Primary HPV Testing in Cervical Cancer Screening (Part 5)

Welcome back to our ongoing series about the role of HPV testing in the early detection of cervical cancer. In this installment, we delve into the complex issues surrounding false negatives and false positives in primary HPV testing.  The Challenge of False Negatives  While HPV tests have significantly improved in sensitivity compared to traditional cytology-based…

Proficiency Testing COLA Primer

Proficiency Testing (PT) is an important aspect of a laboratory’s overall assessment of quality. PT serves as an external check to verify the accuracy of a laboratory’s test results by providing an unknown specimen for analysis by the laboratory. This resource provides laboratories with requirements, processes, and procedures to achieve quality testing and meet CLIA…

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in 2024: A Salute to Unsung Heroes

As April showers us with its vibrant blooms, the healthcare sector and the public shine a spotlight on a crucial yet often underrecognized group—medical laboratory professionals. The 49th Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW), running from April 14-20, 2024, is a tribute to these pivotal figures in healthcare and medicine, highlighting their vital contributions.  The Rich…

Increase in Global and Domestic Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Ensure Children in the United States and Those Traveling Internationally 6 Months and Older are Current on MMR Vaccination

On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention. Clinical laboratories should review the Lab Tools for Measles for information on…