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Clinical Laboratory Education 
Learning at your convenience. On your schedule.

 
 
  Fisher Healthcare offers a number of educational webinars throughout the year on a wide range of practical topics directed toward healthcare professionals. You can register for upcoming sessions here, or watch archived webinar recordings at any time, from anywhere. These complimentary basic level events are delivered by respected leaders in the world of healthcare, and managed by Whitehat Communications to ensure a professional environment. All programs are free and offer one PACE® Continuing Education contact hour for up to six months after the live event. Check back often for new event postings. 
Microbiology Results for Critical Patients: A 2023 Perspective
Live Event: Wednesday, December 13, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until June 13, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
The role of the microbiology laboratory and the choice of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) method is crucial to determining the appropriate treatment for severe infections in critically ill patients. Delayed or inaccurate results, especially for patients with multi-drug resistant infections, can lead to less effective treatment and potential mortality.

Accurate minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data can reduce turn-around times and favorably impact therapeutic decisions. The use of new generation therapeutics like sulbactam/durlobactam and MIC results for determining optimal treatment are critical in the face of growing antibiotic resistance. The availability of accurate broth microdilution-based MICs for new antibiotics can help improve patient outcomes and reduce the lengths-of-stay, therapeutic dosages and duration, adverse reactions, and costs.

Actions taken by the antimicrobial stewardship team to enforce the judicious use of antimicrobials are most effective when supported by timely diagnostic information from and collaboration with microbiology laboratory personnel. Effective collaborations among microbiologists, clinicians, the antimicrobial stewardship team, and policy makers can help improve patient care and meet the challenges of increased antibiotic resistance in a post-Covid world.


This webinar will:
Review the challenges of treating and managing critically ill patients
Describe how MIC results for new generation therapeutics are used to manage patient care
Summarize how effective diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship can help combat resistance
Explain the importance of MIC results and breakpoints

Presenter:
James A. McKinnell, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
Division of Infectious Disease, LA-Biomed at Harbor UCLA Medical Center
James McKinnell Photo
James A. McKinnell, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Infectious Disease Clinical Outcome Research Unit (ID-CORE) and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA. Dr. McKinnell is a nationally-recognized infectious disease specialist with specific research interests related to the clinical management and prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
Revitalizing Diabetes Care in Primary Care: Improving Clinical Inertia for Diabetes Management
Live Event: Tuesday, November 21, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until May 21, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
Join our upcoming webinar, “Revolutionizing Diabetes Management,” to tackle the growing diabetes prevalence. We’ll address clinical inertia, which hinders optimal care, and explore ways to democratize healthcare for better patient outcomes. Discover cutting-edge technologies, patient empowerment, and inclusive practices that can transform diabetes management in the primary care setting reducing the burden on individuals and society. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the fight against diabetes.



This webinar will:
Review the current situation for managing people living with diabetes in the primary care setting today
Discuss the impact of diabetes management on patient outcomes and quality of care
Examine the measures that treating healthcare providers can implement to improve their diabetes management program by addressing clinic inertia and democratizing healthcare
Identify the effects of empowering patients and intervening earlier
Analyze available diabetes management methods to reduce the economic burden on people and healthcare systems



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Presenter:
Aaron King, MD
Family Medicine and Diabetes Specialist
MedFirst Primary Care
San Antonio, TX
Aaron King Photo
Dr. Aaron King is a Family Medicine and Diabetes Specialist at MedFirst Primary Care, a Baptist Medical Center affiliate. Dr. King graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Microbiology and top of his class at Texas A&M Medical School, while on a scholarship with the United States Navy through the HPSP program. After his USN commission, Dr. King became ABFM certified in Family Medicine after his residency at Navy Hospital Pensacola.
Improved Lab Efficiency by Automating Urine Plate Reading
Live Event: Wednesday, November 15, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until May 15, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
Chronic staffing shortages along with increased workload have led many microbiology laboratories, to consider automation.  While this seems like a practical approach, there are many important considerations in making such a decision including cost, space, accuracy, ease of use and compatibility with already established lean workflows.

This webinar will discuss how advances in artificial intelligence-enabled laboratory automation can help labs automatically read and interpret microbial cultures. By using proprietary algorithms for enumeration and classification of growth the system can improve accuracy and workflow efficiency.

The webinar will also illustrate the impact of AI based automation on laboratory time, describe how automation categorizes the difference between significant and non-significant growth from urine cultures, and discuss how standalone automation can be installed and integrated into a labs lean workflow.



This webinar will:
Examine the impact of AI based automation on laboratory time
Describe how automation categorizes the difference between significant and non-significant growth from urine cultures
Discuss how standalone automation can be installed and integrated into a labs lean workflow



Presenter:
Mary George, PhD, D (ABMM)
Director Microbiology Lab, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Med Health System
Assistant Professor, Albany Medical College
Mary George Photo
Dr. Mary George has over 40 years of clinical microbiology laboratory experience as both a Medical Laboratory Scientist and laboratory Director. Currently she is Director of the Microbiology Laboratory at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. She obtained her Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training in Medical and Public Health Laboratory Microbiology at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
Acute Pharyngitis: Advances in Pathogen Identification & Diagnosis
Live Event: Wednesday, October 25, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 25, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
Acute pharyngitis is one of the most common reasons for primary care visits and is the most common diagnosis linked to antibiotic use in school-aged children. Due to extended turnaround times associated with culture and low sensitivity of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT), many clinicians empirically prescribe antibiotics to prevent severe sequelae associated with Group A Streptococcus (GAS).

While GAS accounts for a substantial number of pharyngitis infections, recent studies suggest that non-GAS bacteria including Groups C and G Streptococcus may also lead to pharyngitis and be as prevalent as GAS within certain populations. RADTs often lack sensitivity and do not test for non-GAS bacteria or viruses, leaving labs to perform time-consuming culture to determine causative etiologies for pharyngitis. This webinar will address the complexities of acute pharyngitis diagnosis and summarize emerging clinical data on non-GAS pathogens, current testing methods, and the potential role of point-of-care molecular and multiplex testing for pharyngitis pathogens.


This webinar will:
Discuss the types of pathogens that cause pharyngitis
Review emerging pathogens that may mimic group A Streptococcus pharyngitis
Evaluate the attributes of molecular multiplex platforms for pharyngitis
Identify the benefits of point-of-care, patient-centered testing with regard to diagnosis, treatment, and workflow



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Presenter:
Bobby L. Boyanton Jr, MD
Professor of Pathology
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Pathologist-in-Chief and Section Medical Director,
Molecular Pathology
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Bobby Boyanton Photo
Bobby L. Boyanton Jr., M.D., is a Professor of Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Pathologist-in-Chief and Section Medical Director of Molecular Pathology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He oversees all aspects of the clinical laboratories and the point-of-care testing program for the hospital and affiliated clinics. His passion lies in the molecular-based diagnosis of infectious diseases within both the laboratory and point-of-care settings.
Common Chronic Liver Disease: Causes & Laboratory Testing Solutions
Live Event: Tuesday, October 24, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 24, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
In 2020, chronic liver disease was the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. Chronic liver disease involves the progressive destruction and regeneration of liver tissue that leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis and chronic liver failure are leading causes of morbidity and mortality, with most cases attributed to excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis B or C, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. From the results of multiple studies, these four conditions account for approximately 80% of all chronic liver disease.

This presentation focuses on the epidemiology, clinical aspects, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis of these four common causes of chronic liver disease. It also considers the value of direct assessment for identifying at-risk patients. Finally, it examines the utility of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Score in assessing the likelihood of progression to cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events in patients with advanced fibrosis.


This webinar will:
Describe four main causes of chronic liver disease
Discuss major risk factors for developing chronic liver diseas
e
Explain associated clinical and laboratory findings
Summarize testing options to assist in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disease


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Presenter:
Jim Aguanno, PhD
Senior Clinical and Scientific Consultant
Siemens Healthineers
Jim Aguanno Photo
Dr. James Aguanno received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Memphis State University. Following his Ph.D., he did two post-doctoral fellowships one at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Biochemistry and a second fellowship in Laboratory Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
Automated Susceptibility Testing to Optimize Patient Outcomes
Live Event: Thursday, October 5, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 5, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
The focus on antibiotic stewardship is increasing and will be mandated, with the focus on providing optimal care, and reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure risk for developing MDR infections. The link between the stewardship team and the microbiology laboratory is critical for success. Obtaining timely and accurate organism identification and susceptibility data is essential in conducting daily antibiotic stewardship activities. Identifying key priorities for success has a significant influence over the criteria used when selecting automated systems for the lab. The data generated from these systems reflexes to real-time review and intervention by the Stewardship Team.

Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential in optimizing patient outcomes. This webinar will describe the impact of effective stewardship practices on mortality and how collaboration between the microbiology lab and stewardship team can improve metrics, review the impact of effective stewardship practices in cases of sepsis and septic shock, and demonstrate the need for new therapeutics to accompany accurate diagnostics.


This webinar will:
Describe the impact of effective stewardship practices on mortality and how collaboration between the microbiology lab and stewardship team can improve metrics
Review the impact of effective stewardship practices in cases of sepsis and septic shock
Demonstrate the need for new therapeutics to accompany accurate diagnostics

Presenter:
Jerod Nagel, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist in Infectious Diseases
Residency Program Director: PGY2 Infectious Diseases
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmacy
Jerod Nagel Photo
Dr. Jerod Nagel is the pharmacy team lead for the Infectious Diseases & Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the University of Michigan Health Systems. Currently the program has 3 specific daily patient care responsibilities: drug-based stewardship, outcomes-based stewardship and ID consult. His team is heavily involved in QI initiatives linked to reimbursement and joint commission standards, which require collaborations with a numerous groups across the health care system.
Decalcification for Routine, Advanced, and Molecular Analysis
Live Event: Wednesday, September 27, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until March 27, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

Quality sample preparation is fundamental to the analytical process. Various methods have been employed for decalcification including use of acids, chemical agents, and electric and ultrasonic means. The purpose of decalcification is to remove calcium salts from mineralized tissue, resulting in preservation of organic components so that paraffin sections can be prepared for histological assessment. It is important to choose a proper decalcification method and timing for every specimen being handled. Specimens that are subjected to molecular testing might require special attention and procedures.



This webinar will:
Describe the nature of calcified tissues and the need for decalcification
Identify the different decalcification methods and evaluate their advantages and limitations
Examine the process of choosing an optimal decalcification method
Discuss the effects of decalcification protocols on IHC and molecular assays



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Presenter:
Andrew Lisowski, MS, HTL(ASCP)
Senior Technical Content Global Marketing Manager, Epredia
Andrew Lisowski Photo
Andrew Lisowski has almost 30 years of experience in histology and histotechnology. He attended veterinary school and earned his master’s degree in molecular biology. He worked in histology, IHC and ISH labs, cell culture lab, performed in-vitro and in-vivo toxicology assays and was a member of a necropsy team. Andrew worked for pharmaceutical companies, medical schools and founded his own molecular and histology firms. Currently, he is the Senior Technical Content Manager at Epredia providing global technical content.
Fighting the Rise of STI Rates with Rapid Testing and Early Detection
Live Event: Wednesday, August 23, 2023  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until February 23, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

With the increasing rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) across the country, early diagnosis of an infection is a critical and often challenging aspect in today’s healthcare system. HIV and syphilis are both serious infections that can have devastating consequences on their own, including co-infection, transmission to others, and increased risk of acquiring other STIs1. Identifying patients with these infections accurately and rapidly is integral in preventing transmission and connecting patients to care, but it can be a sensitive process for the patients and daunting for clinical staff.

This program will cover current HIV and syphilis statistics, risk factors, testing guidelines and recommendations, and newly approved technology to aid in the rapid diagnosis of both conditions and subsequent care for all patient populations in need.


Reference:
1https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds



This webinar will:
Review the most current HIV & syphilis US surveillance data
Explain the current testing guidelines for HIV & syphilis
Describe the importance of dual testing for HIV and syphilis & the benefits of rapid testing
Summarize HIV & syphilis testing methods & algorithms



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Presenter:
Matthew M. Hamill, M.B.Ch.B.
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases
Matthew Hamill Photo
Dr. Matthew Hamill is interested in all aspects of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV including prevention, treatment, and retention in care. His research focuses on rapid, Point-of-Care diagnostics for STI in low-income settings. He provides patient-focused treatment for those with, or at risk of, STI and HIV. Dr. Hamill is affiliated with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
How to Start an NGS Lab for Reproductive Health Research
Live Event: Wednesday, August 16, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until February 16, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available


Recording

Slides

The field of reproductive health has grown significantly, and the technology used for genetic testing has matched this growth. In the past 15 years, we’ve seen techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), array-based methods, and a move to the current standard of next-generation sequencing (NGS) take hold as routine methods for preimplantation genetic testing and carrier screening research. While the move to faster and more efficient methods has made these applications more accessible, it has also introduced a new layer of complexity to the lab.

The advantages of gaining more information from a higher resolution platform or the ability to perform multiple applications on a single platform may be worth the hurdle of bringing on a new methodology. While NGS tends to have an easier workflow, there are other considerations for those unfamiliar with molecular testing. This webinar will outline what is required to start a new NGS lab for reproductive health research and address the analytical validation requirements for high-complexity labs.


This webinar will:
Identify the equipment needed for a new molecular lab
Assess space requirements for instrumentation, workbenches, and storage spaces
Evaluate personnel requirements for CLIA and CAP and associated credentials
Review analytical validation steps and consulting services for research workflows

Presenters:
Alain Rico PhotoAlain Rico
Senior Manager Global Market Development, Reproductive Health, Thermo Fisher Scientific, France




Matt Osentoski PhotoMatt Osentoski
Sr Manager, Project Management, Global NGS Analytical Validation Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific, U.S.
The Value of Rapid Antigen Testing
Live Event: Wednesday, July 12, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until January 12, 2024  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

The SARS-CoV-2, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tripledemic of the 2022–2023 U.S. respiratory season posed a challenge for both patients and the healthcare system. In this webinar, the presenter will discuss lessons learned and the value of using rapid antigen testing to detect these viruses.

As we progress toward the next respiratory season, healthcare facilities across the industry need to prepare to address simultaneous SARS-CoV-2, flu, and RSV outbreaks once again. By gaining access to low-cost, easy-to-use rapid antigen tests, clinicians can be better equipped to differentiate these viral infections so providers can offer more accurate diagnoses and treatment.



This webinar will:
Explain the overall value and differences between molecular and antigen testing
Discuss the respiratory disease state and the recent tripledemic in the US
Describe the benefit of combination rapid antigen testing during respiratory seasons


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Presenter:
Dr. Amesh Adalja, MD
Amesh Adalja Photo
Dr. Amesh Adalja works as an adjunct assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an affiliate of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health. Dr. Adalja is board certified in infectious disease, critical care, emergency, and internal medicine and actively practices in the Pittsburgh area. His other areas of focus include emerging infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity.
Ergonomics in the Lab: Increasing Productivity
Live Event: Tuesday, June 20, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until December 20, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

Laboratories provide many opportunities for ergonomic stressors to manifest into injuries or repetitive stress disorders. Major ergonomic issues in the laboratory setting include static and/or awkward postures and repetitive motions. Could you identify these most common hazards in a clinical / diagnostic laboratory work environment? Compare your laboratory to others from Dan the Lab Safety Man based on his 30+ years of experience working in, managing, and leading the lab’s safety programming.

You will want to attend this webinar to learn about ergonomics in labs that our presenter has experienced, addressed and shared with safety and laboratory colleagues during his experiences touring and inspecting clinical laboratories in healthcare. We will identify the top most frequently seen ergonomic hazards in a healthcare laboratory and provide cost-effective solutions to avoid these everyday hazards. Most importantly, the webinar will provide a greater understanding of how participants can keep the people around them safe in their healthcare laboratory.



This webinar will:
Review basic and intermediate laboratory safety regulations and applications
Examine specific lab ergonomic subjects
Identify cost effective solutions to these everyday hazards
Relate laboratory needs to specific lab safety products



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Presenter:
Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ)
Dan Scungio Photo
Daniel J. Scungio has over 30 years of experience as a certified Medical Technologist. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in Virginia and North Carolina. As a laboratory safety consultant and a safety officer, Dan has provided on-site education and safety training for labs of all sizes. He has become an international speaker and consultant who helps organizations create safety savvy laboratories.
Tissue Processing: Frequently Asked Questions
Live Event: Tuesday, May 16, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until November 16, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

Tissue Processing is the most complex and one of the longest steps in the histology workflow. Since the processing step is overly complex, mistakes are quite common, and questions arise about possible remedies and corrective actions. In this webinar, we will answer frequent questions related to tissue processing. Understanding the science of processing, consumable interactions will increase tissue quality, therefore, enabling a faster diagnosis that can be delivered to the patient, promoting better patient care.



This webinar will:
Examine ways to avoid common mistakes
Discuss the ways to take corrective action
Analyze simple chemical interactions
Discuss the reason behind reagent composition






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Presenter:
Andrew Lisowski, MS, HTL(ASCP)
Senior Technical Content Global Marketing Manager
Epredia
Andrew Lisowski Photo
Andrew Lisowski has almost 30 years of experience in histology and histotechnology. He attended veterinary school and earned his master’s degree in molecular biology. He worked in histology, IHC and ISH labs, cell culture lab, performed in-vitro and in-vivo toxicology assays and was a member of a necropsy team. Andrew worked for pharmaceutical companies, medical schools and founded his own molecular and histology firms. Currently, he is the Senior Technical Content Manager at Epredia providing global technical content.
STI Testing – What to Offer & How to Offer It
Live Event: Wednesday, May 10, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until November 10, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available

Recording

Slides

The number of cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI) around the world has been on the rise for years. Given the variability in screening and testing guidelines for treatable STIs, what should your lab be offering to clients? The answer, of course, depends on the patient populations being served.

This webinar will discuss for whom and under what circumstances to test for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium. In addition to decisions about appropriate test menus, we will discuss acceptable sample types — including non-genital specimens — and sample collection methods, including remote sample collection. This discussion will also cover regulatory aspects that impact a lab’s ability to offer different types and levels of testing.


This webinar will:
Explain how to determine whether Mycoplasma genitalium testing is appropriate for a patient according to CDC guidelines
Identify when non-genital STI testing is appropriate
Apply regulatory considerations when determining how to proceed (or why not to proceed) with offering remote sample collection for testing in your laboratory

Presenters:
Barbara Van Der Pol PhotoBarbara Van Der Pol, PhD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
University of Alabama at Birmingham




Oby Okafor PhotoObiageli (Oby) Okafor, MD, DrPH
Sr. Manager, Product Applications
Global Health Equity
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Interdisciplinary Teams Are Key to Successful Antimicrobial Stewardship
Live Event: Wednesday, January 25, 2023  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until July 25, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Slides
New drug development has been in decline and antimicrobial resistance has been steadily on the rise. This dynamic has resulted in the development of multi-drug resistant microorganisms (MDRO) and challenges in managing the resulting complicated infections. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs have key objectives to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, improve patient outcomes, reduce microbial resistance and decrease the spread of infections caused by MDROs.

Multi-drug resistance is particularly challenging for institutions to manage, specifically when transmitted among vulnerable patient populations. Optimal therapeutic options may be few and limited by toxicity that can further compromise patient health. Accurate diagnostic tools that can guide the most appropriate clinical decisions in these life-threatening infections with is critical.

Microbiology laboratories with access to accurate antimicrobial susceptibility platforms that include drugs of last resort as well as novel drugs can lead to more effective and optimal treatment decisions, reducing cost of stay and improving patient outcomes.


This webinar will:
Evaluate testing options for the rapid identification of resistant infections
Demonstrate the need for new therapeutics to accompany accurate diagnostics
Review the impact of COVID on the development Antimicrobial Resistance
Discuss the impact of effective stewardship practices on mortality and how accurate laboratory data can guide appropriate decision making

Presenter:
Nathan Ledeboer, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Vice Chair
Department of Pathology Medical College of Wisconsin
Associate Chief Medical Officer for Laboratory Services
Froedtert Health
Nathan Ledeboer Photo
Dr. Ledeboer is the director of medical and technical activities for the Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories of the Medical College of Wisconsin. In this role, he oversees development and implementation of new assays, sign out of all testing performed in these laboratories, and consults with physician colleagues regarding test results and selection.
Using Clinical Breakpoints to Improve Antimicrobial Resistance Detection
Live Event: Tuesday, December 13, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until June 13, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
 
Recording

Slides

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent global health threat. Antimicrobial resistance is detected by clinical laboratories that perform antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) against bacteria isolated from clinical cultures. AST results are interpreted using clinical breakpoints, which are updated periodically by standards development organizations and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Breakpoint changes can benefit patients and public health only if adopted in a timely manner by diagnostic companies that develop and market AST products and/or clinical laboratories that perform AST.

Currently, the United States (U.S.) regulatory framework does not compel laboratories or diagnostic companies to keep up to date with evolving AST breakpoints. This results in serious patient safety concerns and hampers the ability to track and contain the worldwide threat of antimicrobial resistance.

