Increased Adherence to Infection Control Practices Among Medical Laboratory Technicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Self-Reported Survey Study.

Background: The adherence of medical laboratory technicians (MLT) to infection control guidelines is essential for reducing the risk of exposure to infectious agents. This study explored the adherence of MLT towards infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study population consisted of MLT (n = 444) who worked in private and government health sectors in Jordan. A self-reported survey was used to collect data from participants. Findings: More than 87% of the participants reported adherence to hand-washing guidelines and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when interacting with patients (74.5%), and handling clinical samples (70.0%). Besides, 88.1%, 48.2%, and 7.7% reported wearing of lab coats, face masks, and goggles, at all times, respectively. The majority reported increased adherence to infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes increased PPE use at the workplace (94.2%), increased frequency of disinfection of laboratory surfaces (92.4%) and laboratory equipment (86.7%), and increased frequency of handwashing/use of antiseptics (94.6%). Having a graduate degree was significantly associated with increased adherence of participants to the daily use of goggles/eye protection (p = 0.002), and the use of PPE while handling clinical samples (p = 0.011). Having work experience of >10 years was associated with increased adherence to the use of PPE while handling clinical samples (p = 0.001). Conclusion: MLT reported very good adherence with most assessed infection control practices. In addition, they reported increased conformity with infection control guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of the quality of mammographic breast positioning: a quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND: Although there are concerns that inadequate breast positioning in mammographic examinations may lead to cancers being missed, few studies have examined the quality of breast positioning, especially in the Canadian context. Our objective was to assess the quality of breast positioning in mammographic examinations in a Quebec-wide representative sample of technologists. METHODS: This quality improvement study was part of a professional inspection launched by the Ordre des technologues en imagerie médicale, en radio-oncologie et en électrophysiologie médicale du Québec among its members. The inspection was conducted between May and July 2017 on a proportionate stratified random sample of all active technologists certified in mammography in Quebec. Each technologist provided images from 15 consecutive mammographic examinations they performed in the previous 6 months. The quality of positioning was then evaluated by senior technologists using a quality assessment tool specifically developed for this inspection. A technologist was deemed to have failed the professional inspection when at least 7 of the 15 mammographic examinations were scored as critical failures. Proportions were calculated accounting for sampling weights and correction for finite population. RESULTS: Among the 520 technologists certified in mammography in Quebec, 76 technologists (14.6%) were randomly selected for the professional inspection and contributed images from 1127 mammographic examinations. Thirty-eight technologists (weighted percentage 50.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 37.6% to 63.0%) failed the professional inspection. Overall, 492 mammographic examinations (43.7%, 95% CI 38.6% to 48.8%) had at least 1 image scored as a critical failure. INTERPRETATION: Half of the technologists performing mammographic examinations in Quebec who participated in this study failed the inspection, and a substantial proportion of their mammographic examinations demonstrated critical failures in breast positioning. Overall, our findings are concordant with those of previous studies and highlight the need for additional investigations assessing the quality of breast positioning in mammographic examinations in other jurisdictions.

Strategies to ensure efficient laboratory functioning while navigating through the COVID-19 crisis in developing countries: An early experience from a tertiary care centre in India.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a zoonotic viral infection that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization shortly thereafter. This pandemic is going to have a lasting impact on the functioning of pathology laboratories due to the frequent handling of potentially infectious samples by the laboratory personnel. To deal with this unprecedented situation, various national and international guidelines have been put forward outlining the precautions to be taken during sample processing from a potentially infectious patient. PURPOSE: Most of these guidelines are centered around laboratories that are a part of designated COVID 19 hospitals. However, proper protocols need to be in place in all laboratories, irrespective of whether they are a part of COVID 19 hospital or not as this would greatly reduce the risk of exposure of laboratory/hospital personnel. As part of a laboratory associated with a rural cancer hospital which is not a dedicated COVID 19 hospital, we aim to present our institute's experience in handling pathology specimens during the COVID 19 era. CONCLUSION: We hope this will address the concerns of small to medium sized laboratories and help them build an effective strategy required for protecting the laboratory personnel from risk of exposure and also ensure smooth and optimum functioning of the laboratory services.

Audit in surgical histopathology at a tertiary healthcare center: Study of preanalytical and analytical phase.

