Issue

A subset of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) continues to gain momentum as a noninvasive biomarker in detecting cancer. A study in the Annals of Oncology describes another potential breakthrough: analyzing cfDNA to identify imbalances in genomewide copy number alterations (CNA) as a means of…

As federal regulators propose major steps to advance on health information interoperability, some sectors of healthcare say they’ve made inroads in facilitating shared health records and data between providers and patients. Clinical laboratories in particular have taken steps to integrate laboratory information systems (LIS) and electronic health record (EHR) software…

Two sessions at AACC’s newly redesigned Professional Practice in Clinical Chemistry conference delve into the rapidly developing arenas of toxicology and pharmacology and fluid and electrolyte regulation. According to conference co-chair Tiffany K. Roberts, PhD, “Just Say NO—Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology” and “Balancing Act—Fluid and Electrolyte Regulation” will cover the…

The number of near-patient laboratory testing sites that specialize in Certificate of Waiver (CoW) testing has grown substantially over the last 25 years, but an absence of federal oversight of these labs led to concerns about quality and safety. In the January/February Clinical Laboratory News, Kimberly Scott describes the latest…

2019 is an optimal year to sign up for one of AACC’s 12 online certificate programs, which cover all bases in laboratory management, testing, and technology. These programs, developed by dedicated experts in each discipline, offer valuable continuing education credits that participants can earn at times and places convenient to…

Blood tests ordered in intensive care units (ICU) have pros and cons: While they provide vital information, they also come with risks and additional costs to patients. At a recent symposium, a team of researchers from Princeton University unveiled a computational algorithm that assigns rewards and penalties to a specific…

Only a handful of companies are continuing to invest in Ebola virus diagnostic tests, concluded a team of researchers in an analysis that tracked the availability of Ebola-specific assays in the areas most affected by the deadly pathogen. These findings underscore the need to strengthen the market for infectious diseases…