Medical Laboratory Observer articles from October 2004

Medical Laboratory Observer archives from October 2004

Roll up those sleeves.(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... From June through November, we southwestern Floridians languish through hurricane season in heat and humidity, waiting to see if any storms head in our particular direction. On Friday, August 13th, Hurricane Charley became the first of our...

HSV-1 vs. HSV-2 demographics.(Readers respond)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I enjoyed the article ["Diagnostic tests for common STDs and HSV-2," p. 10] in the February 2004 issue by [Christopher S.] Hall [MD, MS] and [Jeffrey D.] Klausner [MD, MPH], but I feel they've missed the mark on HSV-2. Our statistics at the...

Online archives.(Readers respond)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... How can I electronically access articles in previous issues? I would like to access an article in the May 2004 issue. How can I access articles in the article archives? Is there a way to search for articles by subject? [ILLUSTRATION...

Statistics puzzle.(Readers respond)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... In your article "Tumor markers from A to Z" [September 2004], there is a sentence that needs to be clarified. One of my pathologists agreed. On page 26, you state [that] 75% of ER-negative patients will relapse with metastatic disease and die...

Compete for our Medical Lab of the Year Award.
October 1, 2004... It is not too early to consider entering MLO's annual competition. This award coincides with National Medical Laboratory Week (April 24-30, 2005) and allows medical laboratorians nationwide to demonstrate their contributions to quality patient...

Safe Blood for China Foundation formed.(Bloodwork)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Safe Blood for China Foundation formed. The People's Republic of China signed an agreement with Safe Blood International of Washington, DC, to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in China. The agreement establishes the Safe Blood for China...

Breast-cancer blood test monitors treatment.(Bloodwork)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Breast-cancer blood test monitors treatment. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has developed the CellSearch System blood test that monitors treatment in advanced breast-cancer patients by counting cancer cells in the...

Blood test detects ovarian-cancer proteins.(Bloodwork)(Johns Hopkins University Kimmel Cancer Center)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Blood test detects ovarian-cancer proteins. The Johns Hopkins University Kimmel Cancer Center researchers have developed a blood test that detects three proteins found in the blood of ovarian-cancer patients. The test will not be commercially...

Conferences.(The Observatory)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... * Oct. 13. From 2-3:30 p.m. (ET), the audioconference "Regulating and Reimbursing New Genetic Technologies" will examine the current regulatory environment, problems and policy options under review, and strategies for labs with concerns about...

New COLA E-learning course online.(Education)
October 1, 2004... New COLA E-learning course online. "Best Practices for Performing Waived Tests" focuses on following good laboratory practices to achieve accurate and reliable patient test results. The course is available at www.labuniversity.org. Course...

ABMLI Diplomates certified.(News)(American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ABMLI Diplomates certified. The American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology Diplomates specialize in the study of immune system components in healthy/diseased individuals and the performance, development, and interpretation of immunological...

ClinicalTrials.gov wins "Oscar.".(News)
October 1, 2004... ClinicalTrials.gov wins "Oscar." Federal government website Clinical Trials.gov won the 17th Annual Innovations in Government Award, including a $100,000 grant, from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovations at Harvard...

Vaccine to fight biothreat bacterium.(Biothreat)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Vaccine to fight biothreat bacterium. No vaccine against Burkholderia pseudo mallei currently exists. Since the bacterium can be easily dispersed by aerosol spray and used as an agent for biological terrorism, University of California-Irvine...

Flu preparations underway.(Global disease update)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Flu preparations underway. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan, calling for research to speed development of super-flu vaccines and an increase of national stockpiles...

Diagnostic tests for HPV infection.(human papillomavirus)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... CONTINUING EDUCATION [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To earn CEUs, see test on page 18. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to: 1. Understand the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... In the Executive Forecast for September 2004, Jim Williams, vice president of sales and marketing for ABX Horiba, used the term "FTEs," which was erroneously spelled out as "full-time employees" in his response to the following question: What...

The chemical pathology of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.(CLINICAL ISSUES)
October 1, 2004... Over the past decade the metabolic syndrome (1,2) has become prominent in the literature in addition to emerging as a major public health concern. The metabolic syndrome presents many diagnostic problems for clinicians and laboratorians alike....

Benchmark to a more successful lab operation.(LAB MANAGEMENT)
October 1, 2004... Centuries ago, carpenters and metalworkers notched their benches, termed benchmarking, to help apprentices cut stock to a consistent length. More recently, benchmark has become corporate-speak for a widely accepted performance or quality...

Create a no-blame lab environment.(LAB MANAGEMENT)
October 1, 2004... The laboratory at Harris Methodist H.E.B Hospital--a 250-bed facility in Bedford, TX--processes 600,000 clinical and anatomical lab tests on average annually. In November 2001, Sharon L. Harris, MS, MT (ASCP) SBB, joined the laboratory staff....

Misys' HIT unites care settings: CEO Tom Skelton tells how.(Executive forecast)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... MLO: Misys plc entered the healthcare industry less than 10 years ago with the acquisition of Medic Computer Systems. What do you consider Misys Healthcare Systems' greatest achievement? Tom Skelton: Misys' ability to continue delivering...

Investigational test protocols must include informed consent.(Liability and the lab)
October 1, 2004... Q If a laboratory performs investigational testing on patients in a physician office laboratory, is the laboratory or its director required to have an ongoing manuscript or log of those results? A A prime maxim of laboratories is that all...

