Issue

A New eGFR Contender

A new equation for measuring estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) bested gold standard formulas on accuracy and bias in datasets of mostly European patients. The equation can be used to report eGFR along with serum creatinine (SCr) in adults and children, Hans Pottel, PhD, a professor in physics and statistics…

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SARS-CoV-2 Cycle Threshold: A Metric That Matters (or Not)

The cycle threshold (Ct) in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 tests is gaining currency as a potential marker for severe disease in patients with COVID-19 illness. Amid mounting evidence in the clinical literature, however, some in the laboratory community are urging caution about the utility of this metric,…

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The Case for Universal Genetic Testing in Cancer Care

A universal genetic testing model identified more pathogenic germline variants in nearly 3,000 patients than a targeted approach based on clinical guidelines. One in 8 cancer patients had a genetic predisposition to cancer. “Nearly half of these genetic causes would have been missed if we only tested patients based on…

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37 Performance Metrics That Add Value During the Opioid Crisis

Five institutions have proposed 37 standardized metrics that illustrate the supportive role of clinical labs in the opioids crisis. In The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, developers discuss how they arrived at and how these metrics might be applied as intervention measures at healthcare institutions. Such metrics can inform daily…

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Engine of Efficiency

The Expo hall at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo might be in a different format than usual but it offers no less opportunities for attendees to explore the best and brightest innovations of the in vitro diagnostics industry and find solutions for their operational needs.

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On the Vanguard of the Opioids Epidemic

A trio of scientific sessions at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo tackles the opioids epidemic, providing the latest news on diagnostic tools, forensic toxicology, and trends in abuse of fentanyl and other substances. Clinical labs play a critical role in identifying opioid use, “informing physicians…

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The AACC Academy Sessions

AACC Academy guidance in three key practice areas takes center stage on December 15 at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo. These sessions will cover: the role of procalcitonin in predicting mortality and monitoring antibiotic therapy; the clinical indications, analytical considerations, testing, and communicating of acute…

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The Lowdown on Lab Information Systems

Two sessions on December 17 at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo offer deep dives into laboratory information systems (LIS), with insights on automation and analytic solutions and on using LIS to improve operational efficiencies and patient outcomes.

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Vital Connections in a Virtual Setting

One of the best aspects of the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo—and arguably one that attendees look forward to most—is all the opportunities, formal and informal, to meet clinical lab professionals from across the globe and catch up with colleagues in a convivial atmosphere. This year’s event…

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COVID-19 Content in 2020

2020’s top 5 COVID-19 articles in The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine reflected key topics of importance to the clinical laboratory community, with articles and commentaries on assays’ effectiveness, the association between severe COVID-19 illness and routine lab tests, and preserving safety in clinical labs.

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COVID-19: The Year in Review

Spotlighting one of the first reports of an assay to diagnose SARS-CoV-2, Clinical Chemistry’s top five articles on COVID-19 in 2020 chronicle an extraordinary year of new tests and platforms to sleuth out this novel virus. These articles offered analysis, research findings and, in some cases, scrutiny of developing technologies.

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