COVER STORIES

Despite its popularity, point-of-care testing continues to pose challenges for laboratorians and clinicians. Veterans from the field offer tips for successfully implementing and sustaining POCT programs.

NCI Launches National Biobank
Why High-Quality Specimens Have Researchers Excited
By Bill Malone

As biomedical research advances, the need for high-quality human specimens has become more acute, especially in laboratory medicine where specimens are needed to discover new biomarkers, develop assays, and validate tests for clinical use. Now a national biobank project launched by the National Cancer Institute aims to help solve this problem with the high-quality standards required to develop new tests.

SERIES ARTICLE

Lead Testing
Meeting the Analytical Demands of Identifying Exposed Children
By Kathleen L. Caldwell, PhD, and Robert Jones, PhD

Despite the seriousness of the disorder, relatively little is known about the causes of preeclampsia and how to monitor this disease. The lab could become increasing important in determining the risk for developing preeclampsia, as new biomarkers become available for earlier detection.

NEWS BRIEF

INSIDE

Key Flu Indicators Level Off
FDA’s Emergency Use Authorizations for Detecting the 2009 H1N1 Virus

The 2009 H1N1 public health emergency has led the FDA to permit limited use of 13 assays for the virus.

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