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 most recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends Report, ''Testing for H1N1 in America,'' Quest ...

What will healthcare reform mean for the clinical laboratory?

The FDA has approved Ortho Clinical Diagnostics' diagnostic assay for detecting antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1+2 (Anti-HIV 1+2) for use on the VITROS 5600 Integrated and VITROS 3600 immunodiagnostic systems. According to Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, this is the first HIV diagnostic assay approved for an integrated system ...

The Joint Commission has announced the appointment of Jennifer F. Rhamy, MBA, MA, MT(ASCP), SBB, HP as executive director of the Laboratory Accreditation Program.  Rhamy, a veteran healthcare professional with experience in both hospitals and blood centers, has extensive knowledge of the inner workings of hospital-based and freestanding ...

Biotest Diagnostics awarded agreements with Premier healthcare alliance for its advanced serology solutions Biotest Diagnostics Corp. recently announced a multi-year agreement with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier Inc., for its advanced serology solutions, including traditional blood bank reagents, and the ...

Our latest Opinion Poll tackles mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers. So far, 38% of readers agree hospitals should require all workers be vaccinated for the flu. What do you think? Take the poll on our home page: www.advanceweb.com/mlp.

Abbott, Abbott Park, IL, has announced a $6.6 billion definitive agreement to acquire Solvay's pharmaceuticals business and full global rights to the fenofibrate franchise. The acquisition will provide Abbott with a large and complementary portfolio of pharmaceutical products and a significant presence in key global emerging markets, according to ...

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 Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) event in San Francisco. bioMerieux's SMART Campaign ...

Quantimetrix Corp., Redondo Beach, CA, a company specializing in liquid quality control and urinalysis, has announced several newly added urine reagent strip values to its Dipper, Dropper, Dropper Plus and Dip&Spin inserts. Values for Accutest, Accustrip, Acon Mission, Henry Schein Urispec, Macherey Nagel Medi-Test and McKesson Medi-Lab ...

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 Limited, MedImmune LLC, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited, and sanofi pasteur Inc., ...