2011-01-30 Sunday Survey - Bacterial Meningitis

Sunday Survey Result Summary

Q1:  What two microbes are in the picture?

Correct answer is;

1. Streptococcus pneumoniae (gram positive diplococcus), 79% found it.
2. Haemophilus influenzae (gram negavive rod), 37% found it.

Picture source: microbelibrary.org

Q2: Which one of the following microbes is most unlikely to cause meningitis?

Correct answer is: Chlamydia pneumoniae (45% correct answers).

According to meningitis.org, there are at least 50 kinds of bacteria that can cause meningitis and septicaemia, but the main types are:

Meningococcal
Pneumococcal
Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib)
Group B Streptococcal (GBS)
Tubercular (TB)
E. coli
Listeria

Read more form:
meningitis.org
CDC meningitis

Questions, answers and conclusions of the survey are my personal opinions based on used source materials.
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Previous surveys

What is the correct order of sample tubes in multiple blood draw?

What of the following Westgard rules have been violated?

What white blood cell is in the picture?

Anticipation in familial hematologic malignancies

A study describe a collection of 11 families with 2 generations of family members whose condition has been diagnosed as a hematologic malignancy. In 9 of these families there was a significant decrease in age at diagnosis in each subsequent generation (anticipation). The mean age at diagnosis in the first generation was 67.8 years, 57.1 years in the second, and 41.8 years in the third. This was confirmed in both direct parent-offspring pairs with a mean reduction of 19 years in the age at diagnosis and when the analysis was repeated only including cases of mature B-cell neoplasm.
A study group believes that these families provide further insight into the nature of the underlying genetic mechanism of predisposition in these families.

REad full article from Blood

Blood -- Anticipation in familial hematologic malignancies

Development and evaluation of a virtual microscopy application for automated assessment of Ki-67 expression in breast cancer

Virtual Microscopy

The aim of the study was to develop a virtual microscopy enabled method for assessment of Ki-67 expression and to study the prognostic value of the automated analysis in a comprehensive series of patients with breast cancer.

A tissue microarray (TMA) series of breast cancer specimens from 1931 patients was immunostained for Ki-67, digitized with a whole slide scanner and uploaded to an image web server. The extent of Ki-67 staining in the tumour specimens was assessed both visually and with the image analysis algorithm.
1648 evaluable image files from 1334 patients were analysed in less than two hours. Visual and automated Ki-67 extent of staining assessments showed a percentage agreement of 87%.
Running high-throughput automated IHC algorithms on a virtual microscopy platform is feasible.

Read abstract and full article from BMC Clinical Pahology

Development and evaluation of a virtual microscopy application for automated assessment of Ki-67 expression in breast cancer

A History of Blood Collection

Excellent slide show of Becton Dickinson sample tube history.

Watch the transformation of tubes from ADVANCE

A History of Blood Collection on ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals

Medical Laboratory News Blog Got 1500 Likes in Facebook

Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science


Today Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science got 1500 likes in Facebook. This plog and medical laboratory network is one of the fastest growing professional  groups in internet and Facebook.


All medical laboratory professionals are welcome to join this network and follow medical laboratory and quality related news and information.

Like us in Facebook
Follow us in Twitter
Follow rss feed

Super-Resolution Images of Malaria Parasite

Super-Resolution Dissection of Coordinated Events during Malaria Parasite Invasion of the Human Erythrocyte

Erythrocyte invasion by the merozoite is an obligatory stage in Plasmodium parasite infection and essential to malaria disease progression. Attempts to study this process have been hindered by the poor invasion synchrony of merozoites from the only in vitro culture-adapted human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

Using fluorescence, three-dimensional structured illumination, and immunoelectron microscopy of filtered merozoites, study group analyze cellular and molecular events underlying each discrete step of invasion.

Read full article and view the incredible images

Cell Host and Microbe - Super-Resolution Dissection of Coordinated Events during Malaria Parasite Invasion of the Human Erythrocyte

2011-01-23 Sunday Survey - Order of Sample Tubes in Blood Draw

Sunday Survey Result Summary

What is the correct order of sample tubes in multiple blood draw?
Correct order is: E, D, A, B, C, F (53% correct answers)

This order is based on CLSI guideline H3-A6 (2007).
The important items are:
1. Prevent bacterial contamination from unsterilized tubes (blood culture tubes first)
2. Cloth activator in gele tubes can affect to TT and APTT (citrate tube before gele tubes)
3. Prevent anticoagulant contamination (heparin-EDTA-fluoride)

Please read this article for more information.

