Nordic Associations of Biomedical Science

Introducing Nordic Associations of Biomedical Laboratory Science








Denmark: Danske bioanalytikere, web site and Facebook
Finland: Suomen Bioanalyytikkoliitto ry, web site and Facebook
Iceland: Meinataeknafelag Islands, web site
Norway: Nito, The Norwegian Society of Engineers, web site and Facebook
Sweden: Institutet för Biomedicinsk Laboratorievetenskap, web site and Facebook

Is EQA Reflecting Laboratory Management Competency?

Michael Noble is asking interesting question in his blog.
What if the success in EQA schemes correlates with the training and knowledge and background and competency of management,
and not only the number of staff, and the progressively poorer access to continuing education, expert assistance and to newly trained technologists as suspected in previous surveys.

Read more from Michael Noble´s blog:

Making Medical Lab Quality Relevant: PT reflects Management Competency (?)

New Method Evaluation Software - StatisPro

The Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) introduces StatisPro method evaluation software, a new, feature-rich, easy-to-use tool for establishing or verifying performance characteristics of a laboratory test method.
Laboratories can use this tool to support compliance with regulatory and accreditation agency requirements, and test manufacturers can use StatisPro when installing new equipment at a customer site, or when troubleshooting a problem with a customer.

Read more
http://www.clsi.org/statispro/index.html

Atlas of Hematology

The Atlas of haematology has the goal of supplying haematologists, biomedical laboratory scientists, medical school students, biologists as well as professionals working in the field of morphology of blood cells.

The majority of the smears come from blood and bone marrow samples, however note that also are shown here cavitary fluid materials, scraped, etc.

View the morphology images from:

ATLAS OF HEMATOLOGY

Eight Human Papillomavirus types causes 90% of Cervical Cancers

The research team, led by Silvia de Sanjose, MD, from Institut Català d'Oncologia-Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, concludes that "HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 34, 45, 52, and 58 should be given priority when the cross-protective effects of current vaccines are assessed and for formulation of recommendations for the use of second-generation polyvalent HPV vaccines."

Read full article from Medscape Medical News:

8 HPV Types Cause 90% of Cervical Cancers

Lean Production of Blood Cell Morphology

Lean production philosophy seeks to eliminate non-value adding steps, or waste. Value-added is what the customer is willing to pay for.
A simpler, more consistent reporting format of blood cell morphology not only saves a provider time, it implies a more efficient laboratory process.

Read the suggestions for non value-added versus value-added characteristics of red cell morphology from:

Value-added Morphology on ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory

Second-Generation Hepatitis C Viral Load Test

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the real-time PCR COBAS® TaqMan® HCV Test, v2.0.
New test is intended to quantify the amount of hepatitis C viral RNA in human plasma or serum of HCV infected individuals.

"This HCV quantitative test is key to measuring the effectiveness of many antivirals that are currently in clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis C,"

Roche Receives FDA Approval for a Second-Generation Hepatitis C Viral Load Test -- PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ --

Unnecessary blood transfusions

Canadian physicians say that doctors may order unnecessary blood transfusions so cancer patients are eligible to enroll in clinical trials of new treatments.

"Clinical trials of new treatments often require study participants to have blood values within certain limits. In the three cases, doctors were trying to change the level to make their patients eligible for an experimental treatment."

Read more

CBC News - Health - Transfusions an issue in cancer trials

Stability of haematology parameters

Haematology parameters comparison of Sarstedt Monovettes and BD Vacutainers
A study shows that accurate full blood count results can be obtained on samples up to 48 h, provided that the samples are stored in a refrigerator. The tube type was found to have minimal impact on the stability of haematological samples.

Read more from the British Journal of Biomedical Science

BJBS Article :: Stability of haematology parameters on the LH750: comparison of Sarstedt Monovettes and BD Vacutainers

International Year of Chemistry 2011

Chemistry - Our Life, Our future

The IYC 2011 is an initiative of IUPAC, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It involves chemical societies, academies, and institutions worldwide, and relies on individual initiatives to organize local and regional activities.

Read more and join the IYC network. IYC 2011.

Join also the IYC 2011 in Facebook

International Proficiency Testing Conference

3rd International Proficiency Testing Conference
Iasi, Romania 27th− 30th September, 2011

The main objective of this conference is to provide a forum for exchange of information and to promote discussions among PT/EQA providers, laboratories from all the range of the science, organisations that are interested in laboratory and PT/EQA.

Themes

• Proficiency testing schemes
  
• Use of reference materials
  
• Validation of testing methods
  
• Uncertainty of measurement
  
• Metrology and traceability –support in the laboratory activity
  
• Accreditation and Quality management
  
• Research, development and education in the testing laboratory
  

Read more:

The First Announcement

EQAS - Proficiency Testing

External Quality Assessment Schemes - Why? What? Who?

