASCLS), along with the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA), will hold a legislative symposium March 22-23 in Washington, DC. Topics to be addressed...

Controlling blood-culture contamination rates.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... CONTINUING EDUCATION [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To earn CEUs, see test on page 20. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this article the reader will be able to: 1. Describe three indicators of a contaminated blood culture...

Every calling is great when greatly pursued*.(Salary Survey 2003)
March 1, 2004... This year, every political pundit is focused on the U.S. Presidential campaign, namely the incumbent Republican team vs. the Democratic ticket (yet to be named), and the recently announced Independent candidate. The incumbent, as well as each...

Point-of-care testing in oral anticoagulation: what is the point?(Clinical Issues)(point-of-care testing monitors)
March 1, 2004... Warfarin is commonly used for oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in patients predisposed to thromboembolism (TE) or being treated for thrombosis. The efficacy of warfarin therapy is followed by monitoring the prothrombim time (PT) and...

New president, Dr. Weiss, reveals ARUP's strategy for the future.(Executive Forecast)(Weiss, Ronald)(Interview)
March 1, 2004... Dottie Dunham: As the new president and chief operating officer, what general issues and specific trends will ARUP Laboratories address in the clinical laboratory segment of the market over the next five years? Dr. Ronald Weiss: Economic...

Falsifying product pricing and expected profits.(Addressing Management Issues)(employee-employer relations)
March 1, 2004... Q My job at a large medical diagnostics company is to price our new products and calculate expected profits. Recently, after I submitted accurate calculations, my boss and the risk manager changed my numbers, making them more favorable for the...

Cranky employee.(Addressing Management Issues)
March 1, 2004... Q Every workplace seems to have one cranky employee who chronically spoils the demeanor of that workplace. In my experience, that employee is coddled by the supervisor, and to maintain equilibrium we are advised to "walk on eggshells" to...

Photos and "photo cell phones" prompt new policies.(Liability and the Lab)(hospitals)
March 1, 2004... Q We had a party for the elderly patients in our hospice-care ward. One of our staff took a "humorous" photo with her cell phone of one of the patients. She then posted the photo on her personal website with a caption. It came to our attention...

Pre-op hemoglobin levels.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)
March 1, 2004... Q At a recent blood utilization review committee meeting, we had a rather lengthy discussion regarding the suggested minimum hemoglobin (Hgb) level a patient should have prior to surgery involving general anesthesia. Some members of the...

RBCs in body fluids.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)(Red Blood Cells)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Q There was an article in the "Tips from the experts" regarding cell counts on body fluids. (October 2002, Quantitative body fluid counts, p. 39; November 2002, Differential with a normal CSF count, p. 39). I realize that you must perform both...

Cytospin body fluids.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)(staining (microscopy) techniques)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Q In reviewing the CAP checklist for inspection, I noticed a section regarding use of a stain, crystal violet or methelene blue, as an alternate way to distinguish red cells from white cells. Is this performed on the hemocytometer, and is it...

Aggressive blood collection from fingersticks.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Q Do you know of any changes in blood results/proteins when there is an aggressive blood collection from fingersticks? If the finger needs to be squeezed a bit during a fingerstick collection, are you aware of any effects on the results of a...

Clarification.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)
March 1, 2004... Q I am concerned about a Tips question in the January 2004 issue of MLO, ("Incubator controls," p. 26) in which you answer a question about controls for bacitracin testing. The problem is in the first sentence: "I run a CLIA-waived lab...." I...

Lab info systems (LIS) ease workflow.(Product Focus)
March 1, 2004... Laboratories, more than ever before, are depending on information systems to combat the critical staff short-age, the increased demand for faster turnaround times, and the ever-growing burden of security and regulatory compliance. Connectivity,...

The 10 Commandments of LIS troubleshooting.(Laboratory Information System)
March 1, 2004... Problems involving new technology are best solved with an old-world approach. Whether you are faced with an isolated instrument glitch or searching out answers to deeper and more technical dilemmas, these 10 Commandments offer a disciplined,...

