ADVANCE Outlook: Lab Professionals : General Health

H1N1 Rates Dropping

Kerri Penno — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:40:00 GMT

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection rates may have peaked in late October, but the pandemic flu virus continues to be a potential source of illness in all age groups, including the elderly, according to a new report by Quest Diagnostics Inc. In its...(read more)

Mammography and the Right to Choose

Matthew T. Patton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:53:00 GMT

(Editor's note: This is a guest blog written by Valerie M. Chapman, RN, MSN, a pediatric nurse for 25 years. She is a 3-year breast cancer survivor and lives in Medford, NJ, with her husband and two children.) I am a wife, a mother of two awesome kids,...(read more)

Signs of the Times

Matthew T. Patton — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:46:00 GMT

Acknowledging healthcare reform has been controversial would definitely be an understatement. Almost everywhere I've traveled lately I've heard highly emotional and passionate positions for both sides of the debate. This past weekend, a large group of...(read more)

H1N1 Diagnosis

Amanda Koehler — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:45:00 GMT

About a month ago, I was visiting with my sister. During our conversation, she brought up that her boyfriend had swine flu. I was concerned for him (and, additionally, for her) but also intrigued because he was the first person I knew who had H1N1. Working...(read more)

OCD Releases Anti-HIV Test

Amanda Koehler — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:25:00 GMT

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, announced today FDA approval of a diagnostic assay for the detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1+2 (Anti-HIV 1+2) for use on the VITROS 5600 Integrated and VITROS 3600 Immunodiagnostic...(read more)

Be SMART

Kerri Penno — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:50:00 GMT

bioMérieux, an in vitro diagnostics company, heightened its role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance by launching its Solutions to Manage the Antimicrobial Resistance Threat (SMART) Campaign at the 49th Annual Interscience Conference for Antimicrobial...(read more)

H1N1 Vaccine Approved

Kerri Penno — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:53:00 GMT

The FDA has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next 4 weeks. All four firms manufacturing the H1N1 vaccines--CSL...(read more)

FDA Clears Vermillion's OVA1

Kerri Penno — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 GMT

The FDA has cleared Vermillion Inc.'s (Fremont, CA) OVA1 test to help detect ovarian cancer in pelvic masses requiring surgery. OVA1 identifies women who will benefit from referral to a gynecological oncologist for surgery, despite negative results from...(read more)

(Flu) Shots for All!

Amanda Koehler — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:22:00 GMT

This morning I read a story in the New York Times about how New York is mandating flu shots for all healthcare workers, mostly out of fear of H1N1 outbreaks. A healthcare union in the state is protesting, saying: "Healthcare workers on the front lines...(read more)

Rapid Tests for H1N1

Amanda Koehler — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:47:00 GMT

Here's a great article from The New York Times featuring the lab and H1N1 testing. The story says rapid tests for H1N1 fail to properly detect infections more than half the time. Have you been finding this is true for your laboratory?...(read more)

NIH and Wikipedia Team Up

Amanda Koehler — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Over a year ago, I wrote a blog about the validity of Wikipedia. In a world where people turn to the Internet for medical information, I believe Wikipedia should do a better job in policing what is written on their Web site. It seems I may be getting...(read more)

Ramping Up Vaccine Production

Kerri Penno — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:58:00 GMT

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the department will commit $884 million to purchase additional ingredients for H1N1 vaccines to further prepare the nation for a potential resurgence of the 2009 H1N1 virus. The funds will be used to place additional...(read more)

Stop Testing for H1N1?

Amanda Koehler — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:00 GMT

An article I found on the United Press International's Web site said the WHO is getting ready to tell countries to stop testing for the H1N1 virus. Because these tests are flooding labs and making it hard for laboratorians to keep up, healthcare professionals...(read more)

It's Official

Kerri Penno — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:45:00 GMT

"The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic." With these words, Margaret Chan, MD, MPH, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), raised the influenza pandemic alert to phase 6, the highest level. With almost 30,000 confirmed...(read more)

Preparing for a Bio-Katrina

Matthew T. Patton — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:03:00 GMT

In an interview with Federal News Radio in March, Tara O’Toole, MD, MPH, was asked what she would tell President Obama if she had the chance. Her reply: "There is a possibility, a real possibility, that there could be the equivalent of a bio-Katrina on...(read more)