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Laboratory Medicine Jul 2021To explore the experiences of medical laboratory professionals (MLPs) and their perceptions of the needs of clinical laboratories in response to COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences of medical laboratory professionals (MLPs) and their perceptions of the needs of clinical laboratories in response to COVID-19.
METHODS
We surveyed laboratory professionals working in United States clinical laboratories during the initial months of the pandemic.
RESULTS
Overall clinical laboratory testing and overtime work for laboratorians decreased during the first months of the pandemic. Laboratory professionals reported better or unchanged job satisfaction, feelings toward their work, and morale in their workplace, which were related to healthcare facility and laboratory leadership response. They reported receiving in-kind gifts, but no hazard pay, for their essential work. Important supply needs included reagents and personal protective equipment (PPE).
CONCLUSION
The response by healthcare facilities and laboratory leadership can influence MLPs job satisfaction, feelings toward their work, and laboratory morale during a pandemic. Current COVID-19 laboratory testing management, in the absence of sufficient reagents and supplies, cannot fully address the needs of clinical laboratories.
Topics: Adult; Aged; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Job Satisfaction; Laboratories; Male; Medical Laboratory Personnel; Middle Aged; Occupational Health; Personal Protective Equipment; SARS-CoV-2; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Workload; Young Adult
PubMed: 33942859
DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmab021 -
Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2016Preformed α-synuclein fibrils seed the aggregation of soluble α-synuclein in cultured cells and in vivo. This, and other findings, has kindled the idea that...
BACKGROUND
Preformed α-synuclein fibrils seed the aggregation of soluble α-synuclein in cultured cells and in vivo. This, and other findings, has kindled the idea that α-synuclein fibrils possess prion-like properties.
OBJECTIVE
As α-synuclein fibrils should not be considered as innocuous, there is a need for decontamination and inactivation procedures for laboratory benches and non-disposable laboratory material.
METHODS
We assessed the effectiveness of different procedures designed to disassemble α-synuclein fibrils and reduce their infectivity. We examined different commercially available detergents to remove α-synuclein assemblies adsorbed on materials that are not disposable and that are most found in laboratories (e.g. plastic, glass, aluminum or stainless steel surfaces).
RESULTS
We show that methods designed to decrease PrP prion infectivity neither effectively remove α-synuclein assemblies adsorbed to different materials commonly used in the laboratory nor disassemble the fibrillar form of the protein with efficiency. In contrast, both commercial detergents and SDS detached α-synuclein assemblies from contaminated surfaces and disassembled the fibrils.
CONCLUSIONS
We describe three cleaning procedures that effectively remove and disassemble α-synuclein seeds. The methods rely on the use of detergents that are compatible with most non-disposable tools in a laboratory. The procedures are easy to implement and significantly decrease any potential risks associated to handling α-synuclein assemblies.
Topics: Decontamination; Detergents; Humans; Laboratories; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 26639448
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-150691 -
Biochemia Medica Oct 2022The aim of the study was to determine the current state of laboratory's extra-analytical phase performance by calculating preanalytical and postanalytical phase quality...
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the study was to determine the current state of laboratory's extra-analytical phase performance by calculating preanalytical and postanalytical phase quality indicators (QIs) and sigma values and to compare obtained data according to desired quality specifications and sigma values reported by The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) Working Group - Laboratory errors and Patient Safety.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preanalytical and postanalytical phase data were obtained through laboratory information system. Rejected samples in preanalytical phase were grouped according to reasons for rejection and frequencies were calculated both monthly and for 2019. Sigma values were calculated according to "short term sigma" table.
RESULTS
The number of rejected samples in laboratory was 643 out of 191,831 in 2019. Total preanalytical phase rejection frequency was 0.22%. According to the reasons for rejection, QIs and sigma values were: "Samples with excessive transportation time": 0.0036 and 5.47; "Samples collected in wrong container" 0.02 and 5.11. In December, QIs and sigma values were: "Samples with excessive transportation time": 0.01 and 5.34; "Samples collected in wrong container": 0.03 and 4.98. The postanalytical QIs and sigma values were: "Reports delivered outside the specified time": 0.34 and 4.21; "Turn around time of potassium": 56 minute and 3.84, respectively. There were no errors in "Critical values of inpatients and outpatients notified after a consensually agreed time".
CONCLUSIONS
Extra-analytical phase was evaluated by comparing it with the latest quality specifications and sigma values which will contribute to improving the quality of laboratory medicine.
