Abbott to Feature Acute HIV Diagnostic, Metabolic Function Tests and Lab Informatics at American Association for Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting

Enhancing Laboratory Operations Through Analytical Quality and Informatics, July 26, 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., Salon A

Speakers:

Sten Westgard, Westgard QC, Inc., Madison, Wis.

Martin Kroll, M.D., Boston Medical Center

Lucy Nam, M.D., INOVA Health System, Fairfax, Va.

This workshop will inform laboratorians on methods for improving overall quality by objectively and quantitatively assessing instrument performance.  Dr. Kroll will review an enhanced protocol for the Abbott ARCHITECT analyzer using Abbott's automation and analytical and informatics solutions.  Dr. Nam will share insights on using middleware to improve laboratory operations cross an entire health network.

Advances in HIV Diagnostics:  The Importance of Acute HIV and User Experience with a Combination HIV Antigen-Antibody Assay, July 26,

6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Salon A

Speakers:

Leo Serrano, FACHE, DLM(ASCP)CM Avera McKennon Hospital and

University Health Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Peter Leone, M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

S. Michele Owen, Ph.D., CDC – Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

Presenters will cover current data on HIV prevalence, the clinical and public health implications of missed acute HIV infections, and the experience after one year of using an HIV antigen-antibody combination assay to detect acute infection.

Current Challenges in Transplantation and Immunosuppressive Drug Monitoring, July 27, 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., Salon A  

Speakers:

Gary A. Levy, M.D., University of Toronto Transplantation Institute

Daniel M. Levine, Ph.D., The Rogosin Institute, New York, N.Y.

The workshop will review results of a global tacrolimus testing proficiency study and discuss use of the tacrolimus assay for monitoring the drug at low doses to assist physicians in minimizing toxicity for transplant patients.

Vitamin D:  Current Aspects in Disease and the Role of Laboratory Testing,

July 27, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., Salon B

Speakers:

Neil Binkley, M.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and

Public Health, Madison, Wis.

Etienne Cavalier, Ph.D., University Hospital of Liege, Belgium

The workshop will cover physiology of vitamin D, the association of vitamin D deficiencies with specific diseases, and the role vitamin D plays for disease prevention.  Laboratory testing methods will be reviewed with a focus on assay performance and issues concerning possible standardization of vitamin D test methods.  

Scientific posters and oral presentations sponsored by Abbott in the AACC scientific program (selected highlights):

ICE: Poster #A-84, Seago, "Abbott ARCHITECT ICT (ISE) Module Evaluation of NIST SRMs and Sigma Metrics," July 26, 10:00 a.m. – 12: 00 p.m.

Cancer:  Poster #A-67, Aw, "The Use of HE4 as a Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer,"

July 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Transplant:  Poster #B-26, Maine, "Global Tacrolimus Proficiency Study,"

July 26, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Renal:  Oral Presentation, Li, "Urine NGAL Predicts AKI, Clinical Outcomes and Survival in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury," July 26, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Cardiac:  Poster #C-02, Racek, "Myeloperoxidase and Cardiac Troponin I in Patients with Chest Pain and Suspicion of Acute Coronary Syndrome,"

July 27, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Clinical Chemistry: Poster #D-76, Armbruster, "Bias (trueness) of Six Field Methods Estimated by Comparison to Reference Methods and Comparability of Results Within a Family of Analyzers," July 27, 2:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m.

Metabolic:  Poster # E-37, Venkatesh-Murphy, "Performance Evaluation of the Abbott ARCHITECT 25-OH Vitamin D Assay," July 28, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.