Special information about citrate tubes

BD (Vacutainer) poster of sample tube order

CLSI  venipuncture standard H3-A6

Questions, answers and conclusions of the survey are my personal opinions based on used source materials.

Continuous education is vital to maintain quality and competence in medical laboratories. International congresses of laboratory medicine and biomedical science are excellent events to update your knowledge. Please visit the web site of Labquality Days and register to congress.


Please leave your comments to Facebook

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Previous surveys


What of the following Westgard rules have been violated?

 What white blood cell is in the picture?

Nucleic Acid Testing to Detect HBV Infection in Blood Donors

The detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors is achieved by screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). However, donors who are positive for HBV DNA are currently not identified during the window period before seroconversion.
Nucleic acid testing detected potentially infectious HBV, along with HIV and HCV, during the window period before seroconversion. HBV vaccination appeared to be protective, with a breakthrough subclinical infection occurring with non-A2 HBV subgenotypes and causing clinically inconsequential outcomes.

Read full article from The New England Journal of Medicine

Nucleic Acid Testing to Detect HBV Infection in Blood Donors — NEJM

Blood Specimen Challanges - Oncology Patients

ecause obtaining blood from cancer patients presents unique challenges, MLO invited three experts to discuss solutions:

Dennis J. Ernst, MT(ASCP), director, Center for Phlebotomy Education, Corydon, IN; Andra Hill, medical laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Lionel Lee, laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services at the Peter Lougheed Centre, in Calgary.

Two specialist´s opinions about blood sample drawing challenges of cancer patients.

Dennis J. Ernst, MT(ASCP), director, Center for Phlebotomy Education, Corydon, IN; Andra Hill, medical laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Lionel Lee, laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services at the Peter Lougheed Centre, in Calgary.

1. Veins are difficult to find.
2. Veins are hard to access.
3. Veins are tiny or do not exist.
4. Prolonged bleeding from venipuncture sites.
5. Patients’ hands are swollen.
6. Mastectomy patients.
7. Oncology patients can be high acuity.

Because obtaining blood from cancer patients presents unique challenges, MLO invited three experts to discuss solutions:

Dennis J. Ernst, MT(ASCP), director, Center for Phlebotomy Education, Corydon, IN; Andra Hill, medical laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Lionel Lee, laboratory assistant, Calgary Laboratory Services at the Peter Lougheed Centre, in Calgary.

Read full article and find the solution from:

Medical Laboratory Observer

Researchers Unzip MRSA And Discover Route For Vaccine

University of Rochester Medical Center orthopaedic scientists are a step closer to developing a vaccine to prevent life-threatening methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections following bone and joint surgery.

Staph infection is the leading cause of osteomyelitis, a serious bacterial infection of the bone. Up to half of these infections are due to MRSA, a particular strain of staph known as a "superbug" because of its antibiotic resistance. MRSA causes nearly 500,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths a year in the United States. Although improvements in surgical techniques and use of prophylactic antibiotics prevents some MRSA infections, osteomyelitis is expected to remain a serious problem in the future as people live longer and request more joint replacements and reconstructive surgery.

First, the Schwarz lab discovered four anti-Gmd monoclonal antibodies that disrupt the growth of MRSA bacteria in cell cultures, by breaking the zipper and preventing cell division.
Second, researchers demonstrated that when mice were infused with the anti-Gmd antibody, and then exposed to MRSA, only about half of the mice developed the infection.

Read more

MediLexicon News - Researchers Unzip MRSA And Discover Route For Vaccine

2011-01-16 Sunday Survey - Quality Control Westgard Rules

Survey results

What of the following Westgard rules have been violated?

Correct answers are: 1:2s, 1:3s, R4s, 4:1s and 7T

• 2:2s is violated, if two consecutive control measurements exceed the same mean plus 2s or the same mean minus 2s control limit.

• 2 of 3:2s is violated, if 2 out of 3 control measurements exceed the same mean plus 2s or mean minus 2s control limit

• 12x is violated, if 12 consecutive control measurements fall on one side of the mean.

More information about control rules from Westgard QC

Questions, answers and conclusions of the survey are my personal opinions based on used source materials.