High-throughput aliquotting solution.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The updated Olympus OLA2500 features advanced aliquotting, along with pre- and post-analytical sample processing capabilities. In a standard configuration, the system typically processes as many as 650 tubes per hour, making it ideal for peak...

Automated compact storage.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The BoxPickerCS is a new automated warehouse that provides central and sterile supply storage and retrieval. The basic unit consists of three high-density, compact storage modules, which store and dispense supplies, and one operator station...

Sedimentation rate analyzer.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The ESR-Auto Plus automated analyzer is designed to accurately and precisely measure the sedimentation rate of erythocytes in ESR-vacuum tubes. Capable of testing 10 tubes simultaneously and up to 20 samples per hour, the system can be...

Bench-top storage.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... Designed for long life and heavy usage, the new Scienceware Microcentrifuge Tube Ice Rack is an inexpensive solution to temperature-stabilized bench-top storage. Molded of sturdy polypropylene, the deep tray holds more ice and water, offering...

Microalbumin determination.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The new Autokit Micro Albumin Test Kit is intended for the quantitative determination of microalbumin in human urine. The liquid, ready-to-use, and sensitive assay utilizes an in vitro turbidimetric methodology, and can be automated using...

Rapid two-minute test.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The SimpliRed D-Dimer assay is a whole RBC agglutination assay for the qualitative detection of cross-linked fibrin degradation products, including D-dimer. The two-minute test procedure is intended for use as a clinical aid in the diagnosis of...

Multipurpose transport medium.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... Developed for the transport of Chlamydia, viruses, and mycoplasma, the CVM Transport medium is packaged in a tough, break-resistant polypropylene centrifuge tube with a secure screw cap. The proprietary formula is pH balanced and contains...

Versatile urinalysis testing.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... The new "URS" Urine Reagent Strips offer an easy-to-use and economical way of urinalysis testing. Suitable for a variety of applications and available in many combinations, the URS Strips provide specific single tests for glucose or ketones, as...

The CHF gold standard.(Industry Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... Recently FDA approved, the Triage BNP Test for Beckman Coulter immunoassay platforms, tests and measures BNP, providing standardized results. The test is indicated for use in the diagnosis of CHF, in the assessment of disease severity and for...

Rapid, flexible antibiotic system.(New Products * New Technology)
March 1, 2004... Based on NCCLS guidelines for clinical microbiology laboratories, the new IDTree 2004 Rapid Species Identification system produces flow schemes rapidly identifying bacterial and yeast with >95% accuracy using noncommercial methods and...

Accurate antigen detection.(New Products * New Technology)
March 1, 2004... The MERIFLUOR Chlamydia/RSV/VZV/CMR is a new line of fluorescent monoclonal antibody reagents for the rapid and accurate antigen detection of Chlamydia, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster virus, and Respiratory Syncytial virus. The simple...

Multipurpose centrifuge.(New Products * New Technology)
March 1, 2004... The new multipurpose Centrifuge Model 5804 and Refrigerated Model 5804R spin volumes from 0.25 mL up to 100 mL at low to high speeds for a wide range of applications. Features include interchangeable swing-bucket, high-speed fixed-angle rotors,...

Screen for C. difficile.(New Products * New Technology)
March 1, 2004... The C. DIFF CHEK 30/60 tests are enzyme immunoassays for use as screening tests to detect Clostridium difficile antigen, glutamate dehydrogenase in fecal specimens. The tests are used as aids in the diagnosis of C. difficile disease, and...

Crisis: antimicrobial agent resistance.(Washington Report)
March 1, 2004... Novel forms of antimicrobial resistance to various classes of therapeutic agents have appeared at a frenzied pace recently. A global public health emergency has materialized as fewer agents have maintained efficacy against a growing number of...

2004 editorial calendar.(Illustration)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... 2004 EDITORIAL CALENDAR ISSUE & CONTINUING CLINICAL LAB CLOSING EDUCATION ISSUES MANAGEMENT JAN Gene-Based Testing CARDIAC MARKERS Automated Dec. 1 for...