This presentation will review results from the recent Open Forum Infectious Diseases publication Raising the Bar: Improving Antimicrobial Resistance Detection by Clinical Laboraotires by Ensuring Use of Current Breakpoints. The new College of American Pathologists (CAP) requirements to ensure breakpoint adherence will be discussed and practical examples to address these new requirements will be provided. By updating clinical breakpoints, we can ensure proper patient safety and help detect antimicrobial resistance to contain the threat.


This webinar will:
Define the ongoing pandemic of antimicrobial resistance
Discuss how we can address the ongoing pandemic in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory
Demonstrate the need to apply updated clinical breakpoints to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility testing results
Review practical examples on how to update clinical breakpoints to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility testing results for patient care

Presenter:
Patricia (Trish) J. Simner, PhD, D(ABMM)
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director of Bacteriology and Infectious Disease Sequencing Laboratories
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Trish Simner Photo
Dr. Trish Simner is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Director of the Medical Bacteriology and Infectious Disease Sequencing Laboratories at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She completed her PhD at the University of Manitoba in Manitoba, Canada and a two year Clinical Microbiology Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.
Influenza 2022-2023: Rapid Assessment and Treatment Strategies
Live Event: Thursday, November 17, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until May 17, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
Join this session for the latest insights on global influenza activity and predictions for the upcoming respiratory season in the Northern Hemisphere. Influenza diagnostic guidelines and quality initiatives associated with antimicrobial stewardship and care efficiencies will be presented. Leaders and members of antibiotic stewardship committees and healthcare professionals involved in time sensitive and other acute care areas are encouraged to attend.


This webinar will:
Discuss influenza risks and the importance of an early diagnosis in time-sensitive areas
Review IDSA guidelines for diagnosing influenza
Examine accuracy and technology differences between antigen and molecular tests
Explore the impact of an early and accurate influenza diagnosis on quality of care, infection control, and stewardship for antibiotics and antivirals


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Presenters:
Bruce Lobaugh PhotoBruce Lobaugh, Ph.D., HCLD(ABB)
Director, Central Automated Laboratory
Director, Point-of-Care Testing Program
Administrative Director, Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories
Duke University Health System



Michael Green PhotoMichael Green MD, MS
Associate Medical Director
Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Value of Point of Care Testing in Diabetes Management
Live Event: Tuesday, November 1, 2022  |  12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until May 1, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
The number of adults with diabetes in the world is expected to increase to 700 million by 2045, including as many as 1 in 3 US adults. Diabetes leads to changes and symptoms in multiple organ systems. Monitoring and treating these effectively takes time and attention from the patient and the healthcare team. Yet most often these patients are seen and managed in primary care practices who are often under heavy time and cost containment pressures.

Managing patients diagnosed with diabetes according to the ADA Standards of Care guidelines is critically important, yet overall testing compliance is poor. Only 26.7% of patients diagnosed with diabetes meet targets for glycemic, blood pressure, or cholesterol control.

Several studies suggest that POCT for HbA1c is beneficial in multiple areas. Outcomes included in these studies suggested patients had greater understanding and were more satisfied with the state of their disease and treatment and had better glycemic control. Increased compliance with ADA testing frequency, improved operational efficiencies and better care for under-privileged populations have also been observed in studies investigating POC testing.


This webinar will:
Examine the current situation in terms of diabetes prevalence now and looking towards the future
Analyze current guidelines and goals and the challenges associated with achieving them
Review how point of care testing may improve operational efficiencies and lead to better outcomes


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Presenter:
Vivian A. Fonseca, MD, FRCP
Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
Assistant Dean for Clinical Research
Tullis Tulane Alumni Chair in Diabetes
Chief, Section of Endocrinology
Tulane University Health Sciences Center
Vivian Fonseca Photo
Dr. Vivian Fonseca, is a Professor of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Clinical Research, the Tullis-Tulane Alumni Chair in Diabetes, and chief of the Section of Endocrinology at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Past President for Science and Medicine of the American Diabetes Association (2012), and has served on the ADA Board of Directors and several committees.
Science of Tissue Processing: Tidal vs. Rotational Processing
Live Event: Thursday, October 27, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 27, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
Quality sample preparation is fundamental to the analytical process.

Tissue Processing is the most complex and one of the longest steps in the histology workflow. The quality of the processed specimens will determine the quality of the stained slides. By reducing processing times, while increasing tissue quality, a faster diagnosis can be delivered to the patient, promoting better patient care.

In this webinar, we will review the purpose and function of the steps in tissue processing, discuss tissue processing reagents, tissue processing agitation methods, and undercover a way to improve your laboratories tissue processing methods by using a rotational tissue processor.


This webinar will:
Identify the tissue processing steps
Choose optimal tissue processing reagents
Explain the different tissue processing methods
Compare efficiency of tidal vs rotational agitation tissue processing


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Presenter:
Andrew Lisowski
Senior Technical Content Manager
Epredia
Andrew Lisowski Photo
Andrew Lisowski has almost 30 years of experience in histology and histotechnology. He attended veterinary school and earned his master’s degree in molecular biology. Andrew worked in histology, IHC and ISH labs, cell culture lab, performed in-vitro and in-vivo toxicology assays and was a member of a necropsy team. Currently, Andrew is the Senior Technical Content Manager at Epredia providing global technical content.
Workflow Productivity and Sample Security in the Pathology Laboratory
Live Event: Wednesday, October 26, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 26, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
Pathology laboratories require high quality and reliable sample identification throughout the possession of patient samples. The consequence of poor sample identification or non-standard sample handling can be misidentified samples.

This webinar will discuss common practices such as hand labeling cassettes and slides and potential downsides of using low-quality printing printers for items in the lab.

Users will learn what technical details to consider when evaluating cassette and slide printers in their labs.


This webinar will:
Identify potential disadvantages of hand labeling slides and cassettes
Discuss implications of misidentified samples
Examine slide and cassette printer technical capabilities
Analyze laboratory workflows utilizing cassette and slide printers


Fisher Healthcare and Epredia Logos

Presenters:
Denise Pernal PhotoDenise Pernal, HT (ASCP)
Field Applications Specialist
Epredia





 


Buffy Pancake PhotoElizabeth “Buffy” Pancake, MPM, HT (ASCP)
Field Applications Manager
Epredia
Measuring COVID-19 Immune Response with Ultrasensitive, PCR-based Neutralizing Antibody Assays
Live Event: Wednesday, October 5, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 5, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording
As we look to manage the next phase of the pandemic, it is important to understand the body’s immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Most antibody testing detects all antibodies in a sample, although only neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) inhibit the virus from attaching to cells. Building a complete picture of immune response, including the role of NAbs, is critical as we face the continued emergence of new variants.

However, cell-based assays, the current gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 NAb testing, require additional safety measures for managing live viruses. These involve long, complicated workflows with poor lab-to-lab consistency. While some Elisa-based solutions are available, they lack sensitivity and don’t produce a quantitative measurement.

In this webinar we will learn about a new approach to this problem using a proprietary method that leverages qPCR to produce quantified NAb titers.


This webinar will:
Explain the importance of NAb testing and the need for standard testing methods
Review current COVID-19 antibody testing options
Describe a new technology being used for SARS-CoV-2 NAb testing

Explore NAb data for vaccination and emerging variants

Fisher Healthcare and Spear Bio Logos
Presenter:
Feng Xuan, PhD
CTO and Co-founder
Spear Bio
Feng Xuan Photo
Feng Xuan is the CTO and Co-founder of Spear Bio. Before joining Spear Bio he was the technology Development Fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. There he invented Spear Bio’s core technology. Feng received his BS in Chemistry & M. Phil in Biomedical Engineering from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Testing Algorithms Discussion: Preparing for the 2022-23 Respiratory Season
Live Event: Wednesday, September 28, 2022  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until March 28, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording
In this webinar, you will learn about the different algorithms available for COVID-19 testing. The presenters will share the differing opinions about antigen versus molecular tests and how they may affect patient care and help limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2. They will also discuss identifying COVID-19 versus flu due to symptom similarities and how diagnosis is being managed. Could syndromic panels help distinguish between the diseases?

Institutions must decide which algorithm works best for them and consider other important factors for method selection, including cost, reimbursement potential, and time to result. They must also ask:

Which assays will be most effective?
Will the test be performed in the laboratory or at the bedside?
When should the tests be performed?

The presenters will offer their opinions on algorithms and why certain assays are best suited for patient care and disease mitigation. By the end of the session, you should have a better understanding of the differences between molecular and antigen testing and how use of either method could best serve your needs.


This webinar will:
Examine the different testing algorithms that are available for respiratory infections
Explain the differences between antigen and molecular testing and when each type is indicated
State the benefits and detriments of syndromic testing for respiratory targets

Presenters:
Matthew Binnicker PhotoMatthew Binnicker, PhD
Mayo Clinic

Dr. Matthew J. Binnicker is a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He studies viral infections and new ways to diagnose and manage viral diseases. Specifically, Binnicker works to develop novel molecular methods to detect viruses causing respiratory infections and diseases in the transplant patient population.





Paul Drain PhotoPaul Drain, MD, MPH, FIDSA
University of Washington

Dr. Paul Drain is an associate professor in the Departments of Global Health, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle. A board-certified physician in internal medicine and infectious disease, Drain is an attending physician for the University of Washington Medical Center.
Use of Automated Next-Generation Sequencing for Rapid Profiling of Myeloid Malignancies
Live Event: Wednesday, September 14, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until March 14, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
Modern cancer care relies heavily on biomarker testing for diagnosis of disease, as well as selection of effective therapies. As the number of actionable biomarkers continues to increase, single-gene testing methods have become less practical due to its large specimen requirements, long turnaround times, and lack of comprehensive coverage, giving rise to next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a necessary standard of care in oncology. A sequencing-based approach helps ensure all relevant biomarkers can be captured at once, making the most of limited sample tissue while also decreasing critical time-to-results.

Despite the overwhelming need for NGS, many hospitals are reliant on outsourcing to specialized reference laboratories to perform this service, leading to long turnaround times for results, and potentially initiating suboptimal treatment regimens for cancer patients. Recent advances in automation of NGS, however, have allowed hospitals to bring this valuable technology in-house, facilitating faster results and better coordination of care.

In this webinar the speakers will provide a basic overview of NGS technology and applications, as well as a more detailed experience of one healthcare institution’s implementation of NGS for myeloid malignancies.



This webinar will:
Review the basic concept of next-generation sequencing (NGS)
Identify the primary applications of NGS in precision oncology, including those for myeloid malignancies
Describe how a medical institution implemented NGS testing for myeloid malignancies in their lab using automated instrumentation
Examine how the use of rapid, in-house NGS testing can impact clinical care for patients with myeloid malignancies

Presenters:
Giovanni Insuasti PhotoGiovanni Insuasti, MD
Assistant Professor, Pathology
Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Dr. Insuasti is trained in both hematopathology as well as molecular pathology, with particular interest in myeloid leukemias and B-lymphocytes.




Andrew Hutchison PhotoAndrew Hutchison
Associate Director, Product Management
Thermo Fisher Scientific

Andrew Hutchison is the associate director of product management within the clinical sequencing division of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Andrew has served in various scientific, engineering, and product management roles throughout his career, having a hand in the development of multiple different sequencing technologies.
Molecular Testing for Respiratory Tract Infections: Preparing for an Uncertain Flu Season and the Use of Expanded RTI Panels
Live Event: Friday, August 19, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until February 19, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
Respiratory tract infections are caused by a variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that cause similar symptoms. Moreover, the concurrent presence of viral and bacterial pathogens is a growing concern and effective detection methods are required to detect potential co-infections. The addition of SARS-CoV-2 to the pathogen ecosystem has further complicated this landscape. Accurate detection of these pathogens is critical for appropriate patient management and molecular testing is an extremely sensitive method to achieve this.

In this webinar, the speakers will discuss common questions regarding expectations for the upcoming flu season, testing for the plethora of respiratory pathogens capable of causing severe disease, and antimicrobial stewardship.



This webinar will:
Assess the dynamics of the upcoming cold/flu season and learn about molecular diagnostic solutions for simultaneously detecting and differentiating COVID-19, seasonal flu, and other illnesses
Clarify the clinical guidelines and value of expanded molecular panels for identifying influenza-like illnesses, co-infections, and anti-microbial resistance
Prepare to utilize your existing capabilities to implement molecular testing for respiratory tract infections in your lab


Presenters:
Manoj Gandhi PhotoManoj Gandhi, MD, PhD
Sr Director, Clinical
Thermo Fisher Scientific








Vijay Singh PhotoVijay Singh, MS, PhD
VP, R&D
HealthTrackRx

New Perspectives on the Automated Microbiology Laboratory: Realizing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence
Live Event: Monday, August 15, 2022  |  4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until February 15, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording Slides
With requests for “on demand testing” and pressure from clinicians for rapid turnaround times to the significant and growing shortage of skilled technologists, microbiology laboratories are increasingly being asked to do more with less. As a result, juggling various clinical, operations and financial imperatives is a never-ending task for laboratory managers as well as the bench.

Ways of driving efficiencies without compromising quality results represent a significant mitigating factor in this delicate balancing act. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to identify and prioritize clinically-relevant samples is one such tool that holds the key to streamlining workflows and allowing technologists to concentrate their skill on what matters most.

This webinar will review the potential that AI and ML offers the microbiology laboratory, outline currently available solutions that leverage these advances, and present an overview of the clinical experience and utility of an in vitro diagnostic device incorporating machine learning algorithms with digital image capture.


This webinar will:
Explain the difference and relationship between artificial intelligence and machine learning
Identify barriers to adoption of this technology in the microbiology laboratory
Review the more recent applications of AI and ML in the microbiology laboratory
Describe the implications of removing negative cultures from a workflow

Presenters:

Steven Giglio PhotoSteven Giglio PhD
Scientific Director, LBT Innovations






Rhys Hill PhotoRhys Hill
Director of Research, LBT Innovations





Chris Ramsey Photo
Chris Ramsey, PhD Business Development Director, Clever Culture Systems
The Impact of Upper Respiratory Infection Testing at the POC: Speed, Outcomes, and Costs
Live Event: Wednesday, August 10, 2022  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until February 10, 2023  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording
The COVID-19 pandemic has made an impact on infectious disease testing and the need to expand testing across the continuum of care. This webinar will review the benefits of lab centralization and decentralization, the impact of PCR testing in population health management, as well as the future of state of upper respiratory testing in an endemic era.

This webinar will discuss the power of point of care testing for identification and differentiation of upper respiratory infections and what role these tests can play in the future. Focusing on how to choose the right test for the right patient, we will discuss the types of point of care tests (Rapid Antigen Tests, Lab-based PCR, and Rapid PCR). The impact of accuracy on patient outcomes, workplace safety and medical costs.

The benefits of decentralization for timely, actionable results that can guide treatment decisions during the patient’s first visit. In addition, Dr. Gupta will discuss how implementing a rapid PCR test impacts managing community and population health across a healthcare system. As well as, possible, hurdles and economic factors that come into play when deciding to implement new testing options.



This webinar will:
Assess the benefits of decentralization testing in healthcare systems
Describe the future state of upper respiratory testing in post pandemic and endemic era
Identify the value of PCR in patient diagnosis at point of care
Explain how to implement Rapid PCR Testing in your health system
Presenter:
Dr. Vin Gupta
Assistant Affiliate Professor
Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician
Vin Gupta Photo
As a Harvard-trained lung specialist, Vin has spent the past 15 years working worldwide to improve public health for organizations including the US Centers for Disease Control, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the Harvard Global Health Institute, the World Health Organization, and the Pentagon’s Center for Global Health Engagement. Given his diversity of experiences, he is now a trusted advisor and contributor to national and international media outlets on several of the most important health issues today, including serving as a regular health policy analyst for NBC News and contributor to the New York Times and CNN New Day.
The Importance of Distinguishing between Aerobic Vaginitis and Bacterial Vaginosis
Live Event: Thursday, June 9, 2022  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until December 9, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Vaginal microbiota plays a central role in women’s health and reproduction. Vaginal microbiota is dynamic, and its bacterial and fungal community members play a role in its protection. However, these organisms can also cause vaginal infection if disrupted.

When the vaginal microbiome is disrupted, it creates an opportunity for protective microbes to decrease and pathogenic microbes to thrive. Hence, a dysbiotic state, and infections arise. Within infections, there are those caused by yeasts, which are anerobic and aerobic organisms. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which affects 15% of women at reproductive age, is characterized by anerobic organism dysbiosis.

However, another more recently recognized clinical entity, aerobic vaginitis (AV), arises with aerobic organism dysbiosis. It is important to differentiate BV from AV, although sometimes it is not easy with traditional methods. Unfortunately, AV is sometimes confused with BV. A diagnostic method based on different bacterial combinations may allow distinction of BV versus AV, which has clinical significance with respect to treatment and care. This webinar will present a solution that could be employed to mitigate misdiagnosis of AV for BV.


This webinar will:
Discuss the dynamics involved in the Vaginal Microbiome
Identify the infectious states associated with vaginal dysbiosis
Describe the limitations with traditional methods for diagnosing infections
Propose a molecular testing solution for identifying and differentiating between pathogenic states of the vaginal microbiota
Presenter:
Sandeep Mukherjee, MD
Scientific Director, Women’s Health and Infectious Disease, PathGroup
Nashville, Tennessee
Sandeep Mukherjee Photo
Dr. Mukherjee received his PhD in molecular biology from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, India and performed his fellowship training at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has been the Scientific Director of Women’s Health and Infectious Disease at PathGroup in Nashville, Tennessee since 2014 and has more than 14 years of experience in molecular diagnostics encompassing women’s health, infectious diseases, and oncology.
Top Ten Healthcare Laboratory Safety Hazards
Live Event: Wednesday, June 1, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until December 1, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Could you identify the top ten most common hazards in a clinical / diagnostic laboratory work environment? Compare your list to those from Dan the Lab Safety Man based on his 30+ years of experience working in, managing, and leading the Lab’s Safety Programming. You will want to attend this Webinar to learn about “near misses” in Labs that our presenter has experienced, addressed and shares with the Safety and Laboratory colleagues during his experiences touring and inspecting Clinical Laboratories in Healthcare.

With Dan “The Laboratory Safety Man” Scungio’s help we will identify the top 10 most frequently seen safety hazards in a healthcare laboratory and provide cost-effective solutions to avoid these everyday hazards. Most importantly, our attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of how they can keep the people around them safe in their healthcare laboratory.


This webinar will:
Outline clear understanding of basic/intermediate laboratory safety regulations and applications
Explain In-depth understanding of specific lab safety subjects
Identify cost effective solutions to these everyday hazards
Adapt a strong ability to relate laboratory needs to specific lab safety products, PPE, engineering controls, etc
Utilize awareness of safety in the healthcare laboratories to drive for better safety solutions

Presenter:
Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ)
Dan The Lab Safety Man
Dan Scungio Photo
Daniel J. Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 30 years of experience as a certified Medical Technologist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in Virginia and North Carolina.
Simplifying Group A Streptococci Detection with Chromogenic Media
Live Event: Tuesday, April 19, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until October 19, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) can cause many different infections. These infections range from minor illnesses to very serious and deadly diseases. Each year the testing for Group A Streptococci (GAS) is growing. Laboratories face continual pressure to turn around GAS culture results faster while providing accurate results clinicians can utilize to make informed treatment decisions.

In this webinar, participants will learn how to distinguish growth and isolation characteristics of GAS using different types of prepared culture media plates. Furthermore, they will gain insight into the benefit of using a chromogenic media in the GAS workflow.

Finally, this webinar will present how different types of media perform within an automation workflow, highlighting technology that can improve efficiency and productivity in the processing of clinical samples.


This webinar will:
Discuss the clinical significance of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections
Describe the diagnostic methods currently available for GAS
Identify the benefits of chromogenic media for pathogen screening and diagnostics
Review the role laboratory automation can have in improving workflow productivity
Presenters:
Nathan Ledeboer PhotoNathan Ledeboer, PhD
Medical Director of Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories and Froedtert Health




Matthew Faron PhotoMatthew Faron, PhD
Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
Whole Genome Sequencing - Targeted Detection of Resistance Genes
The Complete Spectrum of Clinically Useful to Clinically Absurd
Live Event: Wednesday, March 9, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until September 9, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant clinical and public health burden, with a recent comprehensive assessment estimating global death rates to be higher than HIV/AIDs or malaria.

Approaches to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance include, among other initiatives, a thorough understanding of resistance mechanisms and the prudent use of antimicrobials.

Whole genome sequencing provides valuable insight into the genetic cause of resistance and has emerged as a tool to study the emergence and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, as well as develop novel antimicrobials.

While whole genome sequencing has the potential to be used as a clinical tool to detect the presence of resistance and help guide therapeutic decisions, antimicrobial susceptibly provides vital information for optimal clinical management.