Appropriate use of  Internal quality control is very important.
It is recommended to use " third part control materials" to ensure the independence and objectivity of the results. Control materials should not be connected to instrument, method or reagent manufacturer.
One of the independent control material provider is bioclin. More information from web site of bioclin.
Internal quality control alone is not enough. Also external quality assessment (EQAS or proficiency testing) is needed. Find more information about EQAS from Labquality´s web site.


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Last week
What white blood cell is in the picture?
View last week survey result summary

The Great Sperm Race - Andrology Game

Just in case you find yourself with idle time today, the Wellcome Trust has produced an excellent animated game where you play a sperm in a mad dash to fertilize an ovum. You must navigate the vagina, cervix, and fallopian tubes before squiggling your way to the waiting egg.

Excellent game, just must

The Great Sperm Race | Naturally Selected

Health Experts Accept use of HbA1c for Diagnosing Diabetes

HbA1c has been accepted for diagnosing diabetes mellitus by a WHO-backed group of experts, offering a more practical approach to test for the disease that affects over 220 million people worldwide.
WHO's Assistant Director-General of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Dr Alwan, says "unlike other means of diagnosis, HbA1c-test does not require a patient to fast before a blood sample is taken."

Read more from WHO

WHO | Health Experts Accept use of HbA1c for Diagnosing Diabetes

Point-Of-Care Testing Brings Values

POCT is defined by the German Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine as ‘diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care, with an easy-to-use instrument, under the immediate health care (e.g. emergency room, operating room, intensive care unit) and not by laboratory personnel’.

Frost and Sullivan a consultancy with strong focus on growing markets, published a market analysis in 2010 on revenues from €1.87 billion and 8.2% growth rate in 2009, the analysts calculate the potential revenues of €3.89 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.9%.

Time - costs and IT-technology are important factors in POCT.

Read full article

European-Hospital: POCT brings values

Identification and Validation of Novel Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Staging Early Alzheimer's Disease

Ideally, disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer disease (AD) will be applied during the ‘preclinical’ stage before severe neuronal damage occurs, or upon recognizing very mild cognitive impairment.
In this study CSF samples from individuals with mild AD and cognitively normal controls were subjected to two-dimensional difference-in-gel electrophoresis. Within 119 differentially-abundant gel features, mass spectrometry identified 47 proteins.
Selected six markers describe six clinicopathological stages from cognitive normalcy to mild dementia, including stages defined by increased risk of cognitive decline. Such a panel might improve clinical trial efficiency by guiding subject enrollment and monitoring disease progression.

Read full article
PLoS ONE: Identification and Validation of Novel Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Staging Early Alzheimer's Disease

Chromatographyvideos's Channel

Thermo Scientific has launched Youtube video channel of chromatography

Discover the most comprehensive array of Thermo Scientific chromatography solutions available, designed for improved chromatography.
Learn how GC chromatography columns work. Thermo Scientific TraceGOLD GC Columns offer a leap in column performance by offering ultra low bleed, high levels of reproducibility and superior inertness, ensuring full confidence in your analysis.

Open video channel

YouTube - chromatographyvideos's Channel

Labquality Days - International Congress of Laboratory Medicine and EQAS

Scientific program and registration
www.labqualitydays.fi

Diabetes Diagnosed by Breath Analysisics

Oxford Medical Diagnostics is leading the development and application of advanced proprietary methods of gas analysis.
Company is making rapid progress in the development and application of cost-effective, highly accurate devices for medicine, clinical diagnostics and industry.
Company targets the commercialisation of an at-patient acetone-based breath analyser for the screening, monitoring and diagnosis of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Read More

Welcome to Oxford Medical Diagnostics

Measurement Verification in Clinical Laboratory

The Association of Clinical Biochemistry has published guide for  measurement verification in the clinical laboratory.
This web site includes also tools for assessing analytical performance during the acceptance testing of methods (quantitative examination procedures) and/or analysers




Spreadsheet A: Imprecision by ANOVA
Spreadsheet B: Bias measured using patient samples
Spreadsheet C: Bias measured using reference materials
Spreadsheet D: Bias measured using EQA materials

Read more

ACB Scientific Links

Preanalytics - Factors Affecting Haemolysis

Specimencare.com has published a flow chart that displays the different factors which may affect haemolysis.
The flow chart is interactive. You can click the steps to find out factors and their possible consequences, corrective actions and references to literature relative to the corrective actions described.