Microscopes: end-user ergonomics.(Product focus)
October 1, 2004... The microscope has come a long way from the first rudimentary 16th-century prototype--a magnifier composed of a tube fitted with a single convex lens. Since then, dramatic progress has been made in the development of this vital piece of...

Mort Abramowitz' long-term, close-up view.(Product focus)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... Mortimer, Abramowitz is a renowned microscopist, photomicrographer, educator, and author. He has written numerous articles and six books on microscopy and has received several awards, including the 2002 New York Microscopical Society Ernst Abbe...

Too much work.(Addressing management issues)
October 1, 2004... Q The harder I work, the "behinder" I get--a sentiment others also seem to experience. When one project or task is completed, two more get assigned (or dumped). I try to prioritize but become exasperated. Who gets priority: patient,...

Holiday coverage.(Addressing management issues)
October 1, 2004... Q Our lab manager prefers a voluntary holiday schedule to an assigned one. I think holiday schedules should be assigned to avoid any inequities. Some staff members never work Thanksgiving or Christmas. Most would not offer to work these...

Vacuum tube volume.(Answering your questions)
October 1, 2004... Q Our lab is discussing minimal volumes in evacuated tubes. Some claim a 50% fill is necessary for all tubes except the Na citrate tube, which must be full. How significant is the dilution effect on an Li heparin (dry) tube if it is less than...

Re-spinning gel tubes.(Answering your questions)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a question concerning the common practice of re-spinning specimens collected in gel tubes and the impact of the changes produced in the re-spun supernatant. Many labs have consolidated and increased their outreach business and are now...

Gene-expression analysis.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The 4D Array System is a four-dimensional (4D) micro-array platform, which has recently been enhanced to offer focused arrays for human-disease gene-expression analysis. A variety of medium- and low-density 4D arrays are available for use in...

Microwell EIA kit.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Intended for in vitro determination of thyroglobulin autoantibodies in human serum, the recently FDA-cleared Anti-TG ELISA provides a quantitative method of identifying high levels of Tg autoantibodies, which are generally prevalent in patients...

Toxicology DOA controls.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Newly released, the Liquichek Urine Toxicology Control, Levels S1E Low Opiate and S2E Low Opiate are liquid, ready-to-use products prepared from human urine and designed to provide an unbiased assessment of a laboratory's drugs-of-abuse testing...

New liquid-handling instruments.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Providing both high accuracy and precision specifications, the new line of VWR Signature Pipettors is available in variable-volume, fixed-volume, and multichannel models, all of which are fully autoclavable and equipped with an extremely...

Six-sided benchtop cooler.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... A new device for keeping samples below ambient temperature at the laboratory bench, the Cool Cube is a six-sided benchtop cooler with each side designed to hold different sample vessels. The device is made of a durable, chemically resistant...

Safe, simple blood sampling.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The Unistik 3 range of capillary blood-sampling devices has a single-use, hidden needle that retracts immediately after use to avoid accidental needlestick injuries and cross infection. The visual lockout feature prevents the device from being...

Histology transfer station.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Designed to automatically transfer slides from the Leica Autostainer XL to the Leica CV5030 coverslipper, the Leica TS5015 transfer station is a completely integrated system that optimizes efficiency and provides time savings in the histology...

Improved single-use tube holders.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Significant improvements have been introduced to the company's line of Blood Collection Tube Holders. Both the "long" and "short" versions now incorporate new threading to better facilitate stopper puncture, while minimizing push-back-related...

Compact, lightweight UV lamps.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Offering users a selection of 30 different models, the Spectroline E-Series range of ultraviolet, hand-held lamps is ideally suited for laboratory applications. The lamps use integrally filtered or unfiltered UV tubes and have both durable,...

Westergren ESR testing.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Addressing the need for safety and efficiency in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) testing, the Pro-Sed ESR System has been designed to ensure that blood will rise precisely 200 mm from the bottom of the graduated ESR tube, while eliminating...

New software enhancement.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The IntelliLab System has been enhanced to include rules-based autoverification of laboratory tests. The system is now able to post laboratory results that conform to user-defined, test-specific rules directly to the laboratory report as soon...

Capillary-clot catchers.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Intended for use when processing difficult-to-obtain neonatal or pediatric samples, the Nova Capillary Clot Catchers have been designed for external use to prevent clots present in whole-blood samples from entering the flowpath of the company's...

Array-ready RNA.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Integrating efficient phenol/guanidine-based lysis and automated magnetic-particle purification, the new EZ1 RNA Universal Tissue Kit provides automated purification of total RNA from one to six samples of all types of animal and human tissue,...

Painted end slides.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Pre-cleaned and resistant to all lab solutions, the PRISM Line Microscope Slides are compatible with slide-labeling machines for easy readability. Measuring 75 mm x 25 mm and available in white, blue, green, pink, and yellow, these painted end...

Reliable hemostasis system.(Industry spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The new ACL10000 Coagulation Analyzer combines a small footprint with an extensive menu for managing hemostatic disorders. Approximately 40 clotting, immunoturbidimetric, chromogenic, routine, and disease-state management assays are available...

Competitive bidding: here we go again.(Washington report)
October 1, 2004... With the passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, Congress once again directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to demonstrate competitive bidding for clinical laboratory...