This webinar will:
Discuss the front-line challenges of multi-drug resistance bacterial infections from a clinical and laboratory perspective
Describe the major recent advances with regard to the detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Identify the benefits and limitations of the targeted detection of resistance genes
Explain the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the clinical management of bacterial resistance
Presenters:
James McKinnell PhotoJames A. McKinnell, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Division of Infectious Disease, LA-Biomed at Harbor UCLA Medical Center



Omai Garner PhotoOmai Garner PhD, D(ABMM)
Associate Clinical Professor, Section Chief, Clinical Microbiology
Director, Point of Care Testing
UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
NSF456-Vaccine Storage: A New Standard Detailing Requirements for Vaccine Cold Storage
Live Event: Wednesday, January 19, 2022  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until July 19, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
The World Health Organization estimates that as much as 50% of vaccines are wasted yearly partly due to incorrect storage temperatures. The newly launched NSF 456 - Vaccine Storage guideline aims to help vaccine administrators chose a storage unit that has been certified to stay within proper temperature to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. This session will introduce the new NSF guidelines and how to evaluate vaccine cold storage products.



This webinar will:
Discuss the impacts on the Vaccine Cold Chain in the last 2 years and its importance
Examine the Gaps in the historical Vaccine Storage Recommendations and how they could lead to wastage or inefficacy
Analyze of the NSF standards and how they will improve the vaccine cold chain
Identify other actions in the clinic can help protect vaccines

Presenter:
Chase Heibel
Sr. Global Product Manager, Laboratory Refrigeration and Sample Transport, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Chase Heibel Photo
Chase Heibel is the Sr. Global Product Manager covering laboratory and healthcare refrigeration and transport products. He has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific for nine years where he has held multiple roles supporting the cold storage business.
Laboratory Automation in Microbiology: Accelerating the Impact through AI and Digital Imaging
Live Event: Thursday, December 16, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until June 16, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Clinical Microbiology relies on technically skilled laboratorians to process, and interpret cultures from clinical specimens. Laboratory automation provides improved accuracy, decreased turnaround times, improved efficiency and reduced reliance on acquiring, training,and maintaining a qualified workforce. However, the impact of automation remains unfulfilled, in part, because robotics fails to incorporate interpretive processes needed to fully prioritize microbiology work vital to maximizing efficiencies and accelerating reporting. Experience from the use of an in-vitro diagnostic device incorporating machine learning algorithms with digital image capture will be presented.


This webinar will describe the current challenges and drivers within the microbiology laboratory environment, analyze the bottleneck in various workflows that heavily rely on skilled labor and examine the downstream implications of reviewing negative cultures from a workflow.




This webinar will:
Describe the current challenges and drivers within the microbiology laboratory environment
Analyze the bottleneck in various workflows that heavily rely on skilled labor
Examine the downstream implications of reviewing negative cultures from a workflow

Presenters:
Glen Hansen PhotoGlen Hansen, PhD, FCCM, D(ABMM)
Medical Director Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Hennepin County Medical Center

Dr. Glen Hansen is the medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and the Core Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories at Hennepin County Medical Center and an Associate Professor in the departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the University of Minnesota.

Jacqueline Getty PhotoJacqueline Getty, MLS (ASCP)
Microbiology
Hennepin County Medical Center


Jaqueline Getty is a medical technologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in the department of microbiology. Jaqueline received her MLS degree from the University of Minnesota. In addition to her clinical work in microbiology Jacqueline is involved in Hennepin County’s rapid testing protocols for COVID-19 at the hospital level.
Combining COVID-19 and Flu Testing to Help Prevent a “Twindemic”
Live Event: Wednesday, December 15, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until June 15, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
In the age of the pandemic, using one test or the other to “rule out” one infection is an incomplete and potentially dangerous diagnostic strategy. Combined rapid antigen testing is the best choice to combat a ‘twindemic’ as it is effective in diagnosing both COVID-19 and the flu quickly and accurately. Easy-to-use rapid antigen combination tests that are currently available to clinicians will help facilitate the best diagnostics possible, leading to faster and more appropriate treatment.

This webinar will describe the continued role antigen testing will play in managing and ending the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the clinical overlap between COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory viruses, and demonstrate how combined SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B testing worksand its implementation into a facility.



This webinar will:
Describe the continued role antigen testing will play in managing and ending the COVID-19 pandemic
Examine the clinical overlap between COVID-19, the flu, and other respiratory viruses, and how early intervention can reduce the spread and severity of illness
Demonstrate how combined SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B testing works, and how to implement it into a facility
Evaluate current patient intake protocols to determine if they are providing the best treatment possible with an emerging Flu season



Fisher and BD Logos
Presenters:
Joseph Mann PhotoJoseph Mann, MSN, FNP-C, Global Medical Science Liaison
Integrated Diagnostic Solutions, BD

Joseph Mann is a medical science liaison working in scientific affairs for Integrated Diagnostic Solutions at BD Life Sciences. He is a board certified family nurse practitioner licensed in the state of Maryland.
Megan Wimmer PhotoMegan Wimmer, Associate Director
Health Economics and Outcomes Research, BD


Megan Wimmer is an Associate Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, with over ten years as part of the BD team advancing the world of health. Prior to BD, she worked in academia and has specialized experience in data analysis, computational modeling, epidemiology and infectious disease.
Patient Sample Management and Chain of Custody: Modern Practices for Modern Demands
Live Event: Tuesday, December 7, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until June 7, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Pathology and histology laboratory managers are the custodians of vital patient assets in the form of FFPE tissue blocks and slides generated from tissue biopsies. In this role, laboratory managers must balance the demands of federal, state, and local regulations to maintain secure control over these vital assets with the need to have these assets accessible for check-out requests.

With cancer cases in particular, biopsied tissue samples are not only essential in the initial diagnosis, but continue to serve a vital purpose for those patients seeking to enroll in clinical trials. Enrolling in these trials can be extremely competitive and opportunistic, and often requires patients to submit their preserved tissue samples as part of the qualifying process for acceptance into a trial. If the sample takes too long to be located, or worse yet go missing, the patient may miss their chance for enrollment with potentially disatrous consequences both for that patient’s future and the reputation of the hospital in charge of maintaining secure custody of that sample.

In this webinar, we will explore the increasing challenges in maintaining secure chains of custody and proper asset management practices for patient tissue samples, three different asset management models currently in practice, and a case study of Massachusetts General Hospital’s experience implementing an automated tissue management system.


This webinar will:
Identify the factors that increase the demand on and complexity of tissue asset management practices
Discuss the pros and cons of leading asset management system methodologies
Examine via a case study how a digital tissue archiving solution can lead to increased security and fewer lost or misplaced samples

Presenter:
Joan Vesey, HTASCP
Owner Red Fox Histology Solutions, LLC
Joan Vesey Photo
Joan is an accomplished histologist with over 30 years of experience in histology in both the clinical and laboratory setting encompassing applications, R&D and even owning her own histology consulting company. Joan helped develop some of the H&E staining consumables we’ve come to recognize in the industry, and her expertise aligns with Epredia’s mission and vision to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics.
Using Procalcitonin to Safely Reduce Antibiotic Use and Improve Outcomes
Live Event: Friday, November 12, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until May 12, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Overuse of antimicrobials is estimated at a rate of 50% in the acute care setting. It is a practice that has been well documented for more than thirty years. While most everyone acknowledges this overuse, the rate has not improved since we began measuring the use of antibiotics. Overuse can lead to poor patent outcomes, antibiotic resistance, Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI), longer lengths of stay, more adverse drug events, increased mortality, readmission, and increased costs to the patient and hospital.

This is understandable as clinicians tend to “err in favor of caution”. Clinical symptoms of many diagnoses are similar and it is often difficult to determine the need for antibiotics based on clinical presentation, radiology images, and markers other than procalcitonin (PCT). It is easy to fall prey to prescribing antibiotics “just to be sure” with the assumption that more is better.

More appropriate prescribing and earlier cessation of antibiotics enabled by the use of a high sensitive and specific marker like procalcitonin has been shown in thousands of publications to safely reduce antimicrobial use while concurrently improving clinical outcomes and economic burden. This webinar will differentiate the pathophysiology and kinetics of procalcitonin in comparison to current biomarkers and establish the role of procalcitonin in antibiotic stewardship.



This webinar will:
Differentiate the pathophysiology and kinetics of procalcitonin in comparison to current biomarkers
Establish the role of procalcitonin in antibiotic stewardship
Evaluate the expected clinical and financial outcomes of PCT-guided therapy


Presenter:
Dr. Mike Broyles, PharmD
Mike Broyles Photo
Dr. Broyles has more than 30 years of experience as a Hospital Pharmacy and Laboratory Director and 28 years consulting for a large IHN as their Pharmacy Advisory Chairman. Additionally, he has consulted for more than 25 of the 40 largest integrated health care networks in the U.S. on antimicrobial stewardship and procalcitonin use. He serves in antimicrobial stewardship roles for the State of Arkansas, Faculty for Medscape Infectious Diseases and Medscape Faculty for Biomarkers.
Clinical Challenges of SARS-CoV2 and Antimicrobial Resistance
Live Event: Tuesday, October 26, 2021  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 16, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
COVID-19 has reshaped many aspects of healthcare. Not to be overlooked is the impact of the pandemic on another major public health threat – resistant bacterial pathogens. With the documented use of unnecessary antibiotics early in the course of the spread of the virus, the abandonment of routine stewardship initiatives in the face of overwhelmed healthcare systems, and the deprioritization of resistance surveillance, the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance remains significant, and may have accelerated.

Multi-drug resistance is challenging for institutions to manage, particularly if pathogens are transmitted among vulnerable patient populations. There may be few therapeutic options available, and they may be further limited by the compromised state of patients. Access to accurate diagnostic tools that can guide the most appropriate clinical decisions regarding these life-threatening infections is critical.

Access to accurate antimicrobial susceptibility platforms in microbiology laboratories — that include drugs of last resort as well as novel drugs — can lead to more effective and optimal treatment decisions regarding resistant bacteria, ultimately improving patient outcomes.



This webinar will:
Discuss the front-line challenges of COVID-19 from a clinical and laboratory perspective
Describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Antimicrobial Stewardship Principles
Examine the potential longer-term consequences of a viral pandemic on emerging bacterial resistance

Presenter:
James A. McKinnell, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Division of Infectious Disease, LA-Biomed at Harbor UCLA Medical Center
James McKinnell Photo
James A. McKinnell, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Infectious Disease Clinical Outcome Research Unit (ID-CORE) and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA. He is a nationally-recognized infectious disease specialist with specific research interests related to the clinical management and prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
The Future of Next Generation Sequencing in SARS Surveillance and Precision Oncology
Live Event: Thursday, October 7, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until April 7, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording

Dr. Leal's Slides
Dr. Mackinnon's Slides
The lack of access to SAR-CoV-2 vaccines in much of the world, waning immunity in vaccinated individuals, vaccine hesitancy, and failure to follow social distancing and masking recommendations places significant selective pressure for the continued emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Coordinated public health efforts to rapidly sequence SARS-CoV-2 from samples is essential to detect and mitigate their impact and spread. Utilizing the next gen sequencing, Dr. Leal will describe how his laboratory was able to rapidly establish viral genome sequencing and was the first to detect all major variants of concern in the State of Alabama. The high accuracy, speed, and throughput enables his lab to provide timely data to guide infection prevention and public health interventions in his hospital system, region, and State.

Historically, turnaround time for next gen sequencing has been lengthy. New developments within next-gen sequencing technology have enabled the turnaround time to be shortened significantly. In addition, the workflows are much simpler, and labs can be more efficient with personnel time and lab utilization. Dr. Mackinnon will discuss how these new advancements are enabling labs who are performing oncology testing using next gen sequencing. Modern sequencing technology has improved the operational capacity and efficiency of the lab, due to the low hands on requirements, rapid turnaround times, and simplified informatics.




This webinar will:
Describe the current situation around SARS CoV-2 mutation emergence and why it is important to monitor emerging variants
Discuss how the University of Alabama implemented a next generation sequencing workflow to sequence samples to monitor the spread of variants across the state of Alabama
Evaluate how NGS can be used to successfully perform variant analysis
Discuss how the rapid turnaround time of NGS is making an impact compared to previous more lengthy turnaround times

Presenters:
Sixto Leal PhotoSixto M. Leal Jr., MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director, Clinical Microbiology, Fungal Reference Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Division of Laboratory Medicine
UAB Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Sixto Leal received his MD/PhD training in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Case Western Reserve University, pathology residency training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and Microbiology fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic.

Alexander Mackinnon PhotoAlexander Craig Mackinnon, MD, PhD
Director, Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon Jr. is the inaugural director of the Division of Genomics Diagnostics and Bioinformatics in the Department of Pathology School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Mackinnon is leading ongoing efforts to establish the Precision Diagnostic Laboratory at UAB.
Demystifying the Development and Implementation of Molecular Tests
in a Clinical Laboratory
Live Event: Wednesday, September 22, 2021  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until March 22, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingSlides
Laboratory developed tests (LDTs) have historically been misunderstood by some due to the perceived complexity of the design and implementation process. In this webinar, we aim to educate attendees about the overall process and benefits of LDTs to encourage labs to consider adding molecular workflows for new applications, now that they are familiar with qPCR through the pandemic.

We will explain the benefits and help to demystify the process of implementing LDTs, define what a LDT is, discuss the various ways that LDTs can be developed, and explain how LDTs differ from IVD/CE-IVD tests. We’ll also discuss why a lab would want to develop it’s own LDT. For example, a lab may develop a LDT when there is no test currently available, such as for rare or new pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. LDTs can also reduce the overall cost of performing a test in house. We will also describe how LDTs are regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), and what the role of government agencies is in regulating these tests.



This webinar will:
Describe different types of laboratory developed tests
Identify differences between laboratory developed tests and IVD-R tests
List the benefits of running a laboratory developed test

Explain how laboratory developed tests are designed and regulated in the US
Presenter:
Mara G. Aspinall
Managing Director, Health Catalysts Group
Professor of Practice, Biomedical Diagnostics
Arizona State University
Mara Aspinall Photo
Mara Aspinall is a healthcare industry leader and pioneer committed to active civic involvement. She is Managing Director and Co-Founder of BlueStone Venture Partners. Mara also heads the Health Catalysts Group, a consulting firm for HIT and Diagnostics, publishing the popular Health Catalysts Diagnostics Year in Review.
The Importance of Pediatric Lipid Testing in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Live Event: Thursday, September 2, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until March 2, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder leading to elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth1. Globally out of 220 children, approximately one child has FH, and therefore an increased risk to suffer from early cardiovascular disease, or even early death1. One in ten premature myocardial infarctions (MI) is caused by FH2. Yet 90% of the 1.3 million Americans with FH are unaware of their condition, leading to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1,2

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines FH as a Tier
1 genomic application, i.e., having significant potential for positive impact on public health based on available evidenced-based guidelines and recommendations3. Yet implementation of evidenced based practices (EBP) for FH screening is suboptimal for many reasons, ranging from lack of FH awareness among both healthcare providers and the public, to the absence of a structured approach to screening, diagnosis and treatment4-6.

Few health systems have adopted the 2011 recommendations of the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to conduct universal screening of all children between the ages of 9-117. Pediatricians often note that they do not routinely send children for laboratory tests and also state that they feel inadequately prepared to treat elevated LDL-C levels in children6,8. In addition to FH education, pediatricians will benefit from point of care (POC) desktop analyzers for use in their offices.


This webinar will:
Describe the specific genetics of FH and the benefits of early treatment of hypercholesterolemia associated with this genetic disorder1,9
Examine the role of cascade screening in the diagnosis of FH1,3,4
Identify the barriers to implementing universal pediatric lipid screening4-6,8
Analyze the value of point of care (POC) lipid testing in pediatric offices – allowing parents and children to avoid a trip to a laboratory

References:
1McGowan MP, Hosseini Dehkordi SH, Moriarty PM, Duell PB. Diagnosis and Treatment of Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia. J Am Heart Assoc 2019;8:e013225.
2Singh A, Gupta A, Collins BL, et al. Familial hypercholesterolemia among young adults with myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(19):2439-2450.
3CDC. Genomics & Precision Health. Tier 1 Genomic Application Toolkit for Public Health Departments: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/implementation/toolkit/index.htm accessed January 31, 2021.
4Knowles JW, Rader DJ, Khoury MJ. Cascade Screening for Familial Hypercholesterolemia and the Use of Genetic Testing. JAMA 2017;318:381-382
5Lee C, Rivera-Valerio M, Bangash H, Prokop L, Kullo I. New case detection by cascade testing in familial hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review of the literature. Circ Genom Precis Med. 2019;12:e002723.
6Ferranti SD de et al. Cholesterol Screening and Treatment Practices and Preferences: A Survey of United States Pediatricians. J Pediatr 2017;185:99-105
7Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Expert panel on integrated guidelines for cardiovascular health and risk reduction in children and adolescents: summary report. Pediatrics.2011;128(suppl 5):S213-S256
8Dixon DB, Kornblum AP, Ste_en LM, Zhou X, Steinberger J. Implementation of lipid screening guidelines in children by primary pediatric providers. J Pediatr 2014;164:572-.
9Luirink IK, Wiegman A, Kusters DM et al. 20-year follow-up of statins in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:1547-56.

Presenter:
Mary McGowan, MD
Co-Director
Lipid Clinic at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Heart and Vascular Center
Chief Medical Officer
The FH Foundation
Mary McGowan Photo
Dr. Mary McGowan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the Co-Director of the Lipid Clinic at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Heart and Vascular Center. She is the Chief Medical Officer of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation. She is the author of numerous articles and 5 books. She has been the principal investigator on over 30 national and international clinical trials and has lectured widely in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia on cholesterol metabolism.
The Essential Role of Clinical Microbiology in Antimicrobial Stewardship
Live Event: Thursday, July 15, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until January 15, 2022  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingView Slides
The incidence of secondary bacterial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic has not mirrored that of past viral pandemics. This likely led to unnecessary antimicrobial usage, particularly at the onset of the pandemic. These treatment decisions are not aligned with the antibiotic stewardship goals, and are associated with the risk of promoting bacterial resistance and the development of multi-drug resistance microorganisms (MDRO).

The clinical microbiology lab can effectively support antibiotic stewardship principles and programs with the appropriate use of diagnostic testing and timely, clinically-relevant reporting of susceptibility results to positively impact patient outcomes, resistance rates and hospital costs.

In this webinar, we will review the impact of COVID-19 on the microbiology laboratory, antimicrobial resistance, and the effective management of critically ill patients. It will also review antimicrobial testing challenges in critically ill patients, examine the impact clinical microbiology laboratory data can have on accurate treatment decisions and better management of critically ill patients, and outline the role the microbiology lab plays to support antimicrobial stewardship during a pandemic.



This webinar will:
Examine the impact clinical microbiology laboratory data can have on accurate treatment decisions and better management of critically ill patients
Describe the impact that COVID-19 has had on antimicrobial resistance
Review antimicrobial testing challenges in critically ill patients

Outline the role the microbiology lab plays to support antimicrobial stewardship during a pandemic


Presenter:
Romney M. Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), M(ASCP)
Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Medical Director of the Microbiology Laboratory
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Romney Humphries Photo
Dr. Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), is a nationally recognized expert in antimicrobial susceptibility testing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With expertise that includes improving the speed and accuracy of identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria infecting patients to investigating novel resistance mechanisms and the evaluation of therapeutics designed to treat these critical infections, she currently serves as Medical Director of the Microbiology Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The Importance of Molecular Testing to Detect New SARS-CoV-2 Mutations
Live Event: Wednesday, June 16, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until December 16, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
Recording
Dr. Wolk's Slides
Dr. Feenstra's Slides
The emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants can have profound effects on efforts to fight the ongoing pandemic. Besides potentially being more transmissible or more lethal, emerging variants can affect diagnostic assays, lead to therapy resistance or reduced effectiveness of vaccines for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this webinar we will present an overview of approaches for genetic and genomic surveillance a laboratory can apply depending on the technology and resources available, in order to detect and discover new mutations in SARS-CoV-2.

The webinar will provide details on the major molecular diagnostic methods and common molecular viral targets used for testing patients samples for SARS-CoV-2. We will also discuss the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, the mutations that characterize them and their functional effects on the biology of the virus. Different options for the detection, discrimination and discovery of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using genetic approaches will also be discussed. The webinar will provide an overview of different strategies such that laboratory professionals can efficiently utilize precious laboratory resources, while at the same time being able to successfully scale up surveillance testing as the world moves from a pandemic to an endemic environment.



This webinar will:
Describe the major Emergency Use Authorization method categories used in U.S. clinical laboratories to detect SARS-COV-2 in patient samples
Contrast SARS-COV-2 patient testing to testing for the purpose of surveillance and epidemiology
Explore the currently circulating SARS-CoV2 variants, the mutations that characterize them and their functional effects on the biology of the virus
Examine different options for the detection, discrimination and discovery of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants using genetic approaches



Presenters:
Donna Wolk PhotoDonna M. Wolk, MHA, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Geisinger Diagnostic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Dr. Wolk serves as the Division Director for “Molecular and Microbial Diagnostics and Development” in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Geisinger, an integrated healthcare delivery network serving ~ 3 million people in Central PA, pioneering the adoption of population health, precision medicine, and value-based care.
Jelena Feenstra PhotoJelena Feenstra, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Global Scientific Communications, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Dr. Feenstra has extensive diagnostic and research experience in genetics, cytogenetics and genomics. She has a PhD in experimental Oncology from the Medical University of Vienna, and has previously worked as a Senior Scientist at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute in Vienna.
Six Steps to an Effective Lockout Program within Healthcare Labs and Facilities
Live Event: Tuesday, May 25, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® credit available until November 25, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Whether you are in a healthcare laboratory or facility, OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy regulation requires that energy sources must be contained during servicing and maintenance to ensure worker safety. Safety programs and procedures are many times not on top of mind in the healthcare labs, even though they are held to the same OSHA standards as the the maintenance areas. Energy sources that are found both inside and outside of the healthcare labs can include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other sources in machines and equipment. When such hazardous energy sources are not properly controlled, workers servicing or maintaining the machines or equipment may end up seriously injured or even killed.

