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Medical Laboratory Observer's 2022 Lab of the Year is Mary Greeley Medical Center Laboratory in Ames, IA. The lab stood out for the depth and variety of initiatives its managers [...]

Many lab managers are using data analytics to measure and manage operational and clinical performance. 'We are basically a service line that provides data. We are absolutely buried with data [...]

Core fucosylation, the attachment of an α-1,6-linked-fucose to the N-glycan core pentasaccharide, is an abundant protein modification that plays critical roles in various biological processes such as cell signaling, B cell development, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and oncogenesis. However, the tools currently used to detect core fucosylation suffer from poor specificity, exhibiting cross-reactivity against all types of fucosylation. Herein we report the development of a new chemoenzymatic strategy for the rapid and selective detection of core fucosylated glycans. This approach employs a galactosyltransferase enzyme identified fromCaenorhabditis elegansthat specifically transfers an azido-appended galactose residue onto core fucose via a β-1,4 glycosidic linkage. We demonstrate that the approach exhibits superior specificity toward core fucose on a variety of complex N-glycans. The method enables detection of core fucosylated glycoproteins from complex cell lysates, as well as on live cell surfaces, and it can be integrated into a diagnostic platform to profile protein-specific core fucosylation levels. This chemoenzymatic labeling approach offers a new strategy for the identification of disease biomarkers and will allow researchers to further characterize the fundamental role of this important glycan in normal and disease physiology.

As the number of people who are vaccinated for COVID-19 increases, the volume of testing for the virus decreases. That means clinical labs are readjusting their testing portfolios to meet [...]

Judging the entries for Medical Laboratory Observer's Lab of the Year award is always a daunting job. This was particularly true this year, given the central role clinical labs have [...]

The article details U.S. Norfolk Southern Railway's implementation of a machine vision system in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to inspect moving rail cars for defects. It mentions that the system utilizes high-resolution cameras, stadium lights, and artificial intelligence algorithms to capture and analyze images of trains traveling at high speeds, aiming to enhance defect detection and maintenance efficiency.

Once the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) hit the United States, Central Ohio Primary Care, with more than 75 locations, wanted to launch polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to detect the virus. [...]

Medical Laboratory Observer's 2020 annual salary survey of laboratory professionals revealed a sizable jump in the average salary, based on the responses of all participants, although quite a few job [...]

Lab managers strive to improve both the quality and efficiency, or value, of their operations. That was the message that came through in Medical Laboratory Observer's (MLO) second State of [...]

The top healthcare technologies for 2020 aren't new, but they are on the cusp of moving into broader use. In a sign of the growing maturity of some of these [...]

Hospital-based labs are beginning to deploy next-generation sequencing (NGS) for cancer diagnostics in-house, rather than sending samples out to specialized laboratories. NGS allows labs to uncover the genetic makeup of [...]

The article focuses on Bosch's implementation of a machine vision system to verify serial codes on injector nozzles used in diesel engines, addressing challenges in capturing readable images of laser-engraved characters on cylindrical surfaces. It reports that Bosch replaced its previous smart-camera system due to high false reject rates, and it highlights the collaboration with LumiVision to enhance image quality and capture speed.

The article focuses on rugged machine vision lighting options designed to withstand harsh environments, such as extreme temperatures, moisture, dust, and shock. It reports that lighting manufacturers have developed products and techniques, including enclosures and washdown lights, to address these challenges, and it emphasizes the importance of selecting lighting solutions suited for specific environmental conditions.

Laboratories provide crucial data in in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. That is why industry leaders think lab managers should be involved in plotting their institution's transition from payment [...]

Human error is the culprit behind most centrifuge accidents in labs, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This means that lab managers can improve centrifuge safety at [...]

Laboratories with COVID-19 testing programs scramble to source swabs, reagents, test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE) and trained staff. But that is not all. Getting paid is another issue. There [...]

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital (PSHMC) offers something relatively rare: a hospital-based training program in medical laboratory science (MLS). Launched in 1932, the program is a key [...]

Measuring the amount of HbA1c in the blood is a common laboratory test for both diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. It also is an important test because diabetes is a major [...]

The American Society for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are updating their evidence-based clinical guidelines for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. Some of the major areas of [...]

Ten years ago in The Corporate Board Directors should be willing to dissent, and disagreement from others should not be discouraged or suppressed. When it leads people to engage rigorously, [...]

Labs are using increasingly sophisticated approaches to data analytics to improve their operations. Most labs use what is known as descriptive analytics, which involves interpreting what has already happened. Examples [...]

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are abundant, ubiquitous carbohydrates in biology, yet their structural complexity has limited an understanding of their biological roles and structure–function relationships. Synthetic access to large collections of well defined, structurally diverse GAG oligosaccharides would provide critical insights into this important class of biomolecules and represent a major advance in glycoscience. Here we report a new platform for synthesizing large heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharide libraries displaying comprehensive arrays of sulfation patterns. Library synthesis is made possible by improving the overall synthetic efficiency through universal building blocks derived from natural heparin and a traceless fluorous tagging method for rapid purification with minimal manual manipulation. Using this approach, we generated a complete library of 64 HS oligosaccharides displaying all possible 2-O-, 6-O- and N-sulfation sequences in the tetrasaccharide GlcN–IdoA–GlcN–IdoA. These diverse structures provide an unprecedented view into the sulfation code of GAGs and identify sequences for modulating the activities of important growth factors and chemokines.