Topics: Clinical Laboratory Services; Humans; Laboratories; Laboratories, Clinical; Patient Safety; Quality Indicators, Health Care
PubMed: 35966260
DOI: 10.11613/BM.2022.030701 -
American Journal of Clinical Pathology Nov 2019To explore challenges explaining the decrease in quality performance and suggest strategies to improve and sustain laboratory quality services.
OBJECTIVES
To explore challenges explaining the decrease in quality performance and suggest strategies to improve and sustain laboratory quality services.
METHODS
Twenty key informants' interviews from laboratory personnel were conducted in five laboratories. Four had previously shown a decrease in quality performance. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
Two themes emerged: (1) insufficient coordination and follow-up system towards accreditation, where lack of coordination, follow-up, and audits explained the decrease in performance; (2) inadequate resource optimization, where insufficient knowledge in Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS), ownership by laboratory workforce, and insufficient stakeholders' communication contributed to low-quality performance.
CONCLUSIONS
The coordination, follow-up, and assessments of LQMS, in conjunction with training of laboratory workforce, would establish an institutional culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI) towards accreditation and sustainment of quality health care. To achieve CQI culture, routine gap checking and planning for improvement using a system approach is required.
Topics: Humans; Laboratories; Medical Laboratory Personnel; Quality Improvement; Rwanda
PubMed: 31304959
DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqz092 -
ALTEX 2021The use of in vitro assays to inform decision-making requires robust and reproducible results across studies, laboratories, and time. Experiments using positive control...
The use of in vitro assays to inform decision-making requires robust and reproducible results across studies, laboratories, and time. Experiments using positive control materials are an integral component of an assay procedure to demonstrate the extent to which the measurement system is performing as expected. This paper reviews ten characteristics that should be considered when selecting a positive control material for an in vitro assay: 1) the biological mechanism of action, 2) ease of preparation, 3) chemical purity, 4) verifiable physical properties, 5) stability, 6) ability to generate responses spanning the dynamic range of the assay, 7) technical or biological interference, 8) commercial availability, 9) user toxicity, and 10) disposability. Examples and a case study of the monocyte activation test are provided to demonstrate the application of these characteristics for identification and selection of potential positive control materials. Because specific positive control materials are often written into testing standards for in vitro assays, selection of the positive control material based on these characteristics can aid in ensuring the long-term relevance and usability of these standards.
Topics: Biological Assay; Laboratories; Research Design
PubMed: 33637998
DOI: 10.14573/altex.2102111 -
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology... Mar 2022Widely used in research laboratories, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a transferable skill that prepares undergraduate students for a variety of careers in the biomedical...
Widely used in research laboratories, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a transferable skill that prepares undergraduate students for a variety of careers in the biomedical field. We have developed an inquiry-based learning IHC laboratory exercise, which introduces students to the theory, procedure, and data interpretation of antibody staining. Students are tasked with performing IHC using an "unknown" antibody and then asked to identify the cells or molecular structures within the nervous systems specific for that unknown antibody. In two lab sessions, students are exposed to handling of delicate brain slices, fluorescent microscopy, and data analysis using the Allen Brain Atlas (ABA), an online freely accessible database of mRNA transcript expression patterns in the brain. Here, we present guidelines for easy implementation in the classroom and assess learning gains achieved by the students upon completion of the IHC laboratory module. Students clearly displayed an increase in knowledge in data interpretation, procedural knowledge, and theory surrounding IHC. Thus, this module works as an inquiry-based learning based method to introduce IHC principles to undergraduate students.
Topics: Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Laboratories; Learning; Molecular Biology; Students
PubMed: 35178833
DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21611 -
Veterinary Pathology Jul 2022The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that animal models play in elucidating the pathogenesis of emerging diseases and rapidly analyzing potential...
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that animal models play in elucidating the pathogenesis of emerging diseases and rapidly analyzing potential medical countermeasures. Relevant pathologic outcomes are paramount in evaluating preclinical models and therapeutic outcomes and require careful advance planning. While there are numerous guidelines for attaining high-quality pathology specimens in routine animal studies, preclinical studies using coronaviruses are often conducted under biosafety level-3 (BSL3) conditions, which pose unique challenges and technical limitations. In such settings, rather than foregoing pathologic outcomes because of the inherent constraints of high-containment laboratory protocols, modifications can be made to conventional best practices of specimen collection. Particularly for those unfamiliar with working in a high-containment laboratory, the authors describe the logistics of conducting such work, focusing on animal experiments in BSL3 conditions. To promote scientific rigor and reproducibility and maximize the value of animal use, the authors provide specific points to be considered before, during, and following a high-containment animal study. The authors provide procedural modifications for attaining good quality pathologic assessment of the mouse lung, central nervous system, and blood specimens under high-containment conditions while being conscientious to maximize animal use for other concurrent assays.
