Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Systems Update

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Systems Update

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) Meeting The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC), managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides scientific and technical advice and guidance to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pertaining to general issues related to improvement in clinical laboratory quality and laboratory medicine practice. For the first time, CLIAC was held at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, MD on April 10-11, 2018. The agenda included agency updates from CDC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Presentations and discussions focused on the clinical laboratory workforce; implementation of next generation sequencing in clinical laboratories; laboratory interoperability; and using clinical laboratory data to improve quality and laboratory medicine practices. CLIAC made seven formal recommendations that included: The formation of a workgroup to address appropriate oversight of non-traditional testing models The formation of a workgroup to provide guidance to laboratories performing next-generation sequencing Three recommendations addressing the laboratory workforce, primarily workforce shortages and increasing awareness of laboratory science as a career Two recommendations addressing laboratory interoperability See the meeting documents for presentations. The meeting summary will be available on the CLIAC website by July 10, 2018.
Anticoagulation Management App Determining the correct type and dosage of anticoagulant drug can be challenging. The Anticoagulation Manager (ACM) is a mobile application developed through the collaborative efforts of the CDC and the Georgia Institute of Technology. ACM is a resource for clinicians that will guide them to utilize the appropriate laboratory testing and administer the appropriate anticoagulant drug in correct dosage to patients. The application provides consolidated, evidence-based, and accurate information for clinicians. It is intended to decrease the number of errors in the process of ordering laboratory testing and administering anticoagulant drugs. Learn more and download the app.
Join CDC’s Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) Are you an early-career laboratory scientist with a doctoral degree in a laboratory-related discipline? CDC’s Laboratory Leadership Service prepares high-caliber scientists to become public health leaders through experimental training in laboratory quality management and the science of biosafety. LLS fellows conduct cutting-edge laboratory research and risk assessments, evaluate systems, and collaborate with Epidemic Intelligence Service officers in the field. The application period for Class of 2019: April 16-July 11, 2018. Visit www.cdc.gov/LLS today to learn more about this exciting program and application process.
New CDC Laboratory Safety Portal DLS is pleased to announce the launch of a new website for the clinical and public health laboratory community, the CDC Laboratory Safety Portal. This site is a gateway to CDC’s resources for laboratory professionals across the United States and around the world, and connects website visitors with information about CDC-operated laboratories. This portal, www.cdc.gov/labsafety, links visitors to training and technical assistance tools that can help laboratory professionals achieve the highest safety standards in laboratory science.
New CDC Laboratory Quality Portal This sister site to Safe Labs concentrates links to our resources for staff members in laboratories across the United States and around the world. On the www.cdc.gov/labquality Web portal, we emphasize training and technical assistance tools that can help our laboratory colleagues achieve the highest-quality science. In addition to laboratory professionals, now doctors, patients, and their family members can navigate to materials on clinical testing laws, regulations, and guidelines that protect health and promote greater understanding of diagnostic tests and results.
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Highlights From April 22-28, DLS combined forces with partner organizations to promote the work of Medical Laboratory Professionals. In addition to spreading the word throughTweets, Instagram and Facebook posts, and a feature story, DLS launched the Lab Week web portal where fellow Lab Heroes can access the latest Lab Week Superheroes graphics,stories, and sample social media messages.