Michael Noble is asking the basic questions about external quality assessment in his blog.
He says: "Even if you are not an accredited laboratory, if laboratory quality is important to you, then PT/EQA offers valuable quality monitoring and education".

Find out why from:

Making Medical Lab Quality Relevant: WWW-Proficiency Testing

Memories from EQALM Symposium 2010

Lisbon, Portugal October 11-12, 2010
EQALM Symposium

European Committee for External Quality Assurance Programmes in Laboratory Medicine

Plasma protein measurement standardization

The need for harmonizing laboratory results is particularly intense in the field of quantitative protein assays in consideration of the clinical impact of specific protein measurements and their relevance in monitoring disease. Giampaolo et al. report the efforts made by the Committee on Plasma Proteins of the IFCC Scientific Division to achieve worldwide comparability in plasma protein results. They focus on the production of reference materials and the methods applied throughout their production process.

Read full article

de Gruyter Reference Global - Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Volume 0, Issue 0, Page -, ISSN (Online) 1437-4331, ISSN (Print) 1434-6621, DOI: 10.1515/CCLM.2010.314

Test your knowledge of sickle cell anemia

Healthcare Republic has started a new series of haematology.
In the first, Dr Amit Patel discusses sickle cell anaemia.

There is a test in the end of the article. Test your knowledge.


Haematology - Sickle cell anaemia | Healthcare Republic

Rare errors in assay evaluation need more attention

Risk management in assay evaluation is usually difficult for laboratory professionals. Most current performance requirements specify limits for only 95% of the results. This is unfortunate since it is the remaining 5% of results which can cause serious harm to the patients.

"The reason is that the number of expected results that will cause serious patient harm is extremely low – often less than 1 in a million. A method comparison experiment almost always uses a low number of samples (around 100 and often less)".

Error grids address this problem by specifying limits for 100% of the data.


Read full article

http://jkrouwer.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/rare-errors-need-to-be-evaluated-differently-than-frequent-errors/

CRP blood levels vary according to ethnicity

A study shows that CRP blood levels vary according to ethnicity, even after such factors as age and body mass index has been taken into account.
"The difference in average population CRP values in populations of different ancestry are sufficiently large as to have bearing on clinical management and statin eligibility based on single CRP cut-off point values".

Read full article

Labmedica - C-reactive Protein Varies According to Genetic Heritage

European Directorate: Blood transfusion recommendations

Blood transfusion guide contains a compendium of measures designed to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of blood components and is particularly intended for all those working in blood transfusion services

European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare - Blood transfusion recommendations

Hepatitis E Virus in Homeless Persons in France

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among sheltered homeless persons in Marseille, France, M.Kaba et al. retrospectively tested 490 such persons. A total of 11.6% had immunoglobulin (Ig) G and 2.5% had IgM against HEV; 1 person had HEV genotype 3f. Injection drug use was associated with IgG against HEV.

Read full article CDC´s web site

Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Sheltered Homeless Persons, France, M. Kaba et al.

New Dobrava-Hantaan IgM EIA test

DOBRAVA-HANTAAN IgM EIA is an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of acute Dobrava and Hantaan virus infection from human serum.

There are three clinical forms of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) described in humans: severe, moderate and mild. The severe form caused by Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is common in Asia and in Eastern Europe, the moderate form, Seoul virus (SEOV), occurs only in Asia. Mortality rate is approximated to be 5 – 15% for the severe form and 1% - 2% for the milder form. The mild form of Hantavirus infections in Europe is mostly caused by Puumala virus (PUUV).

Read more about Dobrava-Hantaan IgM EIA test from:

Reagena - Visible Difference

Roche´s new IT systems for POCT

Roche and Medical Automation Systems, Inc. have signed an agreement under which Roche will acquire all the assets associated with the RALS point-of-care information technology connectivity system, as well as the names "Medical Automation Systems," "MAS" and "RALS."
Both systems are well known and RALS is widely used in US.

Read more from:

Labmedica - Roche Strengthens Presence in Point-of-Care Information Management

Blood safety in Europe

WHO/Europe works with national health authorities and international stakeholders and partners for blood service reform, development of national donor programmes, quality management, clinical blood use, enhanced information sharing and dissemination of WHO guidelines and recommendations promoting the health system approach.

WHO also provides the global database on blood safety.

Read more from:

WHO/Europe | Blood safety

Introducing E H A

European Hematology Assosiation | EHA

The European Hematology Association was founded in June 1992. Today, EHA – with over 3000 active members from 95 countries – is a consolidated organization that pursues a large and growing number of projects and programs.