The regulatory standard (29 CFR 1910.147) also requires that: “The employer shall establish a(n) (energy control) program consisting of energy control procedures, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performs any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative."

Year after year, lockout tagout compliance continues to appear on OSHA’s Top 10 Cited Standards list. The majority of those citations are due to a lack of proper lockout procedures, program documentation, periodic inspections or other procedural elements. This webinar will examine OSHA’s requirements for your lockout program and why it’s important for healthcare labs and facilities, identify the 6 Steps to an Effective Lockout Program for Healthcare Labs and Facilities, discuss the common failures or complacency that may exist in a program’s present state, and more.


This webinar will:
• Examine OSHA requirements for your lockout program and why it’s important for healthcare labs and facilities
Identify the 6 Steps to an Effective Lockout Program for Healthcare Labs and Facilities
Discuss the common failures or complacency that may exist in a program’s present state

Review best practices for starting/refreshing a Lockout Tagout program through standardization
Presenters:
Carlos Soria
Product Manager, Brady’s Lockout Tagout Devices & Padlocks
Carlos Soria Photo
Ben Caccese
Product Manager, Brady’s Lockout Tagout Devices & Padlocks
Ben Caccese
Community Acquired Pneumonia:
Diagnosis and Treatment During the COVID-19 Era
Live Event: Tuesday, January 26, 2021  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
P.A.C.E.® & AARC credit available until July 26, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory Credit available
RecordingView Slides
This PACE and AARC accredited webinar focuses on community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and two important pathogens that cause pneumonia. S. pneumonia is the leading cause of CAP. Legionella causes Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia that has increased 9-fold since year 2000 in the United States. In light of COVID-19 related temporary shutdowns of businesses and buildings, the risk of for growth and spread of Legionella is of heightened concern.

In the laboratory, urinary antigen testing (UAT) provides an alternate diagnostic path to identify pneumonia etiologies without disrupting respiratory testing workflow during respiratory season. The practical utility of pneumonia diagnosis, the use of UAT and their impact will be discussed.

Join this expert discussion to explore the challenges of managing pneumonia during the COVID-19 era, and the value of UAT from an evidence-based and Infectious Diseases Society of America / American Thoracic Society (IDSA/ATS) guidelines-supported expert assessment for clinical and laboratory professionals.



This webinar will:
Describe the relationship of COVID-19 and pneumonia and the associated public health risks
Examine experiences and best practices for evaluating and managing COVID-19 patients with pneumonia
Explain the guidance and practical clinical value of UAT, including mortality reduction and antibiotic stewardship
Discuss UAT performance characteristics and potential value related to laboratory workflow in times of strained respiratory testing resources
Presenter:
Antonio Anzueto, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine University of Texas San Antonio and
Chief, Pulmonary Section, South Texas Veterans Health Care System
Antonio Anzueto Photo
Dr. Anzueto is Chief in the pulmonary section of The South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital Division in San Antonio, Texas, where he also serves as Medical Director of the Respiratory Therapy Department and Medical Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory. He is also a professor in the department of medicine at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio.
The Essential Role of Clinical Microbiology in
Antimicrobial Stewardship

Live Event: Thursday, December 10, 2020  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until June 10, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
The principle problem that exists is not about what Antimicrobial Stewardship is, but more about what data the microbiology lab to is able to deliver that will support and enhance the overarching goals of the program for the institution. A lack of alignment can prevent investment in new methods, access to new therapeutics and effective management of the most critically ill patients. The platforms that can be used in the microbiology laboratory and collaboration between stewardship programs and the microbiology lab can ensure susceptibility testing data is leveraged to optimize treatment decisions, reduce length of stay and adverse effects. This will also improve patient safety and outcomes particularly in critically ill patients.

This webinar will discuss the role the microbiology lab should play to help ensure that antimicrobial stewardship programs are successful, identify core elements of microbiology laboratory testing and reporting that promote stewardship, and illustrate how microbiology lab data can positively influence clinical decisions.




This webinar will:
Discuss the role the microbiology lab should play to help ensure that antimicrobial stewardship programs are successful
Identify core elements of microbiology laboratory testing and reporting that promote stewardship
Illustrate how microbiology lab data can positively influence clinical decisions
Describe the antimicrobial therapy challenges for core stewardship stakeholder that critically-ill patients pose


Presenter:
Romney M. Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), M(ASCP)
Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Medical Director of the Microbiology Laboratory
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Romney Humphries Photo
Dr. Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), is a nationally recognized expert in antimicrobial susceptibility testing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With expertise that includes improving the speed and accuracy of identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria infecting patients to investigating novel resistance mechanisms and the evaluation of therapeutics designed to treat these critical infections, she currently serves as Medical Director of the Microbiology Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Using Biomarkers to Inform COVID-19 Treatment
Live Event: Tuesday, December 8, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until June 8, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in COVID-19. This infection has systemic manifestations, including acute lung injury, cardiac damage, and in rare cases a Kawasaki disease-like illness. With rising cases of COVID-19 nationally, clinicians benefit from tools to assist decisions regarding triage, advanced imaging, and treatment decision making.

Biomarker testing has emerged as a potentially useful tool to facilitate clinical decision making. Biomarker testing may inform risks in patients with COVID-19, prognosticating poor outcome and as such be helpful to decide on where patients are admitted (e.g. medical floor vs ICU), how they are imaged, and whether to apply more advanced treatments.

In this discussion, review of data will focus on use of troponins, natriuretic peptides, and other biomarkers in a clinically-focused synthesis of how biomarkers might be used in COVID-19.



This webinar will:

Examine the causes of cardiac injury in COVID-19
Describe the relationship of the development of a Kawasaki disease-like illness to COVID-19
• I
dentify biomarkers with potential utility in COVID-19
Develop a strategy to utilize biomarkers to facilitate clinical care in COVID-19



Presenter:
James Januzzi, MD
Hutter Family Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
James Januzzi Photo
Dr. Januzzi is a member of the Cardiology Division of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Hutter Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an accomplished clinician and clinical trialist, with a research focus on biomarker testing in cardiovascular disease. He has more than 650 publications and is an editor at two journals from the American College of Cardiology journals.
Point of Care Molecular Testing: Streamlining Cancer Care from the Anatomic Pathologist’s Office
Live Event: Wednesday, December 2, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until June 2, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Delays in biomarker test results can have adverse affects on the outcomes for cancer patients. Often times, the biomarker report is delivered back to the oncologist long after the patient begins treatment. It is common for patients to not only miss out on treatment opportunities, but also to be prescribed the wrong treatment if the oncologist does not receive the molecular data in time. With the latest advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS), it is now possible to get full molecular results as quickly and easy as you get your immunohistochemistry (IHC) results today.

Attend this event to hear first-hand how physicians at William Osler Health System in Brampton, Ontario are leveraging in-house NGS testing to deliver better cancer care to patients and improve the outcomes of their system. By doing so, oncologists receive the genomic testing results faster and are able to ensure they are prescribing the most appropriate treatment for the patient.




This webinar will:
Describe the role of ancillary biomarker testing in the treatment of cancer patients
Analyze how delays in test results can adversely affect cancer care
Identify areas within your own lab or network that impede biomarker results
Explore how existing and novel techniques can help support oncology practice within your center


Presenters:
Brandon Sheffield PhotoBrandon Sheffield, MD, FRCPC
Physician Lead of Research, Anatomical Pathologist
William Osler Health System


Dr. Sheffield is an anatomic and molecular pathologist. He is currently serving as the Medical Director of Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Pathology, and the Physician Lead of research for William Osler.

Parneet Cheema PhotoParneet Cheema, HBSC, MD, BIOTECH, FRCPC
Corporate Division Head Medical Oncology/Hematology
William Osler Health System

Dr. Parneet Cheema is an Assistant Professor, at the University of Toronto, and Head of Medical Oncology/Heamatology and cancer research at the William Osler. She is an internationally known expert in lung cancer and precision cancer care in which she has conducted numerous clinical trials and published national consensus statements.
Leading Edge SARS-CoV-2 Testing
Live Event: Monday, November 30, 2020  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until May 30, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
As many continue to tackle the day to day battle against COVID-19 disease it is critical that we share the latest leading insights for this virus, collectively ensuring learning for all. This webinar will be a scientific exchange of insights from a leading expert in his field. Helping share a detailed overview of the current known information on the disease and exploring the variety of diagnostics that can be used to understand prevalence. The discussion will conclude with thoughts on the upcoming winter season and how the management of Flu and COVID-19 will be at the forefront of healthcare challenges in the coming months and how leading edge technology and thinking may be the only route to success, helping to save lives and protect communities.




This webinar will:
Identify what we know to date about COVID-19 & SARS-CoV-2
Discuss the forecasted impact of the disease
Assess treatment options for COVID-19
Explain the role of diagnostics and available diagnostic options
Describe Flu vs COVID-19
Explore insights that help to inform the next 12 months


Presenter:
Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC
Worldwide Medical Director
Molecular Diagnostics & Women’s Health and Cancer, BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions
BD Life Sciences
Jeff Andrews Photo
Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC is the Worldwide Medical Director for Women’s Health and Cancer, BD Life Sciences. A Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Andrews has provided care in community settings in both metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Washington, DC. He has also provided care in academic settings as an Associate Professor at Duke University Medical Center and at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Taking a Systematic Approach to Drive Behavior Change in Diabetic Patients
Live Event: Wednesday, November 4, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until May 4, 2021  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Diabetes remains a major focus for healthcare providers and chronic disease management programs. Over 29 million people in the U.S has diabetes1, with 33–49% of patients not meeting targets goals for A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol2. However, a major barrier to optimal care is a delivery system that is often fragmented, lacks clinical information capabilities, and is poorly designed for the coordinated delivery of chronic care.

Successful diabetes care requires a systematic approach to supporting patients’ behavior change efforts, including the utilization of multi-disciplinary care teams, personalized provider feedback, continuous real-time monitoring, and decision support tools to target and care for patients at risk for poor outcomes.

Ultimately, healthcare institutions are looking for ways to tailor population care to meet individual patient needs, through integrated technologies that help to optimally manage and prevent diabetes in the future. Join Abbott, with Dr. Chad Malone, and learn how to drive clinical practice to standards that provide the best outcome for pre-diabetic, and diabetics populations.

1 https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/Supplement_1/S6. Accessed 9/30/2020.
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5536329/. Accessed 9/30/2020.


This webinar will:

• Create a health care delivery systems that can proactively identify your diabetes populations and provide them with evidence-based patient-centered care
• Empower your patients to feel like the most important part of their care team by creating a complete picture of their diabetes in the context of their life, enabling personalized lifestyle and treatment changes
• Form a complete picture of your diabetic population, and identify gaps in population management as well as individual outcomes
• Enable a continuous model of chronic disease management and efficiently achieve quality measures


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Abbott Logo
Presenter:
Chad Malone, MD
Director, Global Medical Information and Clinical Excellence Solutions
Abbott
Chad Malone Photo
Dr. Chad Malone has 25 years of digital healthcare entrepreneurship within clinical and translational sciences. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Japanese; holds an M.D. from Ross University School of Medicine and performed a residency in Anesthesia at the University of Rochester.



Importance of Sample Collection and Transport In the Age of COVID-19: Virology and Bacteriology Aspects
Live Event: Tuesday, June 9, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until December 9, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
For diagnostic testing, proper sample collection and transport play a pivotal role in the accurate and timely identification of a pathogen. When testing for respiratory virus, the gold standard for sample collection is a specialized flocked swab used to collect a sample from the nasopharynx, which is then transported in viral transport media.

At the beginning of 2020, swab specimen collection became a household topic as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) unleashed a global pandemic. Researchers, assay manufacturers, FDA and CDC considered the different types of swabs and transport media which could be used to sample collection and transport for COVID testing.

In this webinar, we will take an in-depth look at specimen collection swabs, the quality procedures required for manufacturing, the different types and how they are used to collect samples. We’ll explore guidance from FDA and CDC on the recommended swabs, collection sites and transport media, how these recommendations evolved over the weeks during the pandemic, and role that self-collection will play in the future of respiratory viral testing.




This webinar will:
• Identify the types of swabs which are commonly used for sample collection for respiratory viruses and describe the differences between each
• Describe the types of transport media which are commonly used for sample collection for respiratory viruses and the differences between each
• Examine the 4 key factors which make up a good respiratory specimen for viral detection
• Discuss the evolution of swabs and transport media for respiratory viruses and the importance of materials, biocompatibility and QC in the downstream
Presenter:
Susan Sharp, PhD., (D)ABMM, (F)AAM, MS, MT(ASCP)
Scientific Director
Copan Diagnostics, Inc.
Susan Sharp photo
Dr. Sharp has been a clinical microbiologist and a very active member of The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for 30 years serving on various boards and committees. She is a Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) and a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology. She is also an active member of the Board of Scientific Councilors for the Office of Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a member of the College of Pathologists Microbiology Resource Committee. Dr. Sharp is a Past-President of ASM and a former member of ASM’s Board of Directors.
How Culture Media Can Deliver Value to Your Lab
Live Event: Monday, March 16, 2020  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until September 16, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
While performance standards of prepared culture media are consistent among various manufacturers, when sourcing items from a new supplier, laboratory personnel may find that the general attributes of both the media and microorganisms differ. In this webinar, Nathan Ledeboer, PhD, will teach participants how to distinguish growth and isolation characteristics of normal flora and pathogens between two leading suppliers of prepared media plates: Thermo Scientific™and BD.

Additionally, Ledeboer will present the physical differences of enrichment, selective, and differential media available from the two manufacturers through side by side comparisons. He will also address the growing impact of automation on the microbiology laboratory by discussing a case study that highlights new and evolving technologies to improve efficiency and productivity in the processing of clinical samples.

This webinar is designed to designed to provide the lab professional with the skill and insight to effectively handle the implementation of Thermo Scientific microbiology prepared media by reviewing several critical aspects to onboarding a new prepared media supplier, including common procedures and policies for adopting new media and impact to workflow, ordering, delivery, and media storage and handling.

This webinar will:
• Explain differential identification of organisms on plates originating from different manufacturers
• Discuss the differences in plate composition and construction using the new plate technology
• Examine the differences in morphology in the presentation of organisms on plates
• Discuss about advances in clinical microbiology using automation

Presenters::
Nathan Ledeboer PhotoDr. Nathan Ledeboer
Medical Director of Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics for Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories and Froedtert Health

In his role at Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Ledeboer oversees development and implementation of new assays, sign out of all testing performed in these laboratories, and consults with physician colleagues regarding test results and selection.

Britteny Bunn PhotoBrittney M. Bunn, PhD
Service Support Supervisor, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Dr. Brittney M. Bunn obtained her Ph. D. in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University. She currently serves as a Service Support supervisor for Thermo Fisher Scientific and has held other roles in the Technical Service department during her tenure of four years.
The Impact of Rapid Molecular Panel-based Testing for Urinary Tract Infections
Live Event: Thursday, February 27, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until August 27, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
This webinar will focus on recently published data demonstrating the clinical impact of molecular tests in Urinary Tract Infections have traditionally been diagnosed based on culture-based microbiology tests – which take a long time to result, can lack sensitivity and specificity, and are prone to contamination. In the last 18 months, the first commercially available molecular tests for Urinary Tract Infections were made available to laboratories – providing large amounts of data on the impact of these tests on UTI testing. In this webinar, we will provide the latest clinical, economic, and laboratory impact data as a result of introducing molecular panel-based testing.

The webinar will also address problems and limitations of culture-based testing for urinary tract infection (UTI), provide an update on clinical trials and rapid molecular testing for UTIs in practice, and discuss the economic impact of molecular testing for UTIs.



This webinar will:
Identify the problems and limitations of culture-based testing for urinary tract infection (UTI)
Describe the current clinical trials and trends rapid molecular testing for UTIs in practice
Examine the economic impact and reimbursement trends in molecular testing for UTIs


To access the white paper, "Using Flexible-Content Syndromic Panels to Help Manage Infectious Disease: Update on Laboratory Trends and Health Outcomes" CLICK HERE.
Presenters:
David Baunoch PhotoDavid Baunoch, PhD
President and CEO
Pathnostics

Dr. Baunoch has more than 25 years of laboratory experience in a number of areas and has produced over 25 peer-reviewed publications.

Trisha Lauterbach PhotoTrisha Lauterbach, MSA, MLS (ASCP), CHT (ASHI)
Dir., Laboratory Operations
Capstone Healthcare

As the Director of Laboratory Operations at Capstone Healthcare, Trisha Lauterbach is applying her expertise in clinical molecular testing to improve patient care and outcomes in diverse healthcare settings and patient populations.
The Key to Successful Antimicrobial Stewardship: Interdisciplinary Teams
Live Event: Wednesday, January 22, 2020  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
PACE® credit available until July 22, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
New drug development has been in decline and antimicrobial resistance has been steadily on the rise. This dynamic has resulted in the development of multi-drug resistant microorganisms (MDRO) and challenges in managing the resulting complicated infections. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs have key objectives to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, improve patient outcomes, reduce microbial resistance and decrease the spread of infections caused by MDROs.

Multi drug resistance is particularly challenging for institutions to manage, particularly if they are transmitted among vulnerable patient populations. Optimal therapeutic options may be few and further limited by toxicity that can further compromise patients. Accurate diagnostic tools that can guide the most appropriate clinical decisions in these life-threatening infections are critical.

Microbiology laboratories with access to accurate antimicrobial susceptibility platforms that include drugs of last resort as well as novel drugs can lead to more effective and optimal treatment decisions, reducing cost of stay and improving patient outcomes.



This webinar will:
Discuss how current budgeting practices between the microbiology laboratory, the pharmacy, and the hospital has created some bizarre incentives that can impact the practice of antibiotic stewardship.
Explain how creative approaches to the use of older antibiotics might either harm or benefit patients.
Explain how microbiology laboratories with access to accurate antimicrobial susceptibility platforms, including drugs of last resort as well as novel drugs can lead to more effective and optimal treatment decisions, reducing cost of stay and improving patient outcomes.


Presenter:
James A. McKinnell, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
James McKinnell Photo
James A. McKinnell, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Infectious Disease Clinical Outcome Research Unit (ID-CORE) and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA. He is a nationally-recognized infectious disease specialist with specific research interests related to the clinical management and prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
Procalcitonin Aided Antibiotic Stewardship: The New Paradigm
Live Event: Thursday, December 5, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until June 5, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Signs and symptoms of bacterial, viral infection and non-infectious diagnosis overlap lack of specificity in most biomarkers cause many prescribers to give antibiotics erring in favor of caution or "just to be sure". Statistically up to 50% of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals are unnecessary. Overprescribing antibiotics has led to resistant bacteria which is making it harder to treat.

Procalcitonin can aid in severity assessment and evaluation of therapy choices, and attendees will gain an understanding of the role of procalcitonin in antibiotic stewardship as well as the expected clinical and health economic outcomes of procalcitonin guided therapy.

This webinar will describe the pathophysiology and kinetics of Procalcitonin during sepsis and infection and discuss the concept of Procalcitonin-aided antibiotic stewardship in sepsis and low respiratory tract infections. It will also compare and contrast the costs and outcomes with PCT-aided antibiotic therapy decisions compared to standard care in specific published patient population studies and summarize the most impactful cost components and value drivers of PCT testing.


This webinar will:
Describe the pathophysiology and kinetics of Procalcitonin during sepsis and infection
Discuss the concept of Procalcitonin-aided antibiotic stewardship in sepsis and low respiratory tract infections
Compare and contrast the costs and outcomes with PCT-aided antibiotic therapy decisions compared to standard care in specific published patient population studies
Summarize the most impactful cost components and value drivers of PCT testing


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Abbott Logo
Presenter:
Michael R Broyles, BSPharm, RPh, PharmD
Director of Pharmacy and Laboratory Services
Five Rivers Medical Center, Pocahontas, Arkansas
Michael Broyles Photo
Mike Broyles, PharmD, is director of pharmacy and laboratory services at Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas, Arkansas. He received his BSPharm degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his PharmD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. With more than 25 years of experience as a hospital pharmacy director and laboratory director, Mike enjoys educating patients on current concepts in the clinical use of drugs.
Capillary Electrophoresis: Genetic Disease Testing for Challenging Targets in the Modern Clinical Lab
Live Event: Thursday, October 31, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 1, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
The fast-paced development of new sequencing technologies offer rapidly growing options for molecular testing of genetic disorders. This can make it challenging for clinical labs to offer the best diagnostic technology or assay for the many diverse diagnostic scenarios they face. One of the key advantages of capillary electrophoresis versus next-generation sequencing is its capability to sequence difficult regions specifically long, repeat expansion DNA sequences and copy number variants as observed in neurological disorders such as Fragile X Syndrome and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).

