Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Mar 2012
Pretransfusion testing practices in North America, 2005-2010: an analysis of the College Of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program J-survey data, 2005-2010.
Data collection and analysis of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Interlaboratory Comparison Program (Proficiency Testing) J-Survey results provide insights into North American pretransfusion compatibility testing practices and trends. ⋯ Most North American CAP laboratories continue to use tube methods for ABO/Rh testing. Use of gel-based methodologies increased during the past 5 years for antibody screening and crossmatching.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Dec 2011
Historical ArticleThe influence of dust standards on the prevalence and severity of coal worker's pneumoconiosis at autopsy in the United States of America.
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis is a major occupational lung disease in the United States. The disease is primarily controlled through reducing dust exposure in coal mines using technological improvements and through the establishment of dust standards by regulatory means. ⋯ The study confirms a beneficial impact of the first 25 years of the dust standard established by the 1969 act on the prevalence and severity of coal worker's pneumoconiosis in US coal miners. However, pneumoconiosis continues to occur among miners who have worked entirely within the contemporary standard, suggesting a need for further reductions in exposure to respirable coal mine dust.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Nov 2011
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in gastroesophageal cancer: correlation between immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer have poor survival with current therapy. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) represents a promising therapeutic target, but the optimal HER2 testing strategy is not yet defined. ⋯ Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in gastroesophageal cancer can be performed using standard breast cancer procedures and the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists scoring criteria. Although IHC 0 and IHC 3+ provide clear stratification, reliable separation of IHC 1+ and IHC 2+ may be difficult, especially in biopsy samples. The latter 2 groups are best referred to FISH for definitive classification.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Nov 2011
ReviewQuality and safety in medical care: what does the future hold?
The rapid changes in health care policy, embracing quality and safety mandates, have culminated in programs and initiatives under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ⋯ Quality and safety have always been of prime importance in medicine. However, in the future, under health care reform and associated initiatives, a shift in the paradigm of medicine will integrate quality and safety measurement with financial incentives and a new emphasis on consumerism.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Nov 2011
ReviewCollege of american pathologists proposal for the oversight of laboratory-developed tests.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will exercise authority over laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). Laboratory-developed tests have traditionally been developed and offered in laboratories as a service to patients and regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act). Laboratories now face potential dual regulatory oversight from both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the FDA. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) constructed a proposal to minimize redundancy of agency oversight and burden to laboratories. Modifications to the proposal continue while the laboratory community awaits release of the guidance documents that will stipulate FDA requirements. ⋯ The College of American Pathologists is a leader in laboratory quality and has unique insights into the benefits and risks to patients presented by LDTs. Continued dialog with officials from the FDA and CMS will promote public and private collaborative efforts to assure innovation of diagnostic testing, public information, and patient safety for clinical diagnostic testing.