Mission
"The European Hematology Association (EHA) aims to promote excellence in clinical practice, research and education in European hematology."

Please visit EHA website and read more

E H A | European Hematology Association

New cut-off value for POCT NT pro-BNP

New point-of care reference value demonstrated better diagnostic performance than manufacturer’s cut-off value.

Congestive heart failure patients were examined clinically, with trans-thoracic echocardiography; while plasma NT pro-BNP was measured by a point-of care-immunoassay system (Cardiac Reader^R). The diagnostic performance of this study-derived NT pro-BNP reference value were compared with others.
This study shows that NT pro-BNP reference value of 171 pg/mL is performing better than manufacturer’s recommended value of 125 pg/mL.



Read full article from The Internet Journal of Cardiology
Reliability and Accuracy of Point-of-Care Amino-Terminal ProBrain Natriuretic Peptide in Congestive Heart Failure Patients

Promising Preliminary Study to Distinguish Prostate Cancer

In the pilot study, a set of biomarkers was identified which can distinguish prostate cancer from control samples with both sensitivity and specificity above 90%, far higher than existing diagnostic tests.
OGT has developed the unique Sense Proteomic™ “functional protein” array platform which uses over a thousand correctly folded proteins to detect autoantibodies in prostate cancer serum samples.

Read full article

OGT Presents Promising Prostate Cancer

Let´s Invite IT to the POCT Party

Point-of-care coordinators have been the bridge between direct patient care and the laboratory. In the same way the POCT coordinators reach out into others' areas of practice, new and important partners are emerging.
Today laboratory finds itself in new territory and with new partners - information technology (IT)

Read full article

POCT Connectivity on ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals

Arab Health - MEDLAB 2011

24 - 27 January 2011
Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre

MEDLAB is the main Medical Laboratory and Technology event in the Middle East. It is an integral part of the Arab Health exhibition, which is acknowledged as the largest healthcare exhibition in the Middle East with global reach.

Read more

MEDLAB - MEDLAB Home

Laboratory Information Systems - Mylab

Mylab helps clinical laboratories and their clients to succeed in their mission by providing IT-based solutions, services and products.

Mylab Corporation is a Finnish high technology enterprise that offers information services for health care.
Mylab was established in 1987 and right from the beginning the company has focused on laboratory information systems.


Read more

Mylab Oy

Rethinking Quality Control in the Traceability Era

Centre for Metrological Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (CIRME) is organizing an international meeting in Milano 30 November 2010.

The main focus of the meeting is traceability of quality control.




Topics of the meeting

• Traceability in Laboratory Medicine: Copernican revolution or activity for a restricted professional club?
  

• Define analytical objectives: a professional challenge
  

• Are commercial analytical systems fulfilling goals based on medical relevance? The profession's view
  

• Are commercial analytical systems fulfilling goals based on medical relevance? The industry's view
  

• Implementing traceability in EQAS

• Commutability of quality control materials: the way forward
  

• True value assignment to EQAS materials: a feasible task?

Read more from CIRME´s website

High blood glucose levels after surgery

Overall, 7.4 % of the patients developed surgical site infections, including 14.1 % of those who had colorectal surgery, 10.3 % who had vascular surgery and 4.4 % of those who had other general surgery.
A study shows that high blood glucose levels after surgery may be an important risk factor for infection at the surgical site in patients having general surgery.

Read full article

Albany Medical College Research Published in Archives of Surgery

Eurachem 7th International Workshop in Istanbul

Eurachem 7th International Workshop of Proficiency Testing in Analytical Chemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory medicine will be in Istanbul 3-6 October 2011.





Lectures and Working Group Topics

• Implementing the requirements of ISO/IEC 17043 by PT/EQA Providers

• Accrediting PT/EQA Providers to ISO/IEC 17043

• Establishing acceptability criteria in microbiology PT/EQA schemes
  

• Evaluating participant performance in qualitative PT/EQA schemes
  

• Establishing PT/EQA schemes in developing countries

• Pre and post analytical aspects in EQA

Training Sessions

“Establishing traceability and uncertainty of assigned values and assisting participants to assess/estimate their measurement uncertainty using PT results”.

Read more

Eurachem Workshop 2011

Eurachem website

Allowable Limits of Performance in Clinical Chemistry

The Royal College of Pathologist of Australasia, in association with the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists have published their new allowable limits of performance in clinical chemistry for 42 analytes.
21 analytes have tighter quality requirements applied, 8 have looser quality requirements applied, and 13 remains largely the same.

RCPA has published the updated list on Westgard website.


Read more

RCPA ALP Update, 2010