Evaluation of the VioOne HIV profile supplemental assay.

HIV is an ongoing global epidemic with estimates of more than a million new infections occurring annually. To combat viral spread, continuous innovations in areas including testing and treatment are necessary. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that laboratories follow an HIV testing algorithm that first uses a US Food and Drug Administration approved immunoassay to detect antibodies to HIV-1 or HIV-2 as well as HIV-1 p24 antigen in serum or plasma samples.

Increased mortality associated with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen in insurance applicants.

Objective: Determine the relationship between the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value and all-cause mortality in life insurance applicants aged 50 years and over.

Method: By use of the Social Security Master Death Index, mortality was examined in 115,590 insurance applicants aged 50 and up for whom blood samples for CEA were submitted to the Clinical Reference Laboratory. Results were stratified by CEA value (<5 ng/mL, 5 to 9.

Relationship of hemoglobin A1c to mortality in nonsmoking insurance applicants.

Objective: Determine the relationship between hemoglobin A1c value and 5-year, all-cause mortality in nonsmoking life insurance applicants.

Method: By use of the Social Security Master Death Index, mortality was examined in 286,443 non-smoking insurance applicants aged 40 and up for whom blood samples for hemoglobin A1c were submitted to the Clinical Reference Laboratory. Results were stratified by hemoglobin A1c value, gender and age bands 40 to 59, 60 to 69 and 70 and up.