With rising awareness of genetic diseases and personalized medicine, testing for these disorders is becoming increasingly important for diagnosis and genetic screening in newborns and disease carriers in expecting parents. This trend that will no doubt continue as targeted genetic therapies, like those recently approved for SMA, are developed for other genetic diseases.

This webinar will discuss the basics of capillary electrophoresis as a platform for DNA analysis in a modern clinical laboratory. By coupling this platform with novel PCR methods, we will demonstrate how this technology can be used screen and diagnose disorders associated with challenging repetitive DNA and copy number variants.



This webinar will:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of capillary electrophoresis for nucleic acid diagnostics compared to other methods
Describe the importance of genetic disease testing for carrier screening and newborn screening applications
Discuss how the roles of capillary electrophoresis and genetic disease testing have changed over time—and how they might change in the future


Presenter:
John N. Milligan, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Product Development
Asuragen
John Milligan Photo
Dr. Milligan is a Senior Scientist in product development at Asuragen in Austin, TX, where he develops and validates assays for the testing of hereditary and oncological genetic diseases. He earned his doctorate in Molecular Biology at the University of Texas, where his work focused on point of care diagnostics and protein engineering, including engineering a novel polymerase for use with isothermal amplification and strand displacement applications.
Mitigating the Risk of Bacterial Contamination of Platelets: Recent Developments
Live Event: Monday, October 21, 2019  |  8:15 - 9:15 AM EST
PACE® credit available until April 21, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
If you won't be attending the 2019 American Association of Blood Banks annual meeting in San Antonio this year, we have you covered! This webinar will be held in conjunction with a live conference at AABB (thus the early start). Join us for a session that will cover the latest developments and the recommendations in the FDA Final Guidance that will define how blood collection centers and hospital blood banks and transfusion services will need to operate moving forward.

This webinar will identify the extent and nature of the risk for bacterial risk in platelets and review FDA final guidance and the options for addressing this risk and their implications. It will also describe the role of rapid testing in satisfying the FDA guidance and discuss recent advances in rapid testing technology for bacteria in platelets. Learn how you can take advantage of the latest science to most cost-effectively meet the requirements of the new FDA Final Guidance.


This webinar will:
Identify the extent and nature of the risk for bacterial risk in platelets
Review FDA Final guidance and the options for addressing this risk and their implications
Describe the role of rapid testing in satisfying the FDA guidance
Discuss recent advances in rapid testing technology for bacteria in platelets



This session is sponsored by:
Fisher Healthcare and Verax Logo
Presenter:
Michael R. Jacobs, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathology,
Case Western Reserve University;
Director Emeritus, Clinical Microbiology,
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Michael Jacobs Photo
Dr. Jacobs is a world renowned expert on the risks of bacterial contamination in platelet components. He has published landmark research on this topic and has been a leader in improving public health by shaping clinical practices and policy in this area.
Antimicrobial Stewardship and the Role of Improved Diagnosis in the Management of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections
Live Event: Tuesday, September 17, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until March 17, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are a very common clinical presentation, and one of the main drivers of antimicrobial prescribing in adults and children. Many (perhaps the majority) antibiotic prescriptions are thought to be inappropriate, driving antibiotic resistance, adverse effects from antibiotics, and care seeking behaviors.

Improved diagnostic accuracy is one major strategy for better targeting the use of antibiotics and antivirals. For ARI there are two main groups of diagnostic tests (above and beyond clinical features, which alone are not reliable): tests to detect pathogens in respiratory samples, and tests that try to assess the body’s response to determine if an infection is from viral or bacterial etiology. In this presentation we will focus on newer tests that have advanced point of care diagnostic tests for common infections namely Group A streptococcal, influenza, and RSV. The majority of tests currently for Group A strep, for example, rely on detecting antigens in throat culture, but these lack sensitivity (and specificity to some extent) and lead to significant number of false negative results. This then leads to the need for back up laboratory verification of point of care antigen tests, which in turn leads to delays in correct prescribing, patient and clinical staff burden. New point of care molecular tests for Group A strep offer very high sensitivity and specificity, and are likely to replace existing rapid antigen tests. Guidelines for Group A strep (as well as other common infections such as influenza) are slowly shifting to acknowledge the superior accuracy of point of care molecular tests.

This session will discuss the evidence of testing at the point of care for influenza, RSV and Group A strep. It will also compare the performance of different testing modalities, and discuss how diagnostics can aid healthcare providers with their stewardship efforts.

This webinar will:
Discuss antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial prescribing patterns in the US, with a focus on acute respiratory infections
Examine peer reviewed literature on the performance of point of care diagnostic tests for influenza, RSV, and Group A Strep
Review the benefits of decentralized testing for respiratory pathogens
Analyze current guidelines and recommendations for detection of respiratory pathogens


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Roche Logos
Presenter:
Matthew Thompson, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor, Dept Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
Matthew Thompson Photo
Dr Thompson is the Helen D. Cohen endowed Professor and Vice Chair for Research at the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine. He completed his residency training in family medicine at the University of Cincinnati, a Master’s degree in public health at the University of Washington, and Doctorate at the University of Oxford. Dr Thompson has a particular interest in improving the accuracy of diagnosis of respiratory tract infections in order to guide more appropriate antimicrobial prescribing. This research has included the use of point of care tests for group A strep, influenza, and inflammatory markers. He has also published extensively on the use of clinical prediction rules to identify individuals at higher risk of serious infections.
The Importance of Tissue Quality for Molecular Techniques
Live Event: Thursday, September 5, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until March 5, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Invalid test results from next generation sequencing (NSG) and other molecular assays negatively impacts patient care. The histology laboratory supports molecular pathology through tissue specimen preparation; and although we have learned over the last decade that certain pre-analytical factors influence the outcome of immunohistochemical assays, we are still learning what factors impact molecular results.

In traditional histology we know that downstream methods cannot compensate for a poorly fixed or processed tissue specimen. If a poor quality tissue is processed, you will get a poor quality tissue out again. Histology labs have created SOPs and techniques to help mitigate this, and typically, routine surgical specimens deliver high quality H&E slides and IHC slides. With the advent of molecular methods to detect specific biomarkers, specimen quality definitions are evolving. What we once treasured as a good quality tissue block for routine histopathology and IHC may not necessarily meet quality standards for techniques such as next generation sequencing or proteomics.

In this webinar we will consider what the requirements are for a high quality specimen in the context of molecular methods, the technical problems we sometimes encounter as histotechnologists while preparing these specimens, and how we can mitigate these issues. Comparative studies will be discussed, along with quality control methods to test for tissue quality.

This webinar will:
Describe the tissue quality requirements for optimal molecular pathology test results
Identify the steps required in the sample preparation workflow for better results
Examine the quality control procedures necessary in the histology lab to help ensure high quality specimen


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Epredia Logo
Presenter:
Jennifer Freeland, MS, HTL(ASCP)cm
Global Market Development Manager, Epredia
Jennifer Freeland Photo
Jennifer Freedland is a board of registry certified histotechnologist with the American Society of Clinical Pathology. She has over 20 years experience in routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology. She earned her Bachelors degree in Biomedical Science from Western Michigan University and her Masters of Science degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Jennifer has worked in clinical histology and research labs, as well as research & development, quality, technical consulting, and now serves as a global market development manager for Epredia.
New ASM C. Difficile Infection Guidelines and Rapid Diagnostic
Testing Recommendations
 
Live Event: Thursday, August 29, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until February 29, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 Recording View Slides
In a healthcare environment like a hospital or nursing home, Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) can be spread quickly through touching contaminated surfaces or by person-to-person contact. C. difficile causes an inflammation of the colon that can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions, especially in immunocompromised or elderly patients. The problem is so widespread, C. difficile infection (CDI) is linked to more than 30,000 deaths a year in the United States — rivaling the 32,000 killed in traffic accidents.

The demands for C. difficile testing have continued to evolve over the last several years. While focus had been increasingly on the need for highly accurate detection of the organism, there has been a renewed interest in the detection of the toxins that cause the disease. Colonized C. difficile carriers are 5-10 times more common than patients with active infections in hospitals. Treating carriers is often ineffective and increases the risk to the patient of developing C. difficile diarrhea.

Increases in reported C.difficile infection (CDI) have spotlighted diagnostic protocols and initiatives to reduce overcalling the disease. This educational webinar provides expert perspectives on the recent update to the ASM C.difficile infection guidelines and a review of IDSA guidelines and other clinical evidence that describe the analytical and clinical utility of diagnostic tests and protocols for C.difficile

This webinar will:
Review and analyze the latest ASM C. difficile guidelines
Discuss IDSA guidelines and how guidelines fit into clinical diagnosis
Review analytical detection vs. clinical diagnosis.
Identify and describe the various C. difficile diagnostic test methods including EIA, PCR and other molecular methods


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Quidel Logo 

Presenter:
James Snyder, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Chief of Microbiology, University of Louisville Hospital
James Snyder Photo
Dr. Snyder serves as the American Society for Microbiology Representative to the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Working Group for Response to Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases. He is a Member of the American Society for Microbiology Laboratory Practices Committee, serves as the coordinator of the Sentinel Level Laboratory Protocols for Biothreat and Emerging Infectious Diseases and is a Member of the American Society for Microbiology Expert Panel for the development of Evidenced-Based Laboratory Guidelines.
New IDSA Influenza Guidelines and Their Impact on Rapid Testing
Live Event: Wednesday, August 21, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until February 21, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording

Dr. Wolfe's Slides Dr. Mortensen's Slides
This educational webinar provides expert perspectives on rapid influenza testing, recent IDSA guidelines and the value of rapid molecular testing. Lateral flow tests for influenza are widely utilized in assessing patients with suspected influenza for their speed and relatively inexpensive cost. Results are available in as few as 4 to 16 minutes to help quickly guide treatment decisions and care pathways. New test standards implemented in 2018 require at least 80% sensitivity for influenza tests, however, remain less sensitive than molecular tests. New IDSA influenza guidelines encourage the use of molecular tests, which help increase detection and guide more appropriate and timely use of antivirals and antibiotics. Dr. Cameron Wolfe, Associate Professor of Medicine: Division of Infectious Diseases & International Health at Duke University Medical Center and co-author on the latest IDSA guidelines, will present the new flu guidelines and rationale for using tests with higher sensitivity for improved clinical and patient benefits.

As there are multiple molecular tests for influenza, the decision and process for selecting a rapid molecular flu test can be a significant task. Our program will provide an overview of the various rapid flu tests including the similarities and differences of rapid molecular technology for both high volume flu testing and decentralized/point of care applications. Studies showing the value of rapid molecular testing will also be reviewed.

Lastly, we will spotlight the recent experience of selecting and implementing rapid molecular influenza testing across an entire integrated health network; hospital lab, emergency department, urgent care and physician offices. Dr. Joel Mortensen, Director, Diagnostic Infectious Diseases Testing Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s, will share his experience on the evaluation process, decision and the implementation best practices and key learnings to help guide others that may be embarking on a similar project.


This webinar will:
Identify and describe the latest IDSA influenza guidelines
Discuss of the various influenza test methods including EIA, PCR and other molecular methods
Review evidence supporting the value of rapid molecular influenza testing
Discuss the recent evaluation and implementation of rapid molecular influenza testing across an integrated health network





This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Quidel Logo 
Presenters:
Cameron Wolfe photoDr. Cameron Wolfe, MBBS (Hons), MPH, FIDSA, CPDM, A.Mus.A, Associate Professor of Medicine
Duke University Medical Center

Dr. Wolfe is the Chief Medical Director for Duke’s Emerging Pathogens Unit, which focuses on preparedness in the event of emerging biothreats, and serves as one of the core Transplant Infectious Disease faculty. He was appointed to the IDSA Influenza Guidelines national working group and co-authored the 2018 Influenza guideline update published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Joel Mortensen PhotoJoel E. Mortensen Ph.D., FAAM, HCLD
Director, Diagnostic Infectious Diseases Testing Laboratory, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Dr. Mortensen is a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for graduate, residency and fellowship teaching programs and has collaborated with faculty and fellows on more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, case studies and text chapters. He holds numerous positions on national and professional boards and has been an invited speaker to dozens of national and regional scientific conferences and other educational events.
Diagnostics for Group B Strep: The Role of the Clinical Microbiology Lab in Prenatal Screening
Live Event: Thursday, July 18, 2019  |  12:00 - 1:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until January 18, 2020  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Prenatal screening of pregnant women has decreased the rate of early-onset GBS disease in the United States. The incidence of late-onset GBS disease has largely remained unchanged by current screening practices. Clinical microbiology laboratories can impact the care of GBS colonized women and GBS infected neonates.

GBS screening recommendations include culture of a vagino-rectal specimen at 35 – 37 weeks gestation using an enriched culture-based approach. Molecular assays are associated with higher sensitivity and specificity, with faster time to results as compared to culture and can significantly improve patient care.

This webinar will review the current recommendations for GBS detection in pregnant patients, highlight the various methods available to clinical microbiology laboratories, and will discuss the role molecular methods can play in detection of GBS by the clinical microbiology laboratory.

This webinar will:
• Discuss the current recommendations for GBS screening to detect colonization of pregnant patients
• Identify the role of clinical microbiology laboratories in GBS screening
• Examine the utility of molecular-based testing for detection of GBS colonization


This session is sponsored by:
Fisher and Quidel Logo 
Presenter:
Gerald A. Capraro, PhD, D(ABMM)
Carolinas Pathology Group, Atrium Health
Charlotte, North Carolina
Gerald Capraro Photo
Dr. Capraro is the medical director of the Clinical Microbiology laboratory for Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. He earned his PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from Wake Forest University and completed his fellowship training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is Board certified in Medical and Public Health Microbiology. He is actively involved in the American Society for Microbiology, the Pan-American Society for Clinical Virology, and CLSI.
What you’re Missing in your Respiratory Pathogen Detection
Live Event: Monday, June 24, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until December 24, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 Recording View Slides
Influenza and non-Influenza respiratory tract virus related infections are one of the most common reasons reported for physician visits and hospitalization globally. The economic burden associated with these viral infections, within the United States, are upwards of $50 billion annually. Concomitant or subsequent co-infections of the respiratory tract by pneumonia causing pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus are often observed in patients suffering from these respiratory viral infections and contribute to significant co-morbidity and mortality.

While the development of new panel-based syndromic molecular solutions for pathogen detection has provided benefits to laboratories, some challenges still exist including throughput scalability, reducing the cost per sample, and flexibility of content. Overcoming these challenges is necessary in order to cater to the ever-changing needs of those ordering the tests.

Join us as we discuss the impact that real-time PCR testing can have on respiratory pathogen detection in laboratories. Hear from presenters at laboratories that have implemented these solutions, gained greater insights into respiratory pathogen detection, and scaled the solution to meet varying throughput requirements.



This webinar will:
Identify the limitations in current traditional testing methods for respiratory infections
Describe the importance of simultaneously testing multiple pathogen types in respiratory infections – including viral, bacterial, and fungal
Examine new technology options to help test multiple respiratory pathogens simultaneously
Discuss the considerations involved in transitioning to these new technologies



Presenters:
Vijay Singh photoVijay Singh, Ph.D.
Managing Principal Scientist
Molecular Diagnostics
HealthTrack Rx

Dr. Singh is the Managing Principal Scientist for Molecular Diagnostics at HealthTrackRx in Denton Texas. He leads molecular tests for pathogen targets on the qPCR nanofluidics platform. He completed his PhD in Molecular Biology and his Post-Doctoral training in Metabolic Engineering at the University of North Texas.

David Hillyard photoDavid R. Hillyard, MD
Medical Director, Molecular Infectious Diseases
ARUP Laboratories

Dr. Hillyard is a professor of pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He received his MD from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His training was in anatomic and clinical pathology, with fellowships in medical microbiology and microbial genetics.
Urine Drug Testing and its Impact on the Opioid Crisis
Live Event: Tuesday, June 18, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until December 18, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
There continues to be an opioid epidemic in the US with 2.4 million Americans estimated to have an opioid disorder and over 42,000 dying from drug overdose every year. Today clinicians are facing legal risk regarding the opioid prescriptions that they are writing and if any testing were done before and during the length of these prescriptions. To help combat this opioid crisis the CDC, CMS and AACC have developed testing guidelines for screening and monitoring.

The webinar will discuss the crisis, the current testing guidelines and how best to screen and monitor patients that are prescribed opioids. We will go through real life case studies in which testing had a positive impact on patient care and offer suggestions on best practices for implementing opioid testing protocols in your own facility.

This webinar will:
Differentiate between In-Office Qualitative Testing & Laboratory Quantitative Testing
Discuss the legal risk of not screening and monitoring for Opioids
Discuss methods used to interpret unexpected Urine Drug Testing results
Explain how to incorporate Urine Drug Testing results into ongoing clinical assessment and decision making





This session is sponsored by:
Fisher Abbott  Banner
Presenter:
Jeffrey Fudin, B.S., Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP, Anesthesiology/Pain Management at Albany Medical Center Hospital
CEO and CMO, Remitigate, LLC, Delmar, NY
Jeffrey Fundin photo
Dr. Fudin serves on the New York State Board of Medicine Office of Professional Conduct. He is a Diplomate to the Academy of Integrative Pain Management and a Fellow of both the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists. He is considered a national expert in pharmacogenetics, forensic pharmacy, and advanced pain therapeutics.
Urinary Tract Infections: Improving Clinical Management and Outcomes
Live Event: Wednesday, May 29, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until November 29, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 Recording View Slides
There are more than 250 million UTIs diagnosed worldwide each year, accounting for $6 billion in direct healthcare expenditures, a 21% hospital readmission rate in the US and a 2.3% mortality rate. Because the incidence and cost to the healthcare system is so significant and urine samples are one of the highest volume specimen types received in a clinical microbiology laboratory, proper management of testing is critical to both the laboratory workflow and to patient diagnosis and treatment. UTIs are not only the most common human bacterial infection, they are also the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics. By providing robust diagnostic test results in a shorter timeframe, the level of unnecessary administration of empiric antibiotics should be greatly reduced, facilitating antibiotic stewardship and, ultimately, improving patient care.

This webinar will provide an overview of these approaches and review published studies comparing the new technologies to gold-standard methods. It will also help participants understand the true economic costs of UTIs and potential strategies to help reduce the work-flow burden and costs in hospital laboratories.


This webinar will:
Review the burden of UTIs in dollars, time and health outcomes
Discuss available diagnostic technologies to detect UTIs
Describe the correlation between rising antibiotic resistance and inappropriate antibiotic treatments
Identify opportunities to improve clinical management of UTI to improve patient care and outcomes
This session is sponsored by:
FisherBacterioscan banner
Presenter:
Rangaraj Selvarangan, BVSc, PhD,
D(ABMM), FIDSA, Professor
UMKC School of Medicine
Rangaraj Selvarangan Photo
Dr. Rangaraj Selvarangan is the Director of Microbiology and Virology Laboratory and Director of Laboratory Medicine Research at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He is a Professor in Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Professor in Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The Etiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia:
Does Data Support the Guidelines?
Live Event: Thursday, May 23, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until November 23, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Pneumonia is an acute alveolar lung infection that presents with infiltrates upon chest imaging and is often accompanied by fever, cough, sputum production, and physical findings of consolidation and elevated white blood counts.1 Globally, pneumonia causes more deaths than any other infectious disease and, along with influenza, is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.1,2

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, and zoonotic organisms and can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Certain people are more likely to become ill with pneumonia. This includes adults 65 years of age or older and children less than 5 years of age.2 Pneumonia can often be prevented with vaccines and can usually be treated with antibiotics or antiviral drugs. The diagnosis of CAP by clinical presentation along with the presence of diagnostic chest x-ray findings can help guide empiric treatment with the most narrow spectrum and safest drug possible. In this webinar, we’ll review organisms currently thought to cause CAP, describe the possible role of normal respiratory flora as an etiologic agent of CAP, and relate guidelines for empiric therapy to the etiologic agents.

References:
1Woolfrey KG. Pneumonia in adults: the practical emergency department perspective. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2012; 30(2):249-70.
2http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs331/en/index.html
3
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_05.pdf


This webinar will:
Recognize organisms currently thought to cause community-acquired pneumonia
Describe the possible role of normal respiratory flora as an etiologic agent of CAP
Examine the relationship between guidelines for empiric therapy and the etiologic agents




This session is sponsored by:
Fisher Abbott  Banner

Presenter:
Daniel M. Musher, M.D.
Professor of Medicine-Infectious Disease
Baylor College of Medicine
Daniel Musher Photo
Listed as one of the best doctors in the nation in the field of infectious disease, Daniel M. Musher, M.D., Infectious Disease Section chief at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) and professor of Medicine-Infectious Disease at Baylor College of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2007 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Teacher Award from the Infectious Disease Society of America. A national expert in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, he is a frequent author of review articles for prestigious medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Musher holds a VA Merit Review grant for study of immunization to protect veterans against pneumococcal pneumonia.
Next Generation Sequencing Implementation in a
Clinical Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory

Live Event: Wednesday, May 1, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until November 1, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 Recording View Slides
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has quickly emerged as a useful tool to study multiple genes and mutation types in a single assay, thus preserving tissue and reducing time to results. Sentara Healthcare is a regional hospital system spanning 12 hospitals and more than 200 physicians’ offices across Virginia and North Carolina. The molecular diagnostics lab, located at its flagship hospital, serves as the reference lab for the entire system. Through test menu optimization, provider outreach, capital acquisitions and method validations, the molecular diagnostics reference lab has been able to successfully insource and implement NGS testing within the Sentara Healthcare network.

