National survey on delta checks in clinical laboratories in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shukang He ◽  
Fengfeng Kang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Bingquan Chen ◽  
Zhiguo Wang

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to understand the status quo of delta checks in Chinese clinical laboratories through a nationwide online survey.MethodsThe survey was divided into two parts. The first part was a general situation survey in which clinical laboratories had to provide information about the laboratories, including delta checks used. In the second part, clinical laboratories were asked to record the delta check alerts generated in their laboratories from June 1st, 2019 to June 30th, 2019.ResultsThe most frequently used analytes in delta checks were potassium (K), glucose (Glu), creatinine (Cre) for clinical chemistry and hemoglobin (Hgb), platelet (PLT) count and white blood cell (WBC) count for clinical hematology. The median maximum time interval between specimens for all analytes was 5 days. The most commonly used delta check calculation modes in Chinese clinical laboratories were percentage change and absolute change. K and Hgb were the analytes most involved in clinical chemistry and clinical hematology delta check alerts. The most common causes of delta check alerts were that the patients had received treatment, which was followed by the change in the patient’s physiological state and interference from hemolysis, lipemia and icterus. The two most common outcomes of delta check alerts were ‘no problems found, standard report issued’ and ‘no problems found, report issued with comment’.ConclusionsThis study was the first nationwide survey of delta checks in China, the results of which help us to understand the current situation of delta checks in Chinese clinical laboratories.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-416
Author(s):  
Jennifer M Colby ◽  
Ferrin C Wheeler ◽  
Kimberly A Petrie ◽  
Kathleen L Gould ◽  
Jonathan E Schmitz

Abstract In the United States, the credentialing of PhD-scientists as medical directors of clinical laboratories is driven by formal postdoctoral training programs. Prior to acceptance in one these accredited fellowships, however, a trainee’s exposure to the field can be far less standardized, with significant ramifications for their awareness and competitiveness. In the current article, we describe our recent experiences in developing local, institution-based immersion opportunities for PhD experiences in the subdisciplines of laboratory medicine (clinical microbiology, clinical chemistry, and molecular genetics/genomics). It is our hope that this article—and a corresponding online survey—can prompt reflection and discussion on the status of early career training opportunities in these key clinical areas.


Author(s):  
Simon Thompson ◽  
Mary Kathryn Bohn ◽  
Nicasio Mancini ◽  
Tze Ping Loh ◽  
Cheng-Bin Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractRoutine biochemical and hematological tests have been reported to be useful in the stratification and prognostication of pediatric and adult patients with diagnosed coronavirus disease (COVID-19), correlating with poor outcomes such as the need for mechanical ventilation or intensive care, progression to multisystem organ failure, and/or death. While these tests are already well established in most clinical laboratories, there is still debate regarding their clinical value in the management of COVID-19, particularly in pediatrics, as well as the value of composite clinical risk scores in COVID-19 prognostication. This document by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) Task Force on COVID-19 provides interim guidance on: (A) clinical indications for testing, (B) recommendations for test selection and interpretation, (C) considerations in test interpretation, and (D) current limitations of biochemical/hematological monitoring of COVID-19 patients. These evidence-based recommendations will provide practical guidance to clinical laboratories worldwide, underscoring the contribution of biochemical and hematological testing to our collective pandemic response.


