COVER STORIES

Although the healthcare reform law does involve cuts to the lab fee schedule and taxes on IVD manufacturers, several new programs in the law aimed at quality and prevention have some lab observers cautiously optimistic about what the bill means for labs.

Prescription for Pain Relief
What Can Labs Do to Help Identify Misuse?
By Genna Rollins

Pain management has become more of a concern nationally, and prescriptions for pain management have grown accordingly. Yet clinicians are struggling to balance the legitimate benefits of prescription pain therapy with the potential for misuse of the drugs, and are looking to labs for help in sorting out this dilemma.

SERIES ARTICLE

Bilirubin
The Lab's Role in Diagnosis of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia
By Stanley Lo, PhD

One of the most common problems in newborns, hyperbilirubinemia , occurs 3-5 days after birth and is characterized by yellow-pigmented skin. Labs need to provide accurate measurements of infants’ bilirubin fractions to prevent effects of bilirubin toxicity, which can lead to irreversible damage.

NEWS BRIEF

PROFILES