Insourcing NGS has affected aspects of the lab such as tissue conservation, turnaround times and costs. NGS implementation to streamline genetic and molecular testing will be discussed throughout this presentation. The webinar will describe how next generation sequencing has emerged as a useful tool to study multiple genes and mutation types in a single assay and illustrate how a molecular diagnostics reference lab has successfully implemented NGS testing within the Sentara Healthcare Network.



This webinar will:
• Describe how next generation sequencing has emerged as a useful tool to study multiple genes and mutation types in a single assay
Illustrate how a molecular diagnostics reference lab has successfully implemented NGS testing within the Sentara Healthcare Network
Discuss the ways in which this implementation has affected tissue conservation, turnaround times and costs

Presenter:
Tabetha Sundin, PhD, HCLD (ABB), MB (ASCP)CM, Scientific Director Molecular Diagnostics and Serology
Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, VA
Tabetha Sundin pic
Tabetha Sundin, PhD, HCLD (ABB), MB (ASCP)CM, has over 10 years of laboratory experience in cancer biology and clinical molecular diagnostics. She is an active member of the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP) and involved with numerous efforts to support the molecular diagnostics field with American Medical Technologists (AMT) and Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).
Challenging Bacterial Infections:
The Clinical Impact of Critical Microbiology Results
Live Event: Tuesday, April 23, 2019  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until October 23, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Clinicians expect the microbiology laboratory to provide accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing results to guide their treatment decisions. Reliable susceptibility results are never more important than when addressing today’s most serious bacterial infections including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter.

By attending this webinar, microbiologists will learn how they can help steer antibiotic treatment choices that are critical to patient care, including reliable detection of existing and emerging resistance to new drugs, as well as antimicrobials of last resort. Clinicians will have an opportunity to gain insight into the results from microbiology laboratories that can potentially impact patient care.


This webinar will:
Discuss a challenging case from a clinical and laboratory perspective
Evaluate testing options for rapid identification of resistant infections
Discuss changing epidemiology of Candida infections
Discuss the need for ongoing breakpoint updates



This session is sponsored by:
Fisher Thermo banner
Presenter:
James A. McKinnell, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
James McKinnell Photo
James A. McKinnell, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a nationally-recognized infectious disease specialist with specific research interests related to the clinical management and prevention of healthcare-associated infections. He has published over 40 papers, many with emphasis on optimal use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance within the community.
Biotin May Interfere with Lab Tests: The Impact is Coast to Coast
Live Event: Tuesday, February 5, 2019  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until August 5, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Market Research data shows that Biotin supplements continue to grow based on their use for health and beauty. Retail stores continue to show high levels of sales growth of Biotin doses of 10,000 mcg, not to mention that Biotin currently is the #1 selling supplement on Amazon.

Biotin has been in the news due to the interference it can cause for certain technologies that exists in the market place for laboratory testing. With the high concentration of biotin that people are taking, it is important to know the facts and options available when treating patients. Our presenter will share firsthand stories illustrating the science behind what causes the interference, how Biotin interference has impacted the nation and how he has mitigated risk of potential interference at his facility.



This webinar will:
Describe the magnitude of Biotin consumption in the U.S.
Illustrate the science behind how Biotin supplementation can potentially impact lab test results through firsthand stories from an experienced lab director
Examine methods to eliminate the risk of biotin interference in the laboratory

Presenter:
Spencer Waitman, MLS, (ASCP)
Laboratory Director
Medical Park Family Care
Spencer Waitman Photo
Spencer Waitman MLS (ASCP) cm is currently the Laboratory Director at Medical Family Care Inc. in Anchorage, Alaska. Spencer has over 15 years of experience with Clinical Lab Medicine and continues to be a thought leader when providing clinical decision support to his patients.
H. pylori Diagnosis: Considerations for Selecting the Appropriate
Testing Methodology
Live Event: Wednesday, December 5, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until June 5, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
In the United States, 20% of the population under 30 and 50% of the population over 60 are infected with H. pylori. H. pylori infections may be asymptomatic, but can lead to dyspepsia or serious complications such as duodenal and gastric ulcers, an increased risk of gastric cancer and higher rates of mucosal associated lymphoid-type lymphoma.

Several invasive and non-invasive methodologies are currently available for determining current infection, before and after eradication therapy. Each testing methodology for H. pylori poses advantages and disadvantages to the laboratory, patient, and institution. In this webinar, we explore how to select the appropriate testing methodology by balancing performance, economics, workflow, and patient care.



This webinar will:
Evaluate the appropriate testing methodology by balancing performance, economics, and workflow
Discuss the best patient care by providing accurate results for appropriate care within a test-treat-test framework, while also taking into account economic and convenience considerations for the patient
Examine the process of protecting the economic health and reputation of the institution while providng the best patient care

Presenter:
David Lyerly, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
TECHLAB
David Lyerly Photo
David Lyerly, Ph.D. has published >120 peer-reviewed publications on intestinal disease. He is a frequent invited speaker at regional, national, and international meetings and an invited reviewer for numerous journals and committees.
Implementing Next-Generation Sequencing for Precision Oncology Testing
Live Event: Thursday, November 29, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 29, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
According to a recent study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, the majority of cancer treatments in the pipeline have an associated genomic biomarker and this trend is expected to increase in the coming years. With this evolution in the clinical oncology landscape, academic medical centers and hospital systems alike have adopted diagnostic precision medicine tools like next-generation sequencing (NGS). NGS enables labs to rapidly and simultaneously test many genomic biomarkers from just a few nanograms of precious formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) clinical specimens. As the number of clinically actionable biomarkers continues to expand, these approaches will continue to play a critical diagnostic role in the clinical laboratory setting.

In this webinar, our expert speaker will highlight the clinical and economic considerations for implementing an NGS-based personalized medicine program and discuss case studies that demonstrate the benefits of broad genomic profiling across a wide variety of cancer types.



This webinar will:
Describe the decision making process in deciding whether to implement next-generation sequencing in a clinical pathology lab setting
Identify the variety of testing strategies and chemistries available
Review example case studies where NGS is uniquely suited to provide novel clinical insights

Presenter:
Brian D. Piening, PhD
Associate Director, Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH), Molecular Genomics Laboratory
Brian Piening Photo
Dr. Piening is currently the Associate Director of the Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) Molecular Genomics Laboratory and Assistant Member and head of the Tumor Immunogenomics Laboratory at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute and Providence Cancer Center in Portland, OR.
The Status of Microsatellite Instability Testing and its Role in Colorectal Cancer
Live Event: Monday, November 19, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 19, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Microsatellite Instability (MSI) is a hyper-mutation phenotype resulting from mutations in one or more mismatch repair (MMR) proteins. MSI testing has been a rapidly evolving field, both in terms of clinical applications for MSI testing as well as methodologies available to perform MSI testing. In the first portion of his talk, Dr. Mackinnon will provide an update on the current state of MSI testing.

As requests for MSI evaluation increase, it will be important for labs to be able to perform MSI testing in a timely and accurate manner. Traditional molecular testing techniques for MSI are often challenging to perform. They require high levels of operator expertise as well as analysis of a normal tissue components, since the traditional biomarkers are not tumor specific.

Dr. Mackinnon has evaluated a novel set of MSI biomarkers that are analyzed by fully automated testing platform, making MSI testing accessible to virtually any lab. He will present the performance data from a cross-platform comparison of IHC and two different molecular MSI evaluation methods and share results for 50 colorectal cancer samples tested by all three methods.



This webinar will:
•  Describe the two main testing strategies for MSI testing
Identify the reasons/clinical applications for performing MSI testing and what MSI-High vs. Microsatellite Stable (MSS) results means
Analyze the performance of three MSI testing technologies, i.e., IHC + 2 molecular testing methods


Presenter:
Alexander Craig Mackinnon, MD PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director, Clinical and Translational Research Core Lab
Alexander Mackinnon Photo
Dr. Mackinnon is an Associate Professor of Pathology and the current Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Core Laboratory at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Colorado and his master’s degree in neuroscience from Northwestern University where he spent time researching Alzheimer’s Disease. He went on to receive both his MD and PhD in Cell and Structural Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The Impact of Flexible Panel-Based Solutions for Pathogen Detection
Live Event: Wednesday, November 7, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 7, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
The development of molecular testing methods for pathogen detection has led to improved sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time compared with traditional culture-based methods of analysis. However, current commercially available molecular tests can be limited by the number of set pathogenic markers. This means that if a result is not conclusive, additional testing may be required – leading to increased time to answer, and additional cost.

Panel-based, syndromic approaches to pathogen detection can present numerous benefits to the clinical laboratory – including simplification in ordering, testing of multiple pathogens above and beyond the “usual suspects”, ease of use, rapid turnaround time, and reduced need to send-out samples to other laboratories.

This webinar will provide you with the knowledge to understand the economic and laboratory operational impact of using syndromic panels in pathogen detection, and how this type of testing can be implemented in the laboratory. Dr Schutzbank will lead a panel discussion of laboratories from around the world that have implemented flexible content syndromic testing for pathogen detection testing. To help illustrate specific case studies in this area, Dr Sandeep Mukherjee will then discuss the application of this in bacterial vaginitis investigations, and Dr Li will discuss how this can impact respiratory pathogen detection.


This webinar will:
Discuss the impact of flexible content syndromic panels from a laboratory operational perspective
Describe how flexible content syndromic panels affects the number of reflex tests the laboratory due to test consolidation
Analyze the effects of flexible content syndromic panels on laboratory costs

Presenters:  
Ted Schutzbank Ted E. Schutzbank PhD
Laboratory Dir., Quantigen Genomic Services
   
Kelly Li  Kelly Li Ph.D.
Sr. Applications Scientist
Life Sciences Solutions
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Sandeep Mukherjee  Sandeep Mukherjee Ph.D.
Scientific Director
Women’s Health & Infectious Diseases
PathGroup 
100 Years Since the Spanish Flu: Current Standards for Flu Pandemic Preparedness
Live Event: Tuesday, October 16, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until April 16, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
Last year’s influenza season was a challenging one with a recorded higher prevalence of infection caused by what had been considered a less virulent strain of the virus. This was compounded by a vaccine that did not appear to be as effective against that particular strain along with higher infant mortality and hospital admittance rates than had been predicted. As a result of the higher prevalence of illness, there was a shortage in the availability of rapid influenza tests which many clinics and physicians experienced.

In this P.A.C.E.®-accredited Fisher Healthcare webinar, Dr.Sally Hojvat will discuss the FDA's reclassification of rapid flu tests in detail. She will also discuss how our understanding of the flu has advanced over the past 100 years, and how we've been able to improve vaccination strategies, surveillance, and our preparedness for future pandemics.


This webinar will:
Discuss the importance of having reliable, high performing diagnostic tests, especially for higher risk patients
Describe how the FDA monitors compliance with the recently updated performance standards for rapid flu tests
Explain how to determine whether a test meets FDA-required sensitivity and specificity
Identify the most suitable tests for different testing scenarios
Review the pros and cons of molecular and serological tests, plus manual and automated platforms

                    
This session is sponsored by:
Fisher Sekisui logo
Presenter:
Sally Hojvat, PhD
Senior Consultant, Partners in Diagnostics
Sally Hojvat Photo
Dr. Sally Hojvat holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Loyola University, before spending nearly two decades in the Diagnostic Division of Abbott Laboratories. She then worked 12 years for the FDA as the Director of the Division of Microbiology Devices and currently consults for the World Health Organization (WHO) and other non-profit and commercial IVD companies.
Learn Lean: Simple Ways to Improve Lab Efficiency and Accuracy
Live Event: Thursday, October 4, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until April 4, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides   
Reimbursement for many tests is being reduced year by year, and the CMS has stated that this will continue through 2020. Laboratories must become more efficient. One way is to apply the proven Lean principles in designing the way the work and the laboratory is structured.

Lean Manufacturing is based on principles that differ from the way histology has been organized and practiced over the years. It is based on small batches and limited inventory. The basics and the tools are easy to learn, with a slight adjustment in the way we think about organizing our work. By applying the thought process and some of the tools, many laboratories have made significant advances in their efficiency. It is quite possible to make a start with just the basic training and some clear thinking.

This webinar is designed to provide that training. It will review and redefine workflow in ways that will identify improvements, and identify and implement ways of making workflow more efficient.



This webinar will:
Describe the basic principles underlying Lean workflow planning
Identify and discuss the tools of Lean Manufacturing
Apply these principles to the laboratory to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and reduce the risk of errors

Presenter:
Peter Kilner
Global Market Development Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Peter Kilner Photo
Peter Kilner is a Global Market Development Manager with Thermo Fisher Scientific. He has previously held the posts of Marketing Manager in the USA and in Europe, as well as Product Manager for tissue processing and staining equipment.
Liquid Based Microbiology:
Simplify Sample Collection and Transport to Improve Patient Care
Live Event: Wednesday, August 29, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until February 28, 2019  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording View Slides
There are many challenges facing the clinical microbiology laboratory today and tremendous pressure to perform quality testing efficiently while limiting additional cost to the medical institution. Many laboratories are being asked to streamline sample collection products due to consolidation. In doing so, laboratories must strategically evaluate each sample to determine the best type of collection and transport system.

SWABS
Traditionally, swab samples are collected using dacron or rayon swabs which consist of yards of fiber wrapped around an applicator stick. Using these swabs much of the patient sample becomes trapped in the matrix of fiber. The result is that up to 90% of the sample stays with the swab and is unavailable for testing. Fiber wrapped swabs are also challenging to use on automated specimen processors without manual intervention.

FECES
Currently, after collecting the fecal sample, a quantity (typically 1-2 grams) of feces is placed into a transport media tube. This process can be unpleasant and messy. Traditional fecal containers are large and bulky and not ideal for streamlined collection, transport or automation.

SPUTUM
Sputum is a challenging sample in the microbiology laboratory as it can be very viscous and difficult to manage. To liquefy for easier manual or automated specimen processing, liquefying solutions are often used. These reagents are mixed in large batches which may go to waste if not used within 48 hours.

URINE
Urine containers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The vacuum style containers require the additional step of placing the sample into a more automation friendly container/tube.

This webinar will give an overview of these approaches and review published studies comparing the new technologies to gold-standard methods.


This webinar will:
Identify the resources available to validate, convert and train users on Liquid Based Microbiology (LBM) products
Analyze clinical studies and impact of LBM products on microbiology laboratories across the world
Discuss LBM products and understand how they impact automation in clinical microbiology
Presenter:
Susan Sharp, PhD., (D)ABMM, (F)AAM, MS, MT(ASCP)
Director of Scientific Affairs
Copan Diagnostics, Inc.
Susan Sharp Photo
Dr. Sharp received her B.S. in Medical Technology and her M.S. in Medical Microbiology & Biochemistry from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Ph.D. in Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology from the Veterinary School of Medicine, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She then did a 2-year post-doctorate fellowship in Clinical Microbiology in the Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.






Considerations in UTI Detection and its Potential Impact on Antibiotic Stewardship
Live Event: Tuesday, July 24, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until January 23, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a leading cause of health care visits. Consequently, urine specimens are one of the most frequent specimen types submitted to laboratories, yet the majority of specimens prove to be negative for UTI after evaluation by standard methods. Plate-based culturing remains the gold standard for UTI detection, requiring 24-48 hours before results are available. Urinalysis (UA) is an automated approach that provides more rapid results than standard culturing, but this method can suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity, resulting in the improper management of patient care.

There are newer technologies available today that improve our ability to detect UTI faster with higher specificity. These include mass spectrometry and a newly approved technology that uses laser light scatter to detect low density bacterial infection. By providing robust results in a shorter timeframe, the level of unnecessary administration of empiric antibiotics should be greatly reduced, facilitating antibiotic stewardship and, ultimately, improving patient care. This webinar will give an overview of these approaches and review published studies comparing the new technologies to gold-standard methods.


This webinar will:
Describe the traditional and advanced diagnostic methods for UTI and their impact on patient diagnosis.
Examine the role urinary tract infections play in inappropriate antibiotic use and increasing antibiotic resistance.
Discuss the healthcare burden of UTIs in terms of dollars, time, and health outcomes
Presenter:
Erin H. Graf, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Director Infectious Disease Diagnostics Laboratory
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Erin Graf Photo
Dr. Graf is the Director of the Infectious Disease Diagnostics Laboratory at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is also an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Graf completed her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania studying HIV latency. Dr. Graf is board certified in medical microbiology. Her research interests include sequence-based diagnostics in clinical microbiology, including the applications of next generation sequencing and metagenomics, as well as emerging technologies for rapid diagnostics.
Influenza Testing and the FDA Reclassification: Where do We Go from Here? 
Live Event: Wednesday, June 6, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until December 5, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides 
FDA Influenza Reclassification went into full effect in January 2018. This change placed additional requirements on influenza lateral flow assay manufactures. As a result,, some assays were removed from the market.

This change in influenza assay availability challenged some testing facilities to adjust their assay use, or to purchase excess inventory for the 2017/2018 influenza season. Now that the 2017/2018 influenza season has passed, testing facilities that did not implement an FDA-approved test will need determine their influenza testing plans for the 2018/2019 influenza season and beyond.

This educational webinar will review flu testing challenges faced during the 2017/2018 influenza season, including discussion on the management and mitigation of highly seasonal testing and a review of testing options for the 2018/2019 season. The session will also analyze the pros and cons of each type of influenza testing. 


This webinar will:
Review FDA Influenza Reclassification Requirements to provide understanding of changes following the January 2018 enforcement date
Identify the different types of influenza tests available, following FDA Influenza Reclassification
Analyze the pros and cons of each type of influenza testing
Discuss the 2017/2018 influenza season and lessons learned to prepare for future season
Presenter:
Gregory J. Berry, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Director, Molecular Diagnostics
Assistant Director, Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics
Northwell Health Laboratories
Greg Berry photo
Dr. Berry is a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology and an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is also the Director of Molecular Diagnostics and an Assistant Director of Infectious Disease Diagnostics at Northwell Health Laboratories in New York.
Reducing Time to Result for Urinary Tract Pathogen Detection
Utilizing Real-Time PCR Technology
Live Event: Wednesday, May 30, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until November 29, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
Although widely used, culture-based methods for the detection of pathogens involved in Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) can lack sensitivity resulting in the possibility of pathogens not being detected. They can also be subjective leading to misinterpretation of results, take a long time resulting in reduced lab efficiency, and they have been shown to miss a significant percentage of positive cases. In fact, some studies show that almost 30% of positive cases are missed using culture-based methods

A molecular alternative to culture-based methods, real-time PCR technology, increases specificity and sensitivity, with over 25% increased accuracy in urinary tract pathogen detection when compared to culture methods in under 5 hours. Real-time PCR in pathogen detection can identify slow-growing, difficult-to-cultivate microorganisms, and can be used when culture-based techniques are inadequate, ambiguous, time-consuming, difficult, and/or too costly. Clinical validation data demonstrated that when compared with urine specimen culture, real-time PCR detected 97% of samples where urinary tract pathogens were present, vs culture which detected only 71% of cases where pathogens were present.1

This webinar will compare molecular testing for urinary tract pathogen detection to traditional culture-based testing methods, examine the sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time of molecular testing techniques for UTI pathogen detection, and discuss the current impact of UTI’s in the US and globally, including health economic impacts and how new testing methods can potentially impact laboratory efficiency.

1For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

This webinar will:
Compare molecular testing for urinary tract pathogen detection to traditional culture-based testing methods
Examine the sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time of molecular testing techniques for UTI pathogen detection
Discuss the current impact of UTI’s in the US and globally, including health economic impacts and how new testing methods can potentially impact laboratory efficiency
Presenter:
David Baunoch, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer Pathnostics
David Baunoch photo
:
With over 25 years of laboratory experience, Dr. Baunoch has extensive experience in all areas of Lab Services. Dr. Baunoch received his PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Wayne State University and completed a NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Breast Cancer Research at the Michigan Cancer Foundation. He is widely published, with over 25 peer-reviewed publications.
Clostridium difficile Infection Guideline Update: Understanding the Data Behind the Recommendations
Live Event: Tuesday, May 8, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until November 7, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
In a healthcare environment like a hospital or nursing home, Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) can be spread quickly through touching contaminated surfaces or by person-to-person contact. C. difficile causes an inflammation of the colon that can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions, especially in immunocompromised or elderly patients. The problem is so widespread, C. difficile infection (CDI) is linked to more than 30,000 deaths a year in the United States — rivaling the 32,000 killed in traffic accidents.

