A new report looked at the number of infections spread through blood transfusions and found that, although such infections are rare, the parasite Babesia is one of the most common causes of the infections that do occur.

A lab has been getting abnormal, elevated sodium results that can’t be confirmed on repeats—could inverting gel tubes after centrifugation be causing this problem? Respondents say that inverting gel tubes is not recommended, because with both PST and SST you’d be resuspending debris. In particular, labs should handle PST tubes with care. Platelets remain above the gel in PST after centrifugation, and can elevate sodium, AST, and potassium if they cross the gel.

Mentors and mentees alike can attest to the benefits of the Society for Young Clinical Laboratorians’ (SYCL) Mentoring Program, an initiative AACC unveiled in 2018 to foster leadership and advance the careers of young clinical lab professionals.