Laboratory Watch
Laboratory
Watch
Laboratory Watch–a COLA blog for clinical laboratory professionals. It is intended to be an informative resource dedicated to helping pathologists, laboratory directors and clinical laboratory professionals perform their jobs better. Laboratory Watch will keep you and other laboratory professionals up-to-date on significant advancements in the field of laboratory science, the latest regulatory news and the opinions of experts in their field.
At the beginning of May, I received an update from the Maryland Department of Health about measles activity in our state. While we were not having an outbreak, the number of cases had increased to 3 for 2026. Like many of us, I have also been...
At the end of 2024, CMS updated their requirements for laboratory directors. This update was part of the final rule which also included changes to other laboratory personnel requirements, histocompatibility requirements and fees. The new requirements became effective...
In recent years, new molecular tests have been showing up on my radar. Some of these tests make fantastic claims, such as a simple blood test able to screen for a multitude of cancers before you even have symptoms. I have also seen reports from a saliva test that says...
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend my very first Laboratory Enrichment Forum, COLA’s own national laboratory conference. This year it was held at the Gila River Resort in Chandler, Arizona. The venue and outside environment were beautiful, the food was...
My favorite time of year is finally here: Lab Week! Did you know that Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW) is celebrating its 50th anniversary? According to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS), MLPW originated in 1975. COLA is excited...
Hello laboratory professionals! I’d like to introduce myself to the readers of Laboratory Watch. My name is Cynthia Bruzzi, and I was recently named Medical Director of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at COLA. As such, I and guests will be the new authors of this...
By R. W. “Chip” Watkins, MD, MPH, FAAFP Integrative medicine is a field that combines conventional medical practices with alternative therapies to address the holistic needs of patients, as opposed to maintaining sole focus on disease management. A common public...
Welcome back to our ongoing series on the use of primary HPV testing in cervical cancer screening. In this installment, we aim to shed light on the issues of false negatives and false positives that can occur with primary HPV testing. False Negative HPV Results The...
The global effort to eradicate Guinea worm disease, or dracunculiasis, is nearing a historic milestone, thanks to decades of persistent, community-driven initiatives that have dramatically reduced human cases. However, recent challenges, particularly the rise of...
