The Strategies Editorial Advisory Board recommends the following recent papers:

• Rapid HIV Testing in Outreach and Other Community Settings—United States, 2004–2006
  Rapid HIV testing in outreach and other community settings can effectively target substantial numbers of people at high risk for HIV infection, according to research published in the CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report. Thirty percent of nearly 24,000 people tested in a CDC-funded rapid initiative in eight major cities had never been tested, and about 1% had newly diagnosed HIV infections.
• Impact of Gene Expression Profiling Tests on Breast Cancer Outcomes
  An AHRQ evidence report that examined the impact of gene expression profiling on breast cancer outcomes concludes that of the three such assays on the market, Oncotype DX, marketed by Genomic Health (Redwood City, Calif.) is the furthest along the validation pathway. The evidence for clinical implication of using the Mammprint assay sold by Agendia (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), isn’t as clear, according to the report, which noted that the  relationship of predicted to observed risk in different populations still needs further study, as does their incremental contribution, optimal implementation, and relevance to patients on current therapies.
• The Impact of a Pneumatic Tube and Computerized Physician Order Management on Laboratory Turnaround Time
  Changes in laboratory specimen management resulted in a progressive decrease in laboratory turnaround in one emergency department, according to a paper from emergency department researchers at San Diego Medical Center. They report that using a pneumatic tube system instead of courier and modifications in the test ordering process reduced laboratory turnaround time by 34% to 42%.