Topics: Animals; COVID-19; Containment of Biohazards; Laboratories; Mice; Reproducibility of Results; SARS-CoV-2; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 35400265
DOI: 10.1177/03009858221087634 -
BMC Public Health May 2019Since 1979, multiple CDC Kenya programs have supported the development of diagnostic expertise and laboratory capacity in Kenya. In 2004, CDC's Global Disease Detection...
Since 1979, multiple CDC Kenya programs have supported the development of diagnostic expertise and laboratory capacity in Kenya. In 2004, CDC's Global Disease Detection (GDD) program within the Division of Global Health Protection in Kenya (DGHP-Kenya) initiated close collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and developed a laboratory partnership called the Diagnostic and Laboratory Systems Program (DLSP). DLSP built onto previous efforts by malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) programs and supported the expansion of the diagnostic expertise and capacity in KEMRI and the Ministry of Health. First, DLSP developed laboratory capacity for surveillance of diarrheal, respiratory, zoonotic and febrile illnesses to understand the etiology burden of these common illnesses and support evidenced-based decisions on vaccine introductions and recommendations in Kenya. Second, we have evaluated and implemented new diagnostic technologies such as TaqMan Array Cards (TAC) to detect emerging or reemerging pathogens and have recently added a next generation sequencer (NGS). Third, DLSP provided rapid laboratory diagnostic support for outbreak investigation to Kenya and regional countries. Fourth, DLSP has been assisting the Kenya National Public Health laboratory-National Influenza Center and microbiology reference laboratory to obtain World Health Organization (WHO) certification and ISO15189 accreditation respectively. Fifth, we have supported biosafety and biosecurity curriculum development to help Kenyan laboratories safely and appropriately manage infectious pathogens. These achievements, highlight how in collaboration with existing CDC programs working on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, the Global Health Security Agenda can have significantly improve public health in Kenya and the region. Moreover, Kenya provides an example as to how laboratory science can help countries detect and control of infectious disease outbreaks and other public health threats more rapidly, thus enhancing global health security.
Topics: Capacity Building; Disease Outbreaks; Global Health; Humans; Kenya; Laboratories; Public Health Administration
PubMed: 32326916
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6770-9 -
BMC Public Health May 2019We review the current state of quality assurance in laboratories of the five Central Asia Republics (CARs), focusing on laboratory equipment, and compare quality... (Review)
Review
We review the current state of quality assurance in laboratories of the five Central Asia Republics (CARs), focusing on laboratory equipment, and compare quality assurance approaches with CLSI standards. The laboratories of the CARs faced exceptional challenges including highly-structured laboratory systems that retain centralized and outmoded Soviet-era approaches to quality assurance, considerably jeopardizing the validity of laboratory tests. The relative isolation of the CARs, based on geography and almost exclusive use of the Russian language, further hamper change. CARs must make high-level government decisions to widely implement quality assurance programs within their laboratory systems, within which approaches to the management of laboratory equipment will be a prominent part.
Topics: Asia, Central; Developing Countries; Equipment and Supplies; Humans; Laboratories; Maintenance; Program Evaluation; Quality Assurance, Health Care
PubMed: 32326932
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6782-5 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Jun 2018Working in a laboratory is very difficult and needs special attention. Laboratory workers can be exposed to numerous potential hazards including chemical, biological,...
Working in a laboratory is very difficult and needs special attention. Laboratory workers can be exposed to numerous potential hazards including chemical, biological, physical, and radioactive. That is why it is really important to follow the working principles in laboratories for the sake of the lab analyzers and others who work with them in the lab. Laboratory safety includes the use of certain laboratory rules, methods, infrastructures, and devices during work to protect the working person and the working material. All studies show that > 70% of medical decisions are based on laboratory results. In such important laboratories, it is must to get safe and reliable results. This requires a well-established working system and strict observance of laboratory safety. Biosafety is very important in parasitology laboratories as well as in all microbiology laboratories. Usually, it takes a long time for people to detect parasitic diseases through laboratory accidents, who are working in laboratories. That is why, especially in parasitology laboratories, the issue of laboratory safety should be emphasized more sensitively. We will be reviewing the hazards, parasites, exposure routes, and protective measures imposed in parasitology laboratories.
Topics: Containment of Biohazards; Humans; Laboratories; Parasitic Diseases; Parasitology; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 30070646
DOI: 10.5152/tpd.2018.5598