The demands for C. difficile testing have continued to evolve over the last several years. While the focus had been increasingly on the need for highly accurate detection of the organism, there has been a renewed interest in the detection of the toxins that cause the disease. Colonized C. difficile carriers are 5-10 times more common than patients with active infections in hospitals. Treating carriers is often ineffective and increases the risk to the patient of developing C. difficile diarrhea.

C. difficile infections pose a serious threat and require rapid clinical decisions. This webinar will review the 2017 IDSA/SHEA CDI guideline update treatment recommendations, describe how the 2017 IDSA/SHEA CDI guideline update recommendations on C. difficile diagnostics will apply to a patient population, and identify how the microbiology laboratory can assist in C. difficile infection prevention.

This webinar will:
Review the 2017 IDSA/SHEA CDI guideline update treatment recommendations
Describe how the 2017 IDSA/SHEA CDI guideline update recommendations on C. difficile diagnostics will apply to a patient population
Identify how the microbiology laboratory can assist in C. difficile infection prevention

Presenter:
Erik Dubberke, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO
Eric Dubberke Photo
Dr. Dubberke is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he has been a faculty member in the Division of Infectious Diseases since 2005. His main research interests are in the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). He is the lead author of the CDI component of the SHEA compendium to prevent healthcare associated infections, and is a panel member on the update of the SHEA/IDSA CDI clinical guidelines.
Anti-Heparin Platelet Factor 4 Antibodies: Risking a Potentially Catastrophic Occurrence
Live Event: Thursday, April 5, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until October 4, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
As many as 5% of patients treated with heparin have an immune complex that is formed between Heparin and Platelet Factor 4 (PF4). These patients may develop Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT), characterized by a low platelet count that can result in excessive bleeding or clotting. Of those diagnosed with HIT, 30% are at risk for death and 20% are at risk for limb amputation.

Current testing for HIT can take several hours to several days for the results. During this time, patients requiring surgery must wait for the test results to determine if heparin can be administered, or they are given expensive direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI’s) as a precautionary measure.

This webinar will describe the mechanism of interaction between heparin and platelet factor 4, review the chemistry of heparin, and identify the consequences of antibodies to Heparin Platelet Factor 4. It will also examine the testing methodology for the anti-Platelet Factor 4 Heparin antibody.


This webinar will:
Describe the mechanism of interaction between Heparin and Platelet Factor 4
Review the chemistry of Heparin
Identify the consequences of antibodies to the Heparin Platelet Factor 4
Examine the testing methodology for the anti-Platelet Factor 4 Heparin anti-body

This webinar is sponsored by Fisher and Akers Logo  
Presenter:
Michael Warhol, MD
Past President , Pennsylvania Association of Pathologists
Fellow of the American College of Pathology
Michael Warhol Photo
Dr. Warhol received his undergraduate degree at Princeton University and his M.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He continued his residency training in pathology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, MA. He served as Chairman and Director of Laboratories at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and New York Hospital Queens.
Empowering STAT DNA Testing for Molecular Oncology Applications using a Fully Automated Platform
Live Event: Thursday, March 15, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until September 14, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Turnaround time remains a major issue in molecular biomarker testing. Current technologies are complex, require a lot of hands-on time and are often difficult to implement in the local laboratory. These factors significantly extend the time until the result report becomes available.

This webinar will provide firsthand perspectives about how new technologies can help improve turnaround times in virtually any lab. Dr. Tsongalis will discuss his experiences with fully -automated molecular biomarker analysis by presenting results from a recent performance study. He will also share his views on validation requirements for such a platform.




This webinar will:
Discuss the reasons for the need for improvement in TAT when it comes to testing Oncology biomarkers.
Compare the performance of a fully-automated qPCR-based system to that of a Next-Generation Sequencing based system
Identify validation strategies for implementing fully automated biomarker-testing systems in a CLIA setting.

Presenter: 
Gregory J. Tsongalis, PhD, HCLD, CC
Professor of Pathology
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, NH
Greg Tsongalis
Dr. Tsongalis' research interests are in the pathogenesis of solid tumors, disease association of SNP genotyping and personalized medicine. He has authored/edited 11 textbooks in the field of molecular pathology, published more than 200 peer reviewed manuscripts, and has been an invited speaker at both national and international meetings.
Understanding Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Treatment Options
Live Event: Tuesday, January 9, 2018  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until July 8, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
For patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), the current standard of practice is to start initial empiric antimicrobial therapy using broad-spectrum antibiotics with the goal to cover the most likely etiologies. Since the initial standard microbiological work-up fails to identify a definitive etiology in the majority of patients, most patients are continued on broad-spectrum antibiotics for the full duration of therapy. This empiric current antimicrobial approach exposes patients to more antimicrobials than necessary, eradicates a significant proportion of organisms belonging to the normal host flora (collateral damage), and selects for antimicrobial resistant pathogens.

However, with advances of diagnostic tests (including immunochromatographic-based urinary antigen and molecular assays) which can identify respiratory pathogens of CAP earlier in the course of management and with the potential for identifying specific pathogens in a greater proportion of patients, it is now possible to provide early treatment with a narrower, focused antimicrobial regimen that targets the identified pathogens. In those who have been begun on broader coverage, antibiotics can be reduced or “de-escalated.” This pathogen-directed therapy will ultimately lead to a new paradigm of “targeted antimicrobial” treatment that will permit selection of agents against a specific pathogen and substantially reduce exposure of individuals and hospitals to antimicrobial agents with decreased selection of antimicrobial resistance, cost, and adverse events.

This webinar will:
List the differences between empirical and pathogen-directed therapy for community-acquired pneumonia
Review pathogens responsible for community-acquired pneumonia
Analyze the diagnostics and treatment options available for community-acquired pneumonia
Identify advantages of rapid diagnostic methods for community-acquired pneumonia
Presenter:
Thomas M. File, Jr., MD MSc. MACP FIDSA FCCP
Chief of the Infectious Disease Service
Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio
Tom File Photo
Thomas M. File Jr., MD is Chief of the Infectious Disease Service and Director of HIV Research at Summa Health System in Akron. Ohio, and Professor of Internal Medicine and Master Teacher at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio.
Using Modern Technology to Surveil, Monitor, and Diagnose Infectious Disease
Live Event: Monday, December 18, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until June 18, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
There is a growing need for accurate and timely information about the status of infectious disease in a community, county or state. Such information will alert physicians, hospital administrators, medical and laboratory directors, and public health agencies, and can enable preventive measures and/or improved patient care and management. Modern surveillance technology shows great promise in fulfilling this need by sending results in near real-time for influenza, RSV, and Strep A tests to the CDC, state departments of health, and healthcare organizations nation-wide.

This webinar will discuss recent technological advances that have afforded certain FDA-cleared rapid point of care instruments that aid in the diagnosis of infectious disease the capability to wirelessly convey near real-time results and transmit to public health agencies and organizations for use in de-identified surveillance and laboratory management. The utility for laboratory management, featuring quality control, training, resource management, and operator performance will be discussed, as will the impact of valid real-time data on the management of patients and the timely and appropriate use of antivirals and antibiotics. Promising new applications of data in developing enhanced disease forecasting and the benefits this promises for public health, healthcare systems, pharmacies and others will be also be considered.

This webinar will:
Identify technology that allows certain FDA-cleared, rapid-POC testing instruments to wirelessly transmit to public authorities
Describe how labs can use the technology for quality control, training and resource management
Analyze the impact of valid real-time data on patient care management, including the use of antivirals and antibiotics
Discuss promising new applications of data to enhance disease forecasting and its benefits for various stakeholders

Presenter:
John Tamerius, PhD
Sr. Vice President, Strategic and External Affairs, Quidel Corp.
John Tamerius Photo
Dr. John Tamerius graduated from the Univ. of Washington (Seattle, Washington) with a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. He performed graduate and postdoctoral research in tumor immunology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Seattle) before joining the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation (San Diego, California) as a Research Associate in the Dept. of Molecular Immunology.
Meeting the Standards:
Mandatory FDA Reclassification Of Rapid Influenza Detection Tests
Live Event: Monday, November 6, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 6, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
FDA Tightens Standards, Reclassifies RIDTs
There have historically been some challenges with rapid immunoassay detection test (RIDTs) for influenza and their variability in performance. While they tend to show good specificity, they can deliver less-than-optimal sensitivity in respiratory specimens compared to RT-PCR or viral culture.
In some cases (for example, the H1N1 flu strain in 2009) RIDTs may be unable to detect the virus at all. For this reason, negative RIDT test results should be interpreted with caution given the potential for false negative results - especially during peak flu season in a community.

Based on these concerns, the FDA began work to reclassify antigen-based RIDTs as Class II devices in order to improve the overall quality of testing for influenza. The FDA has provided certain performance criteria that manufacturers will have to meet in order to market their influenza assays.

What Does the FDA Reclassification Mean for RIDT Manufacturers?
Manufacturers must obtain a new 510(k) clearance and demonstrate compliance with the special controls included in the new clinical performance standards before marketing antigen-based RIDTs.

What Does the FDA Reclass Mean for Physicians and Labs?
Facilities testing for flu can still continue to purchase their current product up until January 12, 2018 and utilize them until the kit’s expiration date. This provides facilities enough time to assess the performance data against the FDA criteria and engage clinicians and management on the next course of action for flu testing.

This webinar will:
Describe the FDA reclassification of rapid immunoassay detection tests (RIDT’s) for 2018
Discuss the reason for FDA’s implementation of the new reclassification and how that impacts not only manufacturers but also the physician, the laboratory, and the patient
Identify the information RIDT users must have from manufacturers to determine whether or not their current testing meets the reclassification
Presenter:
Sally Hojvat, PhD
Sally Hojvat Photo
Sally Hojvat holds an MSc in Microbiology/ Food Science from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Biochemistry from Loyola University. She has completed post-doctorate work in clinical chemistry and pharmacology, worked for the FDA, and has extensive experience working for a major international IVD manufacturer.



Get the Most Out Of Barcoding In Your Pathology Laboratory
Live Event: Wednesday, October 25, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until April 25, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Barcoding is used everywhere in our culture today to prevent errors. In laboratories, barcoding has become an evidence based “best practice” for reducing errors and improving productivity where up to 70% of all errors occur in the pre- and post-analytic phases. Besides improving productivity, barcoding opens up many new opportunities to utilize the embedded data downstream through multiple stages up to and including long-term storage and archiving.

This webinar will offer a practical approach to implementing a barcoding solution to meet the needs of your individual laboratory for protecting the integrity of patients’ specimens. With US Healthcare moving from a Fee-for-Service model to a Value-Based system, laboratories must implement ways of improving quality outcomes. The additional benefit barcoding delivers is an improvement in productivity and reduction, to the point of elimination of non-value added tasks. Barcoding utilized along with lean processes has also been proven to reduce labeling errors to near zero in pathology laboratories.

This webinar will:
Describe how reimbursement impacts technology utilization in the laboratory
Differentiate between linear and 2D barcodes and how each captures patient data
Review techniques labs employ to adapt barcoding to their varying sizes and budgets
Illustrate the ways in which barcoding affects a pathology laboratory's workflow and productivity









Presenter:
Loretta Sayles
Sayles Lab Consulting
Loretta Sayles Photo
Loretta Sayles has spent the past 30 plus years working in the anatomic pathology laboratory arena in several different aspects of our business. She currently is the Managing Director of Sayles Lab Consulting which focuses on helping labs improve their quality while understanding the challenging healthcare market. Loretta is very active in Histotechnology on both the national and state level and has been recognized for her dedication to the field.
The Journey to Realizing the Promise of Precision Medicine
Live Event: Tuesday, October 17, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until April 17, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
Recording
Drs. William's & Conley's Slides
Dr. Triche's Slides
Currently, clinical labs are doing sequential, single-analyte testing in oncology which exhausts precious patient samples and extends the turnaround time to results. Clinicians can wait for as long as two to three weeks to get a result. And, if the sample is insufficient for molecular testing, patients can be subject to expensive and painful rebiopsies. Pathologists and other clinicians need a better, faster way to consolidate their molecular testing into a single assay and get results within a week.

This webinar will show how Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is helping labs save precious samples and provide rapid results. It will review the updates on the NCI-MATCH clinical trial for adult cancers and the development of a gene panel specific to pediatric cancers, and it will discuss a laboratory's implementation of next-generation sequencing for cancer clinical research.




This webinar will:
Review the updates on the NCI-MATCH clinical trial for adult cancers and the development of a gene panel specific to pediatric cancers
Analyze the effects of next-generation sequencing on the speed of results from the clinical/pathology lab to oncologists to minimize the need for a painful and expensive rebiopsy
Discuss a laboratory's implementation of next-generation sequencing for cancer clinical research

Presenters:
Tim Triche PhotoTimothy Triche, MD, PhD, Pathologist; Co-Director, Center for Personalized Medicine Program (CPM) Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics, USC Keck School of Medicine

Mickey Williams PhotoMickey Williams, PhD
Director, Molecular Characterization Laboratory, National Cancer Institute

Barbara ConleyBarbara A. Conley, MD Special Volunteer / Contractor, National Cancer Institute
HIV Trends, Guideline Recommendations, & the Evolution of Rapid HIV Screening Tests 
Live Event: Thursday, September 28, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until March 28, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 14 percent of people infected with HIV in the United States - more than 168,000 people1 - are unaware of their infection. Of the estimated 50,000 new HIV infections each year, thousands are transmitted by people who do not know that they are HIV-positive.2,3

With the successful introduction of antiviral drugs, HIV screening and testing has become a cornerstone for prevention and treatment. For those who test positive, it opens the door to life-saving treatment and reduces the transmission of HIV to others. And for those who test negative, they can take preventative measures to ensure they remain negative.

Through the years, HIV screening tests have improved in performance and ease of use but not all HIV tests are equal. The CDC in 2014 updated their recommendations on HIV testing to include screening with a 4th generation lab test. This webinar will review the evolution of HIV screening tests, identify differences in HIV testing methodologies, review current CDC and HRSA guidelines for HIV testing, screening, and analysis, and develop strategies within one’s own institution to increase screening for HIV.

1 CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data - United States and 6 U.S. dependent areas - 2012. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2014;19(No. 3). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports. Published November 2014. (Accessed November 25, 2014).
2 CDC. Estimated HIV incidence among adults and adolescents in the United States, 2007-2010. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2012;17(No. 4). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/ttsupplemental. Published December 2012.
3 Hall HI, Holtgrave DR, and Maulsby C. HIV transmission rates from persons living with HIV who are aware and unaware of their infection. AIDS 2012;26(7):893-96. 




This webinar will:
Review current CDC and HRSA guidelines for HIV testing/screening/analysis and importance of early detection
Determine the patient population that can benefit from rapid point-of-care testing for HIV antigen/antibody
Develop strategies within one’s own institution to increase screening for HIV
Apply current guidelines and best practices to improve the care of patients who are HIV positive and HIV negative
Presenter:
Neil W. Anderson, MD
Assistant Professor, Washington University School of Medicine, and
Asst Medical Dir, Clinical Microbiology,
Barnes Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, Missouri
Neil Anderson photo
Neil Anderson completed his training in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed by a fellowship in clinical microbiology at Mayo Clinic. He currently is an assistant professor at Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine and is the assistant medical director of clinical microbiology at Barnes Jewish Hospital. His areas of academic pursuit include the serologic and molecular testing for infectious diseases, with a particular focus on HIV testing.
Advances in Biomarker Testing for Sepsis and Bacterial Infections
Live Event: Wednesday, September 13, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until March 13, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides 

Systemic bacterial Infections are often difficult to differentiate from other infections. This can lead to a delay in appropriate treatment and sometimes overtreatment with antibiotics Both the clinical presentation and diagnostic tests are required to manage therapy. Timely, informed decisions can be made with the assistance of biomarkers. With the recently FDA approved claim extensions of Procalcitonin (PCT) clinicians now have an additional tool to help direct antibiotic therapy. This can result in reduced antibiotic usage, reduced time in ICU reducing the costs incurred by both patients and healthcare systems while improving clinical outcomes.

This webinar will provide a thorough understanding on how biomarkers are used in systemic bacterial infections and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) and the laboratory’s role in helping direct patient therapy. It will analyze PCT as an infection biomarker with a review of the recently approved FDA claims and discuss the clinical application of the biomarker using case studies for LRTI and Sepsis.


This webinar will::
Identify the various biomarkers used to assess systemic infections
Discuss PCT as an infection biomarker with a review of the recently approved FDA claims
Define the role of PCT in the context of antibiotic stewardship
Describe the clinical application of the biomarker using case studies for LRTI and Sepsis

Presenter:
Eric Gluck MD, FCCP JD
Director, Critical Care Services
Swedish Covenant Hospital
Chicago, Illinois
Eric Gluck photo
Dr. Gluck is a Professor of Medicine at Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School in North Chicago. He has previously held positions as an Assistant Professor at both Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center and the University of Connecticut. Dr. Gluck is Board Certified in Internal Medicine with subspecialties in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Genital Zoster Infections: An Unexpected Finding Using a Molecular Assay
Live Event: Thursday, July 27, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until January 27, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides 
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are common causes of cutaneous and mucocutaneous infections and typically distinguished based upon appearance and anatomic location. But atypical presentations of zoster can occur in unusual anatomical sites. Improved testing methods for the differentiation of HSV 1+2 and VZV from cutaneous and mucocutaneous specimens allow for correct detection and diagnosis leading to better treatment and patient counseling.

Incorrect diagnosis of suspected HSV has psychosocial impacts that affect patient well being. Traditional culture methods for HSV and VZV can take between 24 hours and 2 weeks for results which can delay therapy and leave patients in the dark.

Molecular testing methods to diagnose and differentiate Herpes from Varicella Zoster can change treatment and patient counseling by providing definitive results in a timely manner to allow for more accurate treatment. 


This webinar will:
Discuss the importance of differentiating HSV from VZV specifically in genital lesions
Examine the ways in which a fast TAT for VZV can impact clinical care
Analyze the psychosocial impact of an incorrect diagnosis for HSV/VZV
Identify the treatment differences and positivity rates for VZV in patients suspected to have HSV



This webinar is sponsored by Fisher Logo and Quidel logo
Presenter:
Paul A. Granato, Ph.D., DABMM, FAAM
Professor Emeritus of Pathology
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Paul Granato pic
Dr. Granato earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular biology from Syracuse University after graduating from Le Moyne College majoring in biology and chemistry. Dr. Granato directed several clinical microbiology laboratories over his professional career while serving as a faculty member in the Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology at SUNY Upstate Medical University for over 35 years where he is now Professor Emeritus in Pathology.

Differentiating Gluten-Related Disorders Through Diagnostic Methods
Live Event: Monday, June 19, 2017  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until December 19, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
Celiac Disease is an immune-mediated systemic disorder elicited by gluten and related prolamines in genetically susceptible individuals. Approximately 90% of CD patients are not yet diagnosed. 36% of CD patients are incorrectly diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. The incidence of CD has increased from 5.2 per 100,000 persons in 1990 to 19.1 in 2010. Differentiation is critical since a gluten restricted diet is a burden for the patient and family.

Wheat is a grass, and one of the most common causes of food allergen sensitization in children. Some grass sensitized children can be misdiagnosed as wheat allergic who are recommended a wheat-free diet as whole wheat extract tests often show sensitization due to cross-reactivity between wheat and grass components e.g. profilin and CCD. Wheat is an ingredient in processed foods other than bakery products, for instance in beer which may elicit symptoms in allergen sensitized patients.

This session will present an update of our current understanding of the three main forms of reactions to wheat and its byproducts including gluten: allergic (wheat allergy), autoimmune (celiac disease) and intolerance (gluten sensitivity). The speakers cover testing cascades to differentiate patients efficiently, as well as the laboratory efficiency gains by processing these tests on a single automated platform.


This webinar will:
Discuss the prevalence, symptoms, and characteristics of three "gluten"- related disorders
Examine the reasons why "Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS)" is still a vague umbrella term encompassing distinct populations of patients
Identify the patients who would benefit from testing
Assess specific testing cascades to assist the clinician in the differentiation between "gluten"- related disorders
Presenters:
Stephano Guandalini photoStefano Guandalini, MD, is an internationally recognized expert on celiac disease. He is also known for his expertise in the research and treatment of other diarrheal diseases in children. Dr. Guandalini is the president of the North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease, and has been ranked among America’s "Best Doctors" since 2008. 

Alessio Fasano photoDr. Alessio Fasano is chief of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC). He is a world-renowned pediatric gastro-enterologist, research scientist and entrepreneur. Dr. Fasano directs the Center for Celiac Research, specializing in the treatment of patients of all ages with gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease, wheat allergy and gluten sensitivity.
Vaginal Microbiota Investigations: Increasing Insight, Reducing Cost
Live Event: Tuesday, May 16, 2017  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until November 16, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides

Urogenital infections, including bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, and vaginitis, afflict over a billion women each year. In spite of the significant size of the affected population, there is a lack of awareness among CLIA labs for a multi-pathogen solution for screening vaginal microbiota. Current culture based methods for vaginal and urogenital microbiota lack sensitivity and specificity, and are subjective as well as inaccurate. Current molecular methods for bacterial vaginitis can have a high cost per sample, lack of flexibility in content and pathogenic targets, and are not amenable to centralized testing. Tests that are neither flexible in content, low cost per sample, nor sensitive enough to detect vaginal and urogenital microbiota can lead to further testing in order to get a finite answer for bacterial vaginitis investigations.

