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Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

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Risk of Misdiagnosis Due to Tissue Contamination May Be Higher for Certain Specimen Types:
Changes to laboratory staining techniques offer opportunity to reduce contamination events

PRESS RELEASE

The Dark Report
21806 Briarcliff Dr.
Spicewood, Texas 78669
512-264-7103 o
512-264-0969 f

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Ron Martin
rbmartin@darkreport.com


Risk of Misdiagnosis Due to Tissue Contamination May Be Higher for Certain Specimen Types:
Changes to laboratory staining techniques offer opportunity to reduce contamination events

AUSTIN, Texas (March 17, 2011) — Determining if an artifact on a slide is a contaminant or patient tissue can require hours of extra time in analysis. The risk of misinterpretation may be greater than most pathologists realize, especially in certain tissue types. Some studies report slide contamination rates of up to 25%.

Pathologists looking to minimize contamination incidents should be sure to read a newly published White Paper, “Risk of Misdiagnosis Due to Tissue Contamination May Be Higher for Certain Specimen Types: Changes to laboratory staining techniques offer opportunity to reduce contamination events.”

With a critical shortage of pathologists, productivity is a serious issue in some clinical laboratories. The average age of pathologists is over 50, so this shortage will grow more critical as baby boomers retire. With the advent of new technology that promises to effectively protect against contamination via staining baths, this is an ideal time for laboratories to address this issue. If reduced cross-contamination can be realized, laboratories will have the opportunity to not only improve patient safety, but also to increase pathologist productivity.

According to the White Paper, contamination in the staining process may be achieved by eliminating shared staining baths. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., is the first to offer a commercial staining system that does not use shared baths. Its instrument, The SymphonyTM, uses a staining module to discretely stain individual slides and uses fresh reagent for each slide. In comparison to batch staining, where reagents can be contaminated or degrade over many uses, Symphony equipment provides consistent, reproducible results.

Tailored specifically to the needs of any pathologist looking to reduce specimen misdiagnosis rates, this White Paper is authored by John B. Carpenter, MD, a pathologist at Diagnostic Specialties Laboratory and Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, WA. Other topics covered include specimen types with additional risk, elevated risks for specialty laboratories, the cost of contamination, and protecting against contamination. In addition, many colorful figures with possible contamination are analyzed.

This White Paper, “Risk of Misdiagnosis Due to Tissue Contamination May Be Higher for Certain Specimen Types: Changes to laboratory staining techniques offer opportunity to reduce contamination events,” is available for free download as a PDF at http://darkdaily.com/white-papers/risk-of-misdiagnosis-due-to-tissue-contamination-may-be-higher-for-certain-specimen-types-changes-to-laboratory-staining-techniques-offer-opportunity-to-reduce-contamination-events-31411 . It is part of the Dark Daily Resource Center which has a growing library of White Papers and other information resources tailored specifically for the needs of laboratory administrators, lab managers, pathologists, and lab industry consultants.

For additional information, Contact: Ron Martin, 512-264-7103

About The Dark Report

Established in 1995, The Dark Report is the leading source of exclusive business intelligence for laboratory CEOs, COOs, CFOs, Pathologists and Senior industry executives. It is widely-read by leaders in laboratory medicine and diagnostics. The Dark Report produces the famous Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management every spring, which showcases innovations by the nation’s and globe’s leading laboratory organizations. Dark Daily is an Internet-based e-briefing intelligence service, read worldwide by thought leaders in laboratory and pathology management. Other well-known conferences conducted by The Dark Report are Lab Quality Confab (on the use of Lean and Six Sigma methods in labs and hospitals), Molecular Summit (on the integration of in vivo and in vitro diagnostics). The Dark Report co-produces Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine annually in the United Kingdom; Executive Edge bi-annually in Canada; and The Business of Pathology bi-annually in Australia.

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