Author(s):  
Melissa Baughman

The purpose of this study was to explore the status and experiences of women in collegiate choral conducting positions. Out of all collegiate choral conductors ( N = 992) at institutions accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music in the United States, 68.65% ( n = 681) were men and 31.35% ( n = 311) were women at the time of this study; I invited the women collegiate choral conductors to serve as study participants. Ninety-six respondents completed an online survey, resulting in a response rate of 30.86%. I collected data through a researcher-designed survey. First, I asked respondents to provide demographic information and respond to Likert-type and open-ended prompts related to three domains: gaining entry into the profession, navigating the profession, and issues surrounding gender. I analyzed data through descriptive statistics and qualitative methods of assigning codes, combining codes into themes, and displaying the data. I addressed general discrepancies in the self-reported attitudes of respondents. Although women reported an overall attitude of satisfaction as choral conductors in their Likert-type responses, many respondents detailed several instances of gender discrimination and other challenges in their open-ended responses. Implications for the music profession, including specific strategies to help empower women in collegiate choral conducting settings, are discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
pp. 838-846
Author(s):  
W. Greg Miller ◽  
Gary L. Myers ◽  
Edward R. Ashwood ◽  
Anthony A. Killeen ◽  
Edward Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Context.—Harmonization and standardization of results among different clinical laboratories is necessary for clinical practice guidelines to be established. Objective.—To evaluate the state of the art in measuring 10 routine chemistry analytes. Design.—A specimen prepared as off-the-clot pooled sera and 4 conventionally prepared specimens were sent to participants in the College of American Pathologists Chemistry Survey. Analyte concentrations were assigned by reference measurement procedures. Participants.—Approximately 6000 clinical laboratories. Results.—For glucose, iron, potassium, and uric acid, more than 87.5% of peer groups meet the desirable bias goals based on biologic variability criteria. The remaining 6 analytes had less than 52% of peer groups that met the desirable bias criteria. Conclusions.—Routine measurement procedures for some analytes had acceptable traceability to reference systems. Conventionally prepared proficiency testing specimens were not adequately commutable with a fresh frozen specimen to be used to evaluate trueness of methods compared with a reference measurement procedure.


2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (03) ◽  
pp. 164-169
Author(s):  
Alexander Assmann ◽  
Udo Boeken ◽  
Stefan Klotz ◽  
Wolfgang Harringer ◽  
Andreas Beckmann

Background In context of the multidisciplinary German scientific guideline “Use of extracorporeal circulation (extracorporeal life support [ECLS]/extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for cardiac and circulatory failure,” a nationwide survey should depict the status of organization and application of ECLS therapy in Germany. Methods Between June and October 2017, a standardized questionnaire consisting of 30 items related to ECLS therapy was sent to all German cardiosurgical departments, and all returned results were analyzed and evaluated. Results The return rate amounted to 92.9% (78 out of 84 departments). In the participating departments, ECLS therapy is subject to different responsibilities, and exhibits divergent processes and various ways for specialization of the involved personnel. This also concerns local application standards, such as cannulation strategies, anticoagulation management, left ventricular unloading, antiwatershed treatment, and weaning from circulatory support. Conclusion This nationwide survey underlines the necessity of a multidisciplinary guideline concerning ECLS therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Chen ◽  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Zhiyong Chen ◽  
Sheng-Ming Dai

ObjectiveHigh prevalence of undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and prolonged diagnostic delay are key troubles in the appropriate management of PsA. To analyze the possible causes for this phenomenon, a web-based nationwide survey was conducted to investigate rheumatologists’ perceptions on PsA diagnosis in China.MethodsThe electronic questionnaire consisting of 38 questions were designed by an expert panel and distributed with the online survey tool Sojump, which is a professional online survey platform. The completed questionnaires by real-name rheumatologists were collected.ResultsA total of 1594 valid questionnaires were included. More than half of Chinese rheumatologists reported it was challenging to make a diagnosis of PsA. The four major challenges were “Difficulties in identification of atypical or hidden psoriasis”, “Absence of diagnostic biomarkers”, “No active self-report of history or family history of psoriasis” and “Various musculoskeletal manifestations”. In diagnosing PsA, minor participants had incorrect knowledge of inflammatory arthropathy (13.7%), acute phase reactant (23.8%), and rheumatoid factor (28.7%). There were no significant differences in the knowledge of PsA and practice habits in diagnosing PsA between modern western medicine (WM)- and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-rheumatologists. The part-time rheumatologists were not as good as full-time rheumatologists in diagnosing PsA.ConclusionsAbout three quarters of Chinese rheumatologists are familiar with the elements in PsA diagnosis and have good practice habits in diagnosing PsA. Four main challenges in making PsA diagnosis are revealed. There was no significant difference in the knowledge of PsA between WM- and TCM-rheumatologists.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gláucia Mara Moreira ◽  
Camila Primieri Nicolli ◽  
Larissa Bitencourt Gomes ◽  
Claudigo Ogoshi ◽  
Klaus K. Scheuermann ◽  
...  