The rate of claims denials at health systems and laboratories has been increasing, which means that managing denials is becoming an important part of an organization's revenue cycle workflow. The [...]

As the COVID-19 pandemic has surged into its second year, rapid tests to detect SARS-CoV-2 and deliver results quickly have become more prevalent. The gold standard to diagnosis COVID-19 is [...]

In the International Classification of Diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies burnout as 'a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.' The [...]

Senior Editor In February, the Joint Commission announced that its survey standards would now include compliance with federal rules requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This announcement followed [...]

Previous research has demonstrated improved outcomes for patients on dialysis who have better quality of life and self-efficacy, but has focused almost exclusively on those receiving hemodialysis. The goal of this study was to describe the quality of life and self-efficacy of patients receiving incenter hemodialysis versus those receiving a home dialysis modality (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis). The study utilized a correlational cross-sectional design and quota sampling methods. Participants were recruited from outpatient dialysis facilities and included 77 community dwelling adult patients who had been on dialysis for at least six months. Quality of life was measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life instrument, and self-efficacy was measured using the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health instrument. Findings suggest equal outcomes between treatment groups, with no contraindication to the use of home therapies. Key Words: Quality of life, self-efficacy, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis., Goal To provide an overview of the quality of life of patients receiving incenter dialysis versus those receiving a home dialysis modality (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis). Objectives 1. Explain how [...]

The large volume of testing for SARS-CoV-2 has exposed process-flow bottlenecks in clinical labs. That is why labs should prepare for an expected onslaught of COVID-19, flu and other diagnostic [...]

Why did you choose to pursue a career in clinical laboratory management? What appealed to you about a specialization in hematology testing? I chose to pursue clinical laboratory management because [...]

Given Omicron's transmissibility and resulting surge in COVID-19 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued emergency guidance to help healthcare facilities, including laboratories, provide the staff necessary [...]

How did you become involved in the work of SunCoast Blood Centers? Sixteen years ago, I joined the SunCoast Blood Centers as director of donor services and recruitment, and three [...]

As 2022 dawns, a world weary from battling SARS-CoV-2 faces a new variant of the virus: Omicron (B.1.1.529). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and [...]

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. In 2018,34.2 million Americans, or 1 in 10, had diabetes and 88 million American adults, or 1 [...]

The article highlights the deployment of an autonomous excavator designed by ETH Zurich for building a stone retaining wall in Switzerland, showcasing advancements in robotic construction technology. It states that the robotic excavator, equipped with LiDAR scanners and RGB cameras, was used to construct both a demonstration wall and a permanent structure in Circularity Park, integrating autonomous systems for efficient and sustainable construction.

Transfusion medicine is an important part of the treatment process for many cancer patients, whose disease and treatment might lead to bleeding or clotting issues, too few red blood cells, [...]

Today's lab managers are pursuing a wide range of employee-retention strategies, including initiatives to boost morale and develop careers. Retaining existing staff members is regarded as less expensive than recruiting [...]

Beaumont Health debuted its serology-testing service for COVID-19 after just one month of planning--a remarkably short timeline for launching a new lab service. 'We recognized that there would be a [...]

What makes lab innovators worth watching? They develop procedures or processes to improve testing, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnoses, treatments and, ultimately, better patient outcomes. In Medical Laboratory [...]

To help its members prevent or manage diabetes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota opted for a virtual solution. The Minnesota health insurer has partnered with Omada Health, based [...]

Mary Lanning Healthcare (MLH) in Hastings, NE, is a regional hospital serving rural communities throughout south central Nebraska. The 57-employee lab--which was just recertified by the College of American Pathologists [...]

Since 1946,Norman Regional Health System (NRHS) has been serving consumers in south and central Oklahoma. Operated by the Norman Regional Hospital Authority, a public trust, the system has two hospitals [...]

As the number of novel coronavirus cases continually increase throughout the world, laboratorians and hospitals need to ensure they are prepared to diagnose and treat infected patients. When Chinese officials [...]

After analyzing data about risk of death and emergency department usage for its cancer patients, Northwest Medical Specialties opened a walk-in clinic. A nurse practitioner staffs the clinic, which is [...]

Sean T. Campbell, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Pathology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Associate Director of the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory at Montefiore Medical Center. He sits on [...]

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) held its Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo 'live' in Atlanta in late September. Despite the pleasant weather (warm, sunny, and not [...]

David McClintock, MD, is an Associate CMIO, Director of Digital Pathology, and Associate Director of Pathology Informatics at Michigan Medicine. He also is an Associate Professor of Pathology. Before joining [...]

While Delta is the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, a newcomer, Mu, has gained the world's attention. Mu became the World Health Organization's (WHO) fifth variant of interest (VOI) on August 30. [...]

As the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant surges throughout the United States, so has the number of cases and, therefore, the demand for SARS-CoV-2 testing. According to data from the Coronavirus Resource [...]

As pharmacogenomics becomes more common, the need to standardize best practices for detecting genetic variations in patients through testing becomes more important. That is why the Association for Molecular Pathology [...]