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WORLD’S CLINICAL LABORATORY NEWS LEADER ISSN 1068-1760
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Vol. 38 No.3 • 5/2021
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RNA-Sequencing Predicts Immunotherapy Success
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rothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is by far the most common type of bladder cancer. Urothelial cells also line other parts of the urinary tract, such as the part of the kidney that connects to the ureter (called the
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DAILY CLINICAL LAB NEWS
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New Methods Advance Cervical Cancer Screening
ervical cancer, which is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), is the world’s fourth-most common cancer, with more than 500,000 cases diagnosed annually. The Papanicolaou (Pap) test, introduced in the 1940s by George
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Papanicolaou, helps pathologists examine the morphology of exfoliated cervical cells. About 80% of cervical cancer can be prevented by well-organized, high-quality screening programs using Pap smears with three- to four-year screening intervals. Cont’d on page 12
port-related concussion is defined as a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces that typically results in the rapid onset of short-lived impairment of neurological function that resolves spontaneously. A high percentage of cases may go misdiagnosed or unidentified. The development and validation of objective diagnostic tools for concussion, both within traditional
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Genome Sequencing Identifies Myeloma Precursor and Progression Risk
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pecific targeting of the BcrAbl1 enzyme by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) revolutionized the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to the point that TKIs can offer near normal life expectancy for CML patients. However, some CML patients do not achieve optimal response at defined treatment time points, and others even develop TKI
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Salivary Markers Detect Sports Concussions
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onitoring the extent of anti-SARSCoV-2 T cell activity in recovered or vaccinated populations will determine if and when booster vaccinations will be required.
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Digital PCR Detects Chronic Myloid Lukemia
T-Cell Lymphocytes Can Seek and Destroy SARS-Cov-2 Variants
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ultiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy and is consistently preceded by the asymptomatic expansion of clonal plasma cells, termed either monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) Cont’d on page 14
Swamped by Surge in Testing Demand, Mid-Sized Labs Turn to Automation Solutions
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he clinical laboratory has gone through trial by fire in 2020, where total testing was 245% of baseline volumes, with around 55% being SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests. Despite vaccines, many industry players suggest SARS-CoV-2 testing volumes would not be impacted in the near term, and the
demand for COVID-19-related testing will continue through 2021 and potentially into 2022. This means that testing-volume pressure on labs is going to continue. Labs of all sizes are facing the same challenges: Shortage of laboratory technologists and technicians, historic financial pressures Cont’d on page 33
INSIDE
COVID-19 Update. . . . . 5 Clinical News. . . . . . 4-26 IFCC News. . . . . . . . . . 25 Product News . . . . . 6-28 Industry News . . . . . . . 29 Events Calendar . . 30-31
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