Open the chart here

specimencare.com - Factor Affecting Haemolysis

Sixty Symbols of Science

Great videos about the symbols of science.

Absolutely worth to watch.


Sixty Symbols - videos

Preanalytical factors reported to alter potassium levels

Latest Preanalytical Variable to Affect Potassiums: 25-gauge needles

Salvagno Lippi and his team found increased variability for potassium when drawn through a 25-gauge needle compared to the 23-gauge needle. According to the abstract, "Small-bore needles of 25 G or less cannot be universally recommended when collecting venous blood for clinical chemistry testing and should be reserved for selected circumstances."

Read full article and view a list of preanalytical factors reported to alter potassium levels from PT-STAT


PT-STAT! Center for Phlebotomy Education. www.phlebotomy.com. November, 2010

Clinical Laboratories Can Expect to See More Companion Diagnostic Test

Pharmaceutical Companies Partnering with IVD Manufacturers to Develop Companion Diagnostic Tests for their Therapeutic Drugs.

As most clinical managers know, use of a companion diagnostic test is expected to add precision to the physician’s decision to prescribe therapeutic drugs. Thus, the increased number of public announcements during 2010 about companion diagnostic test development deals involving a pharmaceutical company and an IVD manufacturer indicates this trend is establishing solid roots.

The three companion diagnostic deals described in the article demonstrate that the pace of progress in the development and use of companion diagnostic tests is building momentum.

Read the article from Dark Daily


Pathologists and Clinical Labs Can Expect to See More Companion Diagnostic Tests | Dark Daily

HbA1c Testing Can Find Prediabetes

Measuring glycated hemoglobin levels may be an appropriate means of catching patients with prediabetes, researchers say.
The researchers found that using HbA1c alone -- with a range of 5.5% to 6.5% defining prediabetes -- would identify a population with comparable risks for diabetes and heart disease.
Thus, they concluded, using a bottom cutoff of 5.7% for diagnosing prediabetes may be more appropriate.

Read article from Medical News


Medical News: HbA1c Testing Can Find Prediabetes - in Endocrinology, Diabetes from MedPage Today

Blood Specimen Collection

Center for Phlebotomy Education

Providing educational materials and resources to those who perform, teach, or supervise blood specimen collection procedures.

Healthcare professionals and educators around the world have relied on us for accurate and authoritative information on blood sample collection and processing (preanalytical) procedures since 1997. Through our videos, newsletters, books, posters, downloads, continuing education exercises, conference presentations, in-services, and more, we’ve been teaching proper phlebotomy technique based on the most current CLSI standards and OSHA guidelines.

Read more and subscribe free PT-STAT! eNewsletter

Center for Phlebotomy Education

Code of Ethics for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists

This code of Ethics applies to Biomedical Laboratory Scientists worldwide.

 As practitioners of an autonomous profession, Biomedical Laboratory Scientists have the responsibility to contribute from their sphere of professional competence to the general well being of the community.

The Code of Ethics is a resource for the profession and a support for the individual in everyday practice and in challenging situations. At the same time they are society’s guarantee that the Biomedical Laboratory Scientist (BLS) practises the profession in an ethically sound manner.

Duty to the global society

Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:

• Be dedicated to the use of biomedical laboratory science to benefit humanity
• Perform biomedical research to improve and develop public health globally
• Be responsible for establishing new standards and develop existing standards for improved laboratory practice and patient safety
• Take responsibility and play a leading role towards issues regarding the global and local environment

Duty to the client

Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:

• Be responsible for the logical process from the acquisition of the specimen to the production of data and the final report of the test result
• Be accountable for the quality and integrity of biomedical laboratory services
• Exercise professional judgment, skill and care while meeting international standards
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient/client information and results of laboratory analysis
• Safeguard the dignity and privacy of patients/clients
• Implement scientific advances that benefit the patient/client and improve the delivery of results of laboratory analysis

Duty to colleagues, the profession and other members of the health team

Biomedical Laboratory Scientists shall:

• Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of the profession and maintain a reputation of honesty, integrity and reliability
• Continuously improve professional skills and knowledge
• Actively seek to establish cooperative and harmonious working relationships with other health professionals
• Provide expertise and advise, teach and counsel students, colleagues and other health professionals
• Be loyal to the policies, laws and legislations which apply to the workplace, as long as they do not conflict with the professional ethical guidelines