Ninety three samples of rice were obtained from research and commercial plots at eight rice-producing regions of Brazil and analyzed for the presence of Fusarium species and 14 mycotoxins. A total of 352 isolates belonging to Fusarium genus were obtained from 85 % of the samples. These were assigned to four species complexes (SC) based on morphological identification. The most frequent SC detected was F. incarnatum-equiseti (FIESC, 32.4 %) followed by F. fujikuroi (FFSC, 26.1 %), F. graminearum (FGSC, 24.7 %) and F. chlamydosporum (FCSC, 16.8 %). FGSC was limited geographically and dominant in the southern subtropical production regions while the others occurred in all regions, particularly FIESC, the most widespread among them. The samples were individually contaminated with three to eight mycotoxins. The most common mycotoxins detected were zearalenone (ZEA), beauvericin, and acetylated forms of deoxynivalenol (AcDON). Other toxins included enniatins, T-2, HT-2, DON, neosolaniol and moniliformin. The concentration levels were all below the Brazilian promulgated limits established only for DON (< 750 ppb), and ZEA (< 100 ppb) with one exception for the latter. Most toxins were found in both the husk and flour fractions, but AcDON tended to concentrate more in the husk. Our survey extends considerable our knowledge of the Fusarium complexes infecting rice and provides an update on the status of rice mycotoxin contamination at the country level, which can be considered generally safe. However, attention should be paid to the widespread contamination of beauvericin.


PMLA ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-468
Author(s):  
Florence Howe ◽  
Laura Morlock ◽  
Richard Berk

In the spring and summer of 1970 the Commission on the Status of Women of the Modern Language Association conducted a comprehensive, nationwide survey on the position of women in English and modern foreign language departments. We collected information on types of appointments, ranks, teaching patterns, and salary levels of men and women faculty members and the proportion of women among graduate enrollments and recent degrees awarded. In addition, the Commission asked for information about nepotism regulations and practices of departments in the Association. This report presents some results of the survey.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultan Al-Shaqsi ◽  
Brian Hong ◽  
Ryan E Austin ◽  
Kyle Wanzel

Abstract Business and practice management principles are critical components of healthcare provision. Business and practice management is currently undertaught in plastic surgery training programs. The objective was to assess the status of business and practice management teaching amongst plastic surgery programs in Canada. An online survey of all enrolled plastic surgery residents was conducted in 2019 to 2020. Participants were invited to rate their knowledge and confidence about core principles in business and practice management. Sixty-five out of 126 residents responded to this survey (response rate, 51.6%). Only 7.8% of participants had previous business and practice management training; 23.1% reported receiving training in business and practice management during their residency. Participants reported a low level of knowledge and confidence in business and practice management (average Likert score between 3 and 4). Participants reported a high desire for future training in business and practice management particularly in billing and coding (91.2%) and business operations (91.2%). Plastic surgery residents in Canada reported a low level of knowledge and confidence about business and practice management. They desire the inclusion of business and practice management training in future curriculum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 1369-1375
Author(s):  
Victoria R. Rendell ◽  
Thomas J. Esposito ◽  
Angela Gibson

Multidisciplinary management of chronic wounds using comprehensive wound centers improves outcomes. With an increasing need for wound providers, little is known about surgeons’ roles in wound centers. An online survey of two national surgical organization members covered demographics, wound center characterization, and surgeons’ perspectives of wound centers and wound care. Surgeon perspectives were compared by age, gender, and relationship status. Three hundred sixty-four surgeons responded. Respondents were mostly older than 50 years, male, in practice older than 10 years, and used wound centers. Most respondents reported favorable experiences with wound centers but uncertainty about financial details. Most respondents were interested in formal wound care certification and participation in a wound practice, particularly as a transition to the retirement option for older surgeons. Surgeons are interested in pursuing a career focus in wound care. Further efforts are needed to educate surgeons and create a pathway for surgeons to become wound center directors. In a nationwide survey, surgeon perspectives on wound centers and wound specialization were positive, although financial understanding was limited. The importance of this finding is the support of wound care pathways for surgeons.


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