Association of Laboratory Science Education and Certification with Laboratory Errors: The Value of Education and Certification Study.

Objectives: With the exception of states that require licensure, there is no uniform requirement for certification or for education from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) accredited laboratory science program for employment in a laboratory, under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988. The objective of the Value of Education and Certification (VEC) study was to determine if lack of NAACLS-accredited education and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)/Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification was associated with laboratory errors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used personnel and testing/reporting error data from 739 laboratorians, involving five laboratory partners.

Implementation of a molecular genotyping protocol for patients with warm autoantibodies.

Background: Warm autoantibodies (WAAs) cause delays and additional expenses while determining suitable products when using a traditional protocol (TP). In 2013, Carter BloodCare Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) introduced a molecular protocol (MP) for patients with WAAs.

Study Design And Methods: Retrospective review of records for samples referred to the IRL from November 2004 to September 2020, was performed.

Improvement in Platelet Product Wastage and Reduction of Costs through Implementation of the Pan Genera Detection Test.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Pan Genera Detection (PGD) testing on reducing platelet product wastage and transfusion service costs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study comparing the number of platelet apheresis units wasted before (March 2017 to February 2019) and after (March 2019 to February 2021) PGD implementation. The PGD testing was performed before transfusion on days 6 and 7.

Low-ionic-strength saline solution-antiglobulin test (LISS-AGT).

The use of low-ionic-strength saline (LISS) solution as an enhancement for antibody screening and crossmatching was first described by Löw and Messeter in 1974. This method allowed for a reduced incubation time while maintaining adequate specificity and sensitivity of the antiglobulin test (AGT). Since then, the LISS-AGT tube method has been widely used in antibody detection and identification, as well as compatibility testing.

Adaptations to iron deficiency: cardiac functional responsiveness to norepinephrine, arterial remodeling, and the effect of beta-blockade on cardiac hypertrophy.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) results in ventricular hypertrophy, believed to involve sympathetic stimulation. We hypothesized that with ID 1) intravenous norepinephrine would alter heart rate (HR) and contractility, 2) abdominal aorta would be larger and more distensible, and 3) the beta-blocker propanolol would reduce hypertrophy.

Methods: 1) 30 CD rats were fed an ID or replete diet for 1 week or 1 month.