Comparison of a Novel Thin-Walled 25-gauge Needle Push Button Blood Collection Set to a Standard 23-gauge Needle in a Cancer Patient Population.

Background: Phlebotomy can be an uncomfortable and even painful experience that increases in likelihood in patients who require frequent blood draws, such as those with cancer. The 25-gauge BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Push Button Blood Collection Set has a smaller outer bore needle size and unique bevel configuration, which in theory should reduce pain associated with phlebotomy. Smaller needles typically cause less pain, however, they have a higher incidence of compromising the specimen integrity.

Immunotyping Provides Equivalent Results to Immunofixation in a Population with a High Prevalence of Monoclonal Gammopathies.

Background: Serum immunofixation (IF) is a common laboratory test used to diagnose and monitor patients with monoclonal gammopathies. Similarly, immunotyping (IT) by capillary electrophoresis can confirm the presence of a monoclonal protein (M-protein) and determine its isotype. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of IT and IF to detect M-proteins.

Reducing False-Positive Pregnancy Test Results in Patients With Cancer.

Objective: To assess whether the use of a laboratory test specific for intact human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) would reduce the number of false-positive pregnancy test results.

Methods: From October 21, 2014, to January 20, 2015, and April 1, 2015, to June 2, 2015, all serum samples sent for pregnancy screening at a large cancer center with a value of 5 milli-international units/mL or greater total β-hCG were frozen and stored and then retested using intact hCG reagent. We compared the accuracy of total β-hCG and intact hCG results for the diagnosis of clinically confirmed pregnancy.

Cerebrospinal fluid from patients with hematopoietic neoplasms: the need for an integrated approach.

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evaluation plays an increasing role in the diagnosis and staging of hematopoietic neoplasms. The evaluation is based on the cytomorphologic evaluation (CE) of the specimen and flow cytometry study (FCS). The impact of the increased sensitivity of multicolor FCS and its correlation with the morphological analysis of CSF needs to be evaluated to better guide clinical management.

Treatment of multiple myeloma with monoclonal antibodies and the dilemma of false positive M-spikes in peripheral blood.

Objectives: To characterize the effect of three humanized IgG κ monoclonal antibodies (daratumumab, isatuximab, and elotuzumab) on the interpretation of results generated by protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, free light chain, and heavy/light chain assays performed on human serum.

Methods: Healthy volunteer serum and serum from multiple myeloma patients were supplemented with clinically relevant concentrations of each of the three monoclonal antibodies. These specimens then underwent analysis via serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, serum free light chain quantification, heavy/light chain quantification, total IgG, and total protein.

D-lactic acidosis mediated neuronal encephalopathy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient: an under diagnosis.

Background: D-lactic acidosis, also referred as D-lactate encephalopathy, has been reported in patients with short bowl syndrome (SBS).

Case Report: The neurologic symptoms include altered mental status, slurred speech, and ataxia. Onset of neurological symptoms is accompanied by metabolic acidosis and high anion gap.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the renal pelvis with osteoclast-like giant cells: a report of two cases.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells arising in the urothelium of the bladder or upper urinary tract is an extremely rare entity. The majority of cases found in the renal pelvis and bladder are associated with either an in situ urothelial malignancy or a conventional high-grade urothelial carcinoma. These malignancies tend to behave poorly with a grim prognosis and course.

Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a neck abscess: a diagnostic pitfall in fine-needle aspiration biopsy of head and neck lesions.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a useful tool in the diagnosis of mycobacterial disease, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, nontuberculous mycobacterial infection diagnosed with FNAB material is much rarer, with Mycobacterium avium complex being the most common. In this report, we present the case of a 21-year-old HIV positive man, who presented with a unilateral, tender, enlarging cervical neck mass.