Cover Story
The give and take of blood banking
The history of blood banking demonstrates ongoing efforts to keep blood supplies safe.
By Carren Bersch, Editor
PLUS Walking blood banks: screening blood in the battlefield
By Col. Francisco J. Rentas,
Maj. David A. Lincoln,
Lt. Cmdr. Corey R. Jenkins,
Lt. Col. Robert J. O’Connell, and
Maj. Robert G. Gates
Features
Clinical Issues
Focus on urine specimen workflow
Complex urine-testing preanalytics fare better when LEAN methods are applied.
By Ana K. Stankovic, MD, PhD, MSPH, and Elizabeth DeLauro, MBA
Lab Management
Drugs-of-abuse testing
DAn expert in DAT shares pertinent tips on selecting the appropriate DAT menu.
Special Feature
An objective approach to selecting a referral laboratory
Calgary Laboratory Services sought to consolidate the number of referral labs it used.
By Gareth Lewis, BSc Hon, MBA/MBT (candidate); and M. Omar Shokeir, MD, F(RCP)(C), F(CAP)
Education
Plan puts phlebotomists on professional-development track
An Indiana lab stabilizes its phlebotomy team and moves closer to standardization.
By Lisa O. Ballance, BS, MT(ASCP), CLC(AMT)
Lab Methodology
Outbreak investigation: STEC O157
Outbreaks of shiga-toxigenic E coli O157:H7 were associated with petting zoos and fairs in recent years. Follow the testing trail.
By Lisa Durso, PhD; Hugh Maguire, PhD;
Alicia Cronquist, RN, MPH; and James L. Bono, PhD
Executive Snapshot
Selmyer links rules and intel at Dawning Technologies
John Selmyer describes middleware’s role in integrating systems.
International Corner
Ortho uses French connection to diagnose labs worldwide
Edited by Carren
Bersch, Editor
Columns
From the Editor
Ignorance or apathy?
By Carren Bersch
The
Observatory
News/Trends/Analysis
Mentoring minute
Diary of the “mad” med-lab techs
Liability and the Lab
Self-testing students lead to legal concerns
By Barbara Harty-Golder, MD, JD
Flu update
Research in high gear for pandemic flu
Management Q&A
Addressing management issues
Edited by C. Anne Pontius, MBA, CMPE, MT(ASCP)
- How to handle staff squabbles
Tips from the Clinical Experts
Answering your questions
Edited by Brad S. Karon, MD, PhD
- Cell counts and differentials of CSF
- What does the CBC include?
Flu lessons
Dx tool in RV diagnosis, surveillance
Washington report
Waiting for Washington is a luxury we cannot afford
By Herb Steward