 

This webinar will discuss the increased sensitivity and specificity required for vaginal microbiota and pathogen investigations. It will also review the role of both pathogenic and commensal microbiota involved in urogenital infections, and identify the methods to detect a broad range of vaginal microbiota from a single sample quickly, and efficiently.





This webinar will:

Review the role of both pathogenic and commensal microbiota involved in urogenital infections

Identify the methods to detect a broad range of vaginal microbiota from a single sample quickly, and cost effectively

Discuss the practical application of the detection of a broad range of vaginal microbiota from a single sample

 

Presenters:
Don Stalons photo  Don Stalons, PhD
Director, Clinical Laboratory, Diatherix
Doug Rains photo  Doug Rains
CSO of Quantigen Laboratory in Fishers, IN 
Jeff Shaman photo  Jeffrey Shaman, PhD
Director of Business Dev.
Coriell Life Sciences  
Case Studies in Vaginitis
Live Event: Friday, March 31, 2017  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until September 31, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View Slides
Vaginitis is one of the most common gynecologic disorders seen in primary care It is a disorder that accounts for 10 million office visits and up to 7 percent of visits made to gynecologists. Although generally not regarded as a serious condition, it nevertheless has significant consequences in terms of pain and discomfort, days loss from work and school, sexual functioning, and altered self-esteem. In addition, over one billion dollars a year are spent on OTC medications and physician visits for this diagnosis.

This webinar will provide clinicians with a practical diagnostic approach to the patient presenting to the office with a vaginal discharge. In addition to helping the clinicians differentiate normal from abnormal, the webinar will also illustrate how integration of clues from the history and physical findings with skillful use of the office laboratory is essential for making an accurate diagnosis. This webinar will also address current challenges in diagnosing trichomonas and candida infections and review the effective management of common vaginal infections.




This webinar will:
Describe a differential diagnosis of the patient presenting with a vaginal discharge.
Analyze the role of the office laboratory in diagnosing vaginitis.
Identify the three most common causes of vaginitis and discuss the effective management of each.

Presenter:
Martin Quan, MD
Professor of Clinical Family Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Martin Quan photo

Dr. Quan is Professor of Clinical Family Medicine and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and is also Director, Office of Continuing Medical Education. He also serves as Senior Advisor to the President of the American Board of Family Medicine. He is a member of the Education Advisory Board and consultant to the Committee on Continued Professional Development of the California Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the Kidney Learning System Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation.
Tissue Archiving: Reality, Recommendations and Best Practices
Live Event: Thursday, January 26, 2017  |  1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until January 26, 2018  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides
In today’s busy Pathology laboratories, more is being expected with fewer resources. Yet, archiving tissue paraffin blocks, retrieving them when necessary and then re-archiving them back into their original filed positions utilizes manpower resources. An estimated 3000 manual work hours are spent annually for a laboratory that processes 100,000 tissue blocks per year.1

More importantly, the traceability and accountability of tissue blocks are critical components to patient management. The risk of delay of diagnosis when tissue blocks go missing can lead to anxiety for the patient and the laboratory staff. In addition, lost tissue blocks can result in even more serious issues including risk of litigation and harmed reputation. As serious as lost patient diagnostic pathology slides can be, lost paraffin blocks are even more significant since any hope of retrieving a viable patient sample is lost forever.2

The purpose of this webinar is to review tissue block archiving guidelines in the US and other countries throughout Europe. It will review the past and current practice for archiving tissue blocks at Dr. Costes-Martineau’s laboratory at Montpellier University Teaching Hospital. And lastly, it will offer recommendations on best practices towards achieving overall improvement in tissue block archiving practices.

1Montpellier University Teaching Hospital, Montpellier, France
2Testing Biopsy & Cytology Specimens for Cancer,
www.Cancer.org



This webinar will:
Review tissue block archiving guidelines in the US and discuss how these regulations compare to those in other countries throughout Europe.
Examine how one laboratory achieved time-savings while improving compliance with their tissue block archiving system.
Identify best practices towards improving your laboratory’s efficiency in tissue block archiving.
Presenter:
Pr. Valérie Costes-Martineau, MD
Montpellier University Teaching Hospital, Montpellier, France
Photo Valérie Costes-Martineau
Dr. Costes-Martineau is Professor of Medicine at University Montpellier. She is the head of both the Department of Biopathology and of the Department of Biobanking at Montpellier University Teaching Hospital in France. Professor Costes-Martineau's main focus is Head and Neck (HN) Pathology. She is a member of the Scientific Board of the network for rare HN cancers which is granted by INCA, and in charge of HN Pathology Teaching organized by the Pathology French Society. She is also the president of the French HN Pathology society. Professor Costes-Martineau is the author of over 100 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals.
Molecular In Minutes: The Value of Molecular Testing for Infectious Disease
Live Event:
Wednesday, December 14, 2016  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until June 14, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
Overuse of antibiotics is a significant global crisis. While physicians often prescribe treatment empirically rather than wait for diagnostic results, hospitals are faced with a financial burden for antibiotic resistant infections and C. difficile rates. As laboratories increasingly have the ability to deliver faster results, they can now also have more impact on the treatment patients receive. By helping to ensure that patients are placed on the most appropriate therapy, complications like C. difficile infection and the resulting increased length of stay can be better managed.



This webinar will:
Define the need for changing antibiotic prescribing habits at point-of-care
Discuss newer technologies that amplify nucleic acid
Explain how these technologies can apply to specific disease states




This webinar is sponsored by Fisher-Alere-logos 
Presenter:
Norman Moore, PhD
Director of Scientific Affairs for Infectious Disease, Alere
Norm Moore Photo
 
Dr. Moore received his bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from Dartmouth College and his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of New Hampshire. He developed the first ever rapid tests for Legionella and S. pneumoniae, both of which are now recommended by the Infectious Disease Society of America for use in severe pneumonia cases, among other assays. Dr. Moore currently has six patents and numerous publications and presentations.
 
Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis: Avoiding CCP False Positives
Live Event: Monday, October 24, 2016 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until April 24, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common autoimmune disease, just behind autoimmune thyroid diseases, and more common than RA disease, antiphospholipid syndrome and autoimmune liver diseases. RA is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder affecting approximately 1.3 to 2.6 million (0.5 - 1%) adults, and 294,000 children in the US1. In nearby Canada, researchers found an incidence of 2 and 5 cases per 1000 residents, with prevalence in women over 45 close
to 1%2.

The cause of RA is unknown and there is no cure, however early treatment can help prevent irreversible joint damage, premature death, disability, and raise the patient’s quality of life3. In many geographic regions access to specialty care is limited. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers access to rheumatologists, and particularly, pediatric rheumatologists as one of their top 8 concerns.

Expanded management of patients is challenging in that the diagnosis is formed using established medical guidance criteria including the combination of physical exam, serologic testing and imaging. Understanding serologic test selection and interpretation can improve qualified referrals to help meet demand for specialty care. This webinar will address evidence-based approaches described in the American college of Rheumatology Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This webinar will:
Review evidence-based approaches described in the American college of Rheumatology Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Discuss the importance of specificity in test selection, and optimal usage of two recommended serologic markers for RA, Anti-CCP and Rheumatoid Factor IgM
Analyze how test efficacy and disease prevalence impact result accuracy, and timely consultation or referral to a rheumatologist for patients in whom there is a high index of suspicion of RA



1 Helmick CG, Felson DT, Lawrence RC, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part I. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Jan;58(1):15-25. doi: 10.1002/art.23177.
2 Broten L, Aviña-Zubieta JA, Lacaille D, et. Al. Systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease prevalence in Canada: updated analyses across 7 provinces.JRheumatol. 2014 Apr;41(4):673-9. doi:10.3899/jrheum.130667.Epub 2014 Mar 1.
3 Herold M. Rheumatoid Arthritis. In: Shoenfeld Y and Meroni PL, ed. The General Practice Guide To Autoimmune Diseases. Lengerich, Germany: Pabst Science Publishers; 2012:63-71.

 
Presenter:
Teresa Tarrant, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine Durham, North Carolina
Teresa Tarrant Photo
Dr. Tarrant is a clinical immunologist, board certified in allergy, immunology and rheumatology. She specializes in diseases of and related to rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögrens syndrome, inflammatory eye disease, CVID, and immunodeficiency in aging. In addition to her active medical practice, over the last 10 years, Dr. Tarrant has held two other major roles in her daily work; first as a medical liaison, where she assists in the evaluation and selection of immunoassays, including authoring or co-authoring peer-reviewed scientific articles of their evaluations, and secondly as an associate professor of medicine.
Comparing Biomarkers used in Infection, Sepsis, and Septic Shock:
What is the Role of Procalcitonin?
Live Event: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until March 13, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
Sepsis is the 6th most common principal diagnosis affecting 1 in 23 inpatients. The in-hospital mortality rate due to sepsis is 16%, which is nearly 8 times higher than the average inpatient mortality rate, and adversely impacts clinical outcomes for hospitals.

Septicemia is the second highest 30-day Medicare readmission diagnoses, resulting in 92,900 readmissions. Sepsis is the most expensive inpatient diagnosis with over $23B in aggregate hospital costs, accounting for 5.2% of all costs, but only 2.8% of discharges.

This webinar will help participants assess whether their current biomarker choices provide their clinicians with optimal clinical effectiveness. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker of the host's response to a systemic bacterial infection. The webinar will illustrate how PCT provides rapid insight on the severity of bacterial infection, the risk of progression to sepsis, and the risk of mortality.

This webinar will also review currently available biomarkers used for infectious disease diagnosis, sepsis, and septic shock.


This webinar will:
• Review currently available biomarkers used for infectious disease diagnosis, sepsis and septic shock
• Compare and contrast common biomarkers to determine which marker or group of markers can provide clinicians with effective clinical information
• Discuss the role of Procalcitonin (PCT) in sepsis management


Presenter:
Mike Broyles, BSPharm, PharmD,
Dir. Pharmacy and Laboratory Services
Five Rivers Medical Center, AR
Mike Broyles photo
Dr. Broyles is a Doctorate Prepared Pharmacist with 25 years of experience as a Hospital Pharmacy Director providing patients with current concepts in the clinical use of drugs. As the pharmacy advisory chairman for a large IDN, Dr. Broyles helps to develop and implement clinical initiatives. He consults for several IDN’s, Alaris, Cardinal Health, Carefusion, bioMerieux, ICNet, independently serving both small and large hospitals.
The Impact of Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Testing on Patient Blood Management
Live Event: Monday, August 22, 2016 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until February 22, 2017  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
RecordingView Slides 
Patient Blood Management (PBM) is an emerging clinical concept designed to reduce unnecessary, excessive and avoidable blood transfusions. Interest in PBM has grown rapidly throughout the world as new evidence demonstrates a strong association between transfusion and a variety of healthcare care complications (infections, pulmonary injury, and mortality). Reducing transfusion exposure in hospitals has the dual benefit of significantly reducing costs while improving safety and outcomes.

PBM programs often utilize a variety of resources and technologies to optimize blood management, including point-of-care testing. Point-of-care Hemoglobin testing has been widely used in hospitals and published in the literature as an evidence based strategy to support transfusion management. This webinar will focus on practical applications of POCT Hgb to improve the recognition and management of anemia, support the paradigm shift of RBC transfusion as single units with reassessment, and optimize transfusion decision making in the anemic or bleeding patient.


This webinar will:
Describe how optimal transfusion practice and patient blood management can result in reduced health care costs and improved patient outcomes
• Define how point-of-care Hemoglobin testing can improve recognition/management of anemia and transfusion decision making in the bleeding patient
• Examine the paradigm shift of RBC transfusion as single units with reassessment




Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's solutions for Patient Blood Management.
Presenter:
Joseph Thomas, BSN, RN
Regional Director, Blood Management - Accumen
Joe Thomas photo
Joseph Thomas is a registered nurse and currently serves as Regional Director of Patient Blood Management (PBM) for Accumen. Over the past 14 years Mr. Thomas has worked with over 125 hospitals to improve blood management and patient outcomes. Over this time he has educated and mentored thousands of physicians and nurses on transfusion and blood management related topics. Mr. Thomas is also a nationally recognized speaker and a published author in the field of blood management and transfusion safety.
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection
Live Event: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until November 18, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
 RecordingView Slides
The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased dramatically since 2000. In 2011, there were 453,000 CDI cases in the US associated with over 29,000 deaths. The clinical microbiology laboratory plays a critical role in identifying patients who have CDI, and therefore also the initiation of preventive measures. At the end of the webinar, the participant will understand how CDI impacts patients, how to optimize CDI diagnosis, and how to prevent CDI.

This webinar will:
• Analyze the importance of C. difficile infection on patient outcomes
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of C. difficile diagnostic assays
• Describe the role of the microbiology laboratory in the prevention of C. difficile infection




Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's solutions for Clostridium difficile testing.





This webinar is sponsored by Fisher-Alere-logos 


Presenter:
Erik R. Dubberke, MD, MSPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Dubberke Photo
Dr. Dubberke is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he has been a faculty member in the Division of Infectious Diseases since 2005. His main research interests are in the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
Cryptosporidium and Giardia Testing
Live Event: Tuesday, May 3, 2016  |  2:00 - 3:00 PM
PACE® credit available until November 3, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View RecordingView Slides
In the United States, CDC estimates approximately 2 million annual cases of Giardia and Cryptosporidium combined. These numbers are likely underestimates of true infections due to the challenges of traditional diagnostic methods. The current gold standard for Giardia and Cryptosporidium detection is conventional microscopy, which is time consuming, requires expert technical skills, and is relatively insensitive. Additionally, Cryptosporidium diagnosis requires special staining methods that may or may not be considered by the ordering physician, potentially leading to missed diagnoses of cryptosporidiosis.

Manufacturers are continually improving upon diagnostic assays to enhance identification and detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, resulting in a more accurate number of cases reported, better diagnosis of true infections, and improved patient care.

This webinar will:
• Discuss giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis disease and epidemiology
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of gold standard methods
• Describe current diagnostic methods for detecting Giardia and Cryptosporidium in clinical specimens
• Review the impact these advanced methodologies have on improving diagnosis



Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's Cryptosporidium and Giardia Testing solutions.

This webinar is sponsored by  Fisher_Sekisui logos 
Presenter:
Shelley Miller, PhD, D (ABMM)
Clinical Instructor, UCLA
Shelley Miller pic
Dr. Shelley Miller completed a medical microbiology and public health postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA and became board certified by the American Board for Medical Microbiology.  She is currently a Clinical Instructor at the UCLA Clinical Microbiology Lab where she has clinical teaching responsibilities and also helps oversee clinical trial studies being conducted in the lab.
Minutes vs. Days: Rapid Diagnosis of Group A Strep
Live Event: March 30, 2016  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM
EDT
PACE® credit available until September 30, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View RecordingView slides
Medical providers now have a number of new technologies available for the rapid diagnosis of strep pharyngitis. Dr. Schuman will present an overview of strep pharyngitis, signs, symptoms and complications with an emphasis on expediting diagnosis in the medical office. The role of the strep score with be reviewed and discussed regarding its clinical utility. Recommendations will be made for improving your current diagnostic technology.



This webinar will:
• Discuss clinical features of strep pharyngitis
• Analyze the utility of the modified strep score in diagnosing strep pharyngitis
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of current "high tech" point of care rapid strep tests


Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's Strep A solutions.


 
This webinar is sponsored by  Fisher-Alere-logos 
Presenter:
Dr. Andrew J. Schuman
Geisel School of Medicine
Andrew Schuman photo
Andrew J. Schuman is Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He has been writing about office technology and medical practice in Contemporary Pediatrics for 28 years, and he is now on the Editorial Advisory Board of the publication.
A Healthy Response to Unhealthy Food: Diagnostic Testing for Wheat-Related Disorders 
Live Event: Monday, November 9, 2015 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
PACE® credit available until May 9, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View RecordingView Slides
Researchers have found that there is a spectrum of gluten-related disorders, which includes diseases and conditions that result from the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This session will summarize our current knowledge about the three main forms of reactions to wheat and its byproducts including gluten: allergic (wheat allergy), autoimmune (celiac disease) and intolerance (gluten sensitivity), and outline pathogenic, clinical and epidemiological differences. 

This webinar will:
• Distinguish between wheat allergy, celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity
• Analyze and define testing requirements to aid in the diagnosis of wheat allergy and gluten related disorders
• Advocate for accurate and timely diagnosis to improve patients quality of life
• Review literature to better understand the presentation of symptom, challenges of diagnosis and treatment options




Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's solutions for Celiac Disease testing
Presenter:
Stefano Guandalini, MD
University of Chicago Celiac Disease Ctr
Stefano Guandalini pic
 
Stefano Guandalini, MD, is an internationally recognized expert on celiac disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. He is also known for his expertise in the research and treatment of other diarrheal diseases in children. Dr. Guandalini is the president of the North American Society for the Study of Celiac Disease, and has been ranked among America’s "Best Doctors" since 2008.
The Unseen Threat: Diabetes and the Cardiorenal Syndrome
Live Event: Wednesday, Oct 21, 2015 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until April 21, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View RecordingView Slides
The statistics are staggering. Nearly 29.1 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the U.S., and nearly 8.1 million (27.8%) Americans remain undiagnosed.1 Additionally, approximately 26 million Americans have kidney disease and are unaware of their condition.2

Diabetes poses a significant clinical burden to patients. Left untreated, serious complications can occur including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, lower-limb amputation and pregnancy complications. According to the International Journal of Nephrology (IJN)3, Cardiorenal Syndrome (CRS) is the umbrella term used to describe clinical conditions in which cardiac and renal dysfunctions coexist whereby “acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other.” A number of laboratory tests such as HbA1c, BNP, NT-proBNP, Albumin and Creatinine can assist clinicians in the management of this syndrome.

Given the continued rise of diabetes in the U.S., healthcare professionals need to be well-informed about Cardiorenal Syndrome, its pathophysiology, its connection with diabetes and understand the latest recommended guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

This webinar will:
• Discuss the nature of Cardiorenal Syndrome and its pathophysiology connection with diabetes
• Review the prevalence of diabetes and kidney diseases in the U.S.
• Examine the latest guidelines from leading research groups on this topic
• Apply learnings to Cardiorenal Syndrome case studies

Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's Diabetes Testing solutions.
Presenter:
Nancy Haley PhD
Nancy Haley photo
Dr. Haley has published over 150 articles in peer reviewed journals and has written over 15 chapters in educational texts. She has lectured at several international meetings on cardiology and cancer risk and has appeared on Good Morning America, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the ABC World News with Peter Jennings.
Shiga Toxin: A Public Health Threat
Live Event: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
PACE® credit available until January 13, 2016  |  Florida Laboratory CE Credit available
View RecordingView Slides 
Each year, there are roughly 211-375 million diarrhea cases in the United States leading to 73 million physician consultations, 3100 deaths, and $25 billion in healthcare costs. While the CDC estimates that 265,000 cases occur each year due to Shiga Toxin producing E. coli (STEC), it is still significantly underdiagnosed because appropriate diagnostic tests are often not performed. STEC can not only cause bloody diarrhea, but has complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults.

When a patient presents with symptoms of STEC, rapid diagnosis is key to both improving the likelihood of a positive outcome and to helping contain any further contamination. The test must also be accurate because the wrong antibiotic treatment can actually exacerbate the toxin.

This webinar will:
• Discuss the clinical significance of Shiga Toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and its effect on public health
• Demonstrate how STEC can be transmitted and what foods are at highest risk.
• Review the ways in which STEC causes significant illness, especially in younger children
• Analyze the need for and how to test and treat for STEC.



Click here to learn more about Fisher HealthCare's Antimicrobial Stewardship solutions.


 
This webinar is sponsored by  Fisher-Alere-logos 
Presenter:
Norman Moore, PhD
Alere
Norman Moore photo

Dr. Moore received dual degrees in Biology and Philosophy from Dartmouth College and a PhD in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire.  While at Digene Diagnostics, he developed tests for HPV, the etiological agent for cervical cancer. While at Gene Trak Systems, Dr. Moore developed diagnostics for food pathogens. Dr. Moore later joined Binax where he developed the first ever rapid tests for Legionnaires ’ disease, S. pneumoniae in urine, and many other tests. Dr. Moore is responsible for Scientific Affairs for infectious diseases at Alere.


 
Fisher Healthcare is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the
clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
 
More Educational Resources POC Webinars
Fisher Healthcare's commitment to education extends to our sponsorship of many Point of Care Group webinars. These webinars are produced by Whitehat Communications and free to the point of care and laboratory community. You can register for upcoming webinars and view the recorded sessions for 2018 here:

Click here to register for any of the 2019 Point of Care group webinars

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