Code of Ethics for Biomedical Laboratory Scientists were first adopted by IAMLT in Dublin 1992, and revised by IFBLS in Nairobi 2010.

http://www.ifbls.org/

Pseudomonas aeruginosa fosfomycin resistance mechanisms affect non-inherited fluoroquinolone toleranc

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that poses a threat in clinical settings due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance to a wide spectrum of antibiotics. Additionally, the presence of a subpopulation of cells surviving high concentrations of antibiotics, called persisters, makes it virtually impossible to eradicate a chronic infection. The mechanism underlying persistence is still unclear, partly due to the fact that it is a non-inherited phenotype.

These results of this study indicate that fosfomycin resistance, conferred by glpT mutation or by overexpression of fosA, results in a decrease in the number of persister cells after treatment with ofloxacin and additionally stress that further research into the interplay between fosfomycin resistance and persistence is warranted.

Read full article from The Journal of Medical Microbiology

Pseudomonas aeruginosa fosfomycin resistance mechanisms affect non-inherited fluoroquinolone tolerance -- De Groote et al., 10.1099/jmm.0.019703-0 -- Journal of Medical Microbiology

Founder and Managing Director of Randox Laboratories

Dr. Peter FitzGerald
Founder and Managing Director of Randox Laboratories

Dr. Peter FitzGerald is the founder and Managing Director of Randox Laboratories. Peter founded Randox in 1982. Randox has now grown to nearly 850 staff in 26 countries, this includes 185 R&D scientists.

Read More

The Prince´s Trust - Dr Peter FitzGerald

Vaccine for Alcoholism?

A team of researchers in Chile are working to come up with a vaccine against alcoholism. If successful, the patient will get a shot a month and not crave alcohol anymore.

The vaccine would work like a cigarette patch, but would specifically target liver cells, he told the news service. The idea is to reduce the habit by 90 to 95 percent, he said.

Read more from Fox News Latino

Chilean Researchers Working on Alcoholism Vaccine - Fox News Latino

2011-01-09 Sunday Survey- Red Cell Morphology

Sunday survey results.

Monocyte (31% answered correctly)
This is a young monocyte. Nucleus has not yet got its typical kidney-like shape, cromatin is immature and there is a nucleoli.

Questions, answers and conclusions of the survey are my personal opinions based on used source materials.


Continuous education is very important for improving and maintaining skills and quality.
One way to do it is to participate external quality assessment schemes (proficiency testing) regularly.
Labquality has scheme for Leucocyte differential count and evaluation of blood cell morphology. Please visit Labqualityś web site for more information.

Image source: Bloodline.net, Bloodline image atlas.
http://www.bloodline.net/

Human Anatomy 3D Browser

The creative folks at Google Labs have introduced a 3D body browser,which is essentially a Google Earth for the human body. It supports 3D rotation, zoom, and exploring the nervous system, circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, and organs.

Google Body is a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more. You can also share the exact scene you are viewing by copying and pasting the URL



Note!
You need a Web browser that supports WebGL. Google 3D body browser won´t work IE or Mozilla Firefox 3.
Try Google Chrome Beta or other browsers that support3D rotation (instructions from the link below).
My suggestion for Windows 7 is Google Crome Canary build it works perfectly on my laptop.


Try 3D body browser


Google Earth for the human body

Clinical Utility of Serum and Red Blood Cell Folate Analysis

Folate

Folic acid acts as a carrier of one-carbon units in a variety of metabolic reactions. This class of vitamins is essential for the synthesis of nucleic acids, thymidylate, neurotransmitters, phospholipids, and hormones. Folate is also integral to the de-novo generation of methionine, which is required for genomic and nongenomic methylation reactions.

Today, folate deficiency is now uncommon in the U.S. and should not be considered for differential diagnosis for anemia. Patients who abuse alcohol, are severely malnourished, have malabsorption issues, or are receiving chemotherapy may be at a higher risk for folate deficiency. However, even in these high-risk groups the likelihood of folate deficiency is low. Evaluation of folate is important, however, in patients with persistent unexplained macrocytic anemia, and folate deficiency remains a concern during pregnancy and pre-conception.

