Podcasts

Introducing a new antigen proficiency testing program for SARS-CoV-2 virus to complement existing programs for molecular and serology PT, the CAP now offers laboratories a complete suite of PT and quality improvement programs for all COVID-19-related testing.

To meet the demand for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing, many laboratories have expanded testing capacity by adding multiple molecular instruments. However, this has left laboratories with questions regarding proficiency testing (PT) requirements for these additional instruments, as two CAP members, Dr. Bobbi Pritt and Dr. Lauren Pearson, explain in this CAPcast interview.

Regularly published research findings seem to question the validity or efficacy of many of the testing methods – and PCR is no different, as Dr. Sophia Yohe explains in this CAPcast interview.

In this interview, Dr. Duong will discuss what pathologists need to know during this important transition, and important tips to gain confidence when you first start out in practice.

Amidst the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, the autopsies from early COVID patients revealed significant findings, explained Mt Sinai pathologist Mary Fowkes, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast before her sudden death in November 2020.

Laboratories must report cumulative antimicrobial sensitivity information to the medical staff at least annually under accreditation requirements from both the CAP and the Joint Commission. Despite requirements to do this at the institutional level, there is no national reporting or convenient way for the institution to monitor trends or compare rates recorded by other laboratories, explains Dr. Ron Schifman in this CAPcast interview.

Recent U.S. physician workforce counts have understated by about 40% the number of actively practicing pathologists. In this CAPcast interview, two CAP member leaders—past president Stanley Robboy and Governor Dr. Donald Karcher—provide background on the misevaluation, its impact, and future policy implications of their new research.

In a laboratory setting with fast-paced changes and heavy demands on staff, day-to-day communication across departments is challenging, yet paramount to resource sharing and real-time problem-solving. To improve communication across departments, the laboratory at Seattle Children’s Hospital has been using daily huddles for several years, explains Dr. Joe Rutledge in this CAPcast.

In this CAPcast, Dr. Daniel Rhoads, Section Head of Microbiology at the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Elitza Theel, Director of Infectious Disease Serology from Mayo Clinic explain the clinical use of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 and describe the work of the CAP’s Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology and Flow Cytometry Committees to develop the new proficiency testing program SARS-CoV-2 Serology (COVS).

In this CAPcast, Dr. Vaught discusses why all biorepository directors need to understand the costs of setting up and operating their facilities and how to develop a business strategy.

In this CAPcast, Dr. Bobbi Pritt, Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory and Co-Director of Vector-borne Diseases Laboratory Services at Mayo Clinic, discusses what pathologists and laboratories need to know about COV2.

In this CAPcast interview, Dr. Richard Scanlan discusses his experiences bringing COVID-19 testing online at his institution, including some lessons learned. Dr. Scanlan is the medical director of the Oregon Health and Sciences University Hospital laboratory in Portland.

In this CAPcast, Dr. Baird discusses lessons learned from testing and personnel challenges when ramping up testing capacity.

UDS results can impact decisions related to a patient’s treatment, including discontinuation of opioid therapy or removal of the patient from the treatment program, explains Barbarajean Magnani, MD, PhD, FCAP, in this CAPcast interview.

Drug testing is critical to patient care, whether it’s for compliance with prescribed medications, identification of drugs in the immediate overdose setting, or exposure to toxins that may cause long-term deleterious effects, such as lead.

In this CAPcast interview, Dr. Michael Mina, Associate Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Virology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Department of Pathology in Boston, discusses the current outlook of the virus and what pathologists need to know about their role in diagnosis and treating patients suspected to have contracted this virus.

The advent of new molecularly targeted treatment strategies for patients with advanced colorectal cancer places anatomic and molecular pathologists as key players in the delivery of care for this large patient population. Specifically, advanced colorectal cancer encompasses patients presenting with Stage IV cancer, or those who experience a cancer recurrence, explains Dr. Joseph Willis in a new CAP.org article, 'Testing of Specimens From Patients With Advanced Colorectal Carcinoma.'

In this CAPcast, Dr. David Gang and Dr. Matthew Foster-two leaders with the CAP’s Federal and State Affairs Committee--discuss their recent trips to Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators on surprise billing.

In this CAPcast interview, Dr. Larsen discusses what CAP members need to know about the pathology of vaping-associated lung injury.

Recently the CAP observed that CMS is citing blood gas labs for not having appropriate personnel during their validation inspections, as Dr. Earle Collum outlines in this CAPcast interview.