Medical Laboratory Observer September 2011

Published September 2011

Cover Story

Virology: The continued rise of respiratory viruses
The clinical need for accurate diagnosis of respiratory viruses is modulated by three key observations. Respiratory viruses may be inconsequential, may cause substantial morbidity, or may kill.
By Paul Walsh, MB, BCh, BAO, MSc, DME, DipHI, F(ACEP)

Features

Clinical Issues

QC/QA Controls - Where’s the specimen?
Learn the secrets of successful specimen tracking from the clinical lab team at Pennsylvania State’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center that also pays tribute to its “authorship mentor.”
By Vilette L. Tribue, Andrea M. Haug, Monica L. Straub, Ruth A. Cheng,
and William Castellani, MD

Lab Management

Roundup: the right tests for your lab
MLO asked a number of its subscribers and contributors to tell us what was the “right” test for their labs and why. Here are four varied responses from members of diverse laboratories throughout the country.

Education and Training

Phlebotomy training: Does yours pass the test?
You teach the “what;” do you teach the “why?” Put your phlebotomy training program to the test.

PLUS Protection against needlestick injuries during blood collection: active or passive?

PLUS Needlestick statistics drop as passive safety device use rises

Current Buzz

Flu/Respiratory Illnesses
Experts on influenza and respiratory viruses share their insight about what change is coming for this season’s flu and virus protection.

Executive Snapshot

Mello’s StatSpin brings LEAN processing to labs
Labs are using high-speed centrifuges to address LEAN initiatives and single-piece flow. Learn what else is happening from a leader in that field.