By Cynthia Balion, PhD, FCACB and Bhushan M. Kapur, PhD, FRSC, FACB, FCACB

Read Full article from Clinical Laboratory News

January 2011 Clinical Laboratory News: Folate

IDSA Guidelines for Treating MRSA

Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published guidelines for the treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to assist health care providers in treating adult and pediatric patients afflicted with MRSA infections.
The guidelines were published on January 4, 2011 in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Open the guidelines below

Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America for the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections in Adults and Children — Clin Infect Dis

Hepatitis B Virus Lacks Immune Activating Capacity, but Actively Inhibits Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Function

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is caused by inadequate anti-viral immunity.
The exact mechanism by which HBV escapes immunity is still not known.

This study investigated the effect of HBV as whole particles and HBV-derived proteins, i.e. HBcAg, HBeAg and HBsAg, on direct and indirect anti-viral functions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC.)

The data presented here not only provide new insight into the mechanism by which HBV is able to evade anti-viral immunity, but they may also aid in the development of effective immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of chronic HBV.


Read the article from PLos ONE and find out the key findings of the study.


PLoS ONE: Hepatitis B Virus Lacks Immune Activating Capacity, but Actively Inhibits Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Function

Genetic Images Resources

Tokyo medical university genetics study group genetic images resources

The following images and animations are for the genetic education.
They are all generalized images and are not reliable.
These images should be used only by trained specialists.

View image gallery

Tokyo Medical University Genetics Home Page

Karyotype images
Karyotypes

Mobile Health Applications Forecast to Increase Threefold by 2012

More than 200 million mHealth applications are in use today, and that number is expected to increase threefold by 2012, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.

"Healthcare solutions that are delivered via mobile technology are creating a new frontier of innovation that is driving down costs, increasing access, and improving quality of care,"

Read the key findings cited by the report from Healthcare IT News

mHealth apps forecast to increase threefold by 2012 | Healthcare IT News

C. Diff on the Rise in Hospitalized Kids

Clostridium difficile infection has risen dramatically among hospitalized children in the U.S., according to a nationally representative study.

Overall, C. difficile infection appeared to have a significant impact on affected children. Compared with other hospitalized children, study showed:

• Increased risk of death
  
• Elevated risk of colectomy
  
• Longer length of hospital stay
  
• Higher hospitalization charges
  

Read more from Medical News

Medical News: C. Diff on the Rise in Hospitalized Kids - in Hospital-Based Medicine, Infection Control from MedPage Today

Medical Laboratory Quiz Game

The LabCE.com Quiz Game is a free, randomized question bank that tests your clinical laboratory science knowledge. It's a great way to review for boards, brush up on your laboratory knowledge, and challenge yourself.

750 randomized questions. Each question is worth between 1 and 100 points, depending on difficulty. The more questions you answer, the more points you'll earn. But if you miss five questions, the game's over!

Registration with valid email is needed for the game.

Start the game and beat your colleagues!

LabCE.Com Quiz Game

Introducing Academy of Medical Laboratory Science

The Acade­my of Med­i­cal Lab­o­ra­to­ry Sci­ence is the pro­fes­sion­al body for Med­i­cal Sci­en­tists in Ire­land.

The Acade­my is ac­tive in re­search­ing the poli­cies, pro­ce­dures and the as­so­ci­at­ed tech­nol­o­gy nec­es­sary to en­sure the high­est qual­i­ty ser­vice with­in pathol­o­gy lab­o­ra­to­ries at a na­tion­al and an in­ter­na­tion­al level.

Continuous Professional Development

Through our Con­tin­u­ous Pro­fes­sion­al De­vel­op­ment pro­grammes (CPD), med­i­cal sci­en­tists have an op­por­tu­ni­ty to con­tin­ue their pro­fes­sion­al ed­u­ca­tion through a three-year cycle of par­tak­ing in learn­ing op­por­tu­ni­ties. Points are ac­cu­mu­lat­ed over a three-year pe­ri­od lead­ing to Cer­ti­fi­ca­tion points. 150 points must be ac­cu­mu­lat­ed in any three-year pe­ri­od. Read more

AMLS CONFERENCE 11 & 12 MARCH 2011

Conference information (pdf)

New Point of Care Testing Guidelines (POCT)

POCT Guidelines (pdf)


Read more from AMLS homepage

Academy of Medical Laboratory Science