CONTEXT: An audit aims to verify conformance to required processes, assess their implementation, and define the targets of quality control. AIMS: To evaluate preanalytic and analytic phases of surgical histopathology in a tertiary healthcare center. SETTING AND DESIGN: An observational retrospective and prospective study over 3 months each of year 2013 and 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsy, small resections, large organ resections, bone marrow aspirate/biopsy (BMA/BMB), and frozen section samples received in surgical histopathology were categorized as I to V, respectively. A manual audit was done for preanalytical phase (adequacy of clinical information and grossing adequacy) and analytical phase [turnaround time (TAT) and tissue section quality]. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Qualitative data was assessed by Chi-Square test. Quantitative data was assessed using One-Way Analysis of Variance. RESULTS: Among 3179 total cases, category I to V had 1558 (49%), 1099 (34.6%), 342 (10.8%), 124 (3.8%), and 56 (1.8%) cases, respectively. Category I had shortest TAT but maximum number of inadequately sent specimens and recuts. Category III had maximum cases with inadequate clinical history, grossing errors, additional sections, and longest TAT. Category IV had maximum cases with poor quality sections. Category V had maximum cases with inadequate demographic details and clinical investigations. BMB (114, 91.9%) was more useful than BMA for diagnosis. Mean TAT for fixed tissues and frozen tissues was 3.6 ± 1.8 days and 26.6 ± 11.2 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Total 25% of annual workload was studied by an observational, manual audit. Quality indicators were achieved as per international norms despite limited resources. Remedial actions were suggested for technicians, clinicians, and pathologists to minimize errors.

Electroencephalography Technologist Inter-rater Agreement and Interpretation of Pediatric Critical Care Electroencephalography.

OBJECTIVES: Electroencephalography (EEG) technologists commonly screen continuous EEG. Until now, the inter-rater agreement or sensitivity for important EEG findings has been unknown in this group. METHODS: Twenty-nine EEG technologists and three clinical neurophysiologists interpreted 90 five-minute samples of pediatric critical care EEG. Inter-rater agreement was examined with Cohen's kappa and Fleiss' kappa for EEG findings. A gold-standard consensus agreement was developed for examining sensitivity and specificity for seizures or discontinuity. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Benjamani-Hochberg corrections for multiple comparisons were utilized to examine associations between correct scoring and certification status and years of experience. RESULTS: Aggregate agreement was moderate for seizures and fair for EEG background continuity among EEG technologists. Individual agreement for seizures and continuity varied from slight to substantial. For individual EEG technologists, sensitivity for seizures ranged from 44 to 93% and sensitivity for continuity ranged from 81 to 100%. Raters with Certified Long Term Monitoring credentials were more likely to identify seizures correctly. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to evaluate inter-rater agreement and interpretation correctness among EEG technologists interpreting pediatric critical care EEG. EEG technologists demonstrated better aggregate agreement for seizure detection than other EEG findings, yet individual results and internal consistency varied widely. These data provide important insight into the common practice of utilizing EEG technologists for screening critical care EEG.

Challenges and Controversies to Testing for COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed the clinical laboratory and testing for SARS-CoV-2 front and center in the worldwide discussion of how to end the outbreak. Clinical laboratories have responded by developing, validating, and implementing a variety of molecular and serologic assays to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This has played an essential role in identifying cases, informing isolation decisions, and helping to curb the spread of disease. However, as the demand for COVID-19 testing has increased, laboratory professionals have faced a growing list of challenges, uncertainties, and, in some situations, controversy, as they have attempted to balance the need for increasing test capacity with maintaining a high-quality laboratory operation. The emergence of this new viral pathogen has raised unique diagnostic questions for which there have not always been straightforward answers. In this commentary, the author addresses several areas of current debate, including (i) the role of molecular assays in defining the duration of isolation/quarantine, (ii) whether the PCR cycle threshold value should be included on patient reports, (iii) if specimen pooling and testing by research staff represent acceptable solutions to expand screening, and (iv) whether testing a large percentage of the population is feasible and represents a viable strategy to end the pandemic.

Electroencephalography during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: practical recommendations from the task force of the Italian Society of Neurophysiology (SINC), the Italian League Against Epilepsy (LICE), and the Italian Association of Neurophysiology Technologists (AITN).

BACKGROUND: During COVID-19 lockdown, non-urgent medical procedures were suspended. Grade of urgency of electroencephalography (EEG) may vary according to the clinical indication, setting, and status of infection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. "Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology" (SINC), "Italian League Against Epilepsy" (LICE), and the "Italian Association of Neurophysiology Technologists" (AITN) aimed to provide clinical and technical recommendation for EEG indications and recording standards in this pandemic era. METHODS: Presidents of SINC, LICE, and AITN endorsed three members per each society to formulate recommendations: classification of the degree of urgency of EEG clinical indications, management and behavior of physicians and neurophysiology technologists, hygiene and personal protection standards, and use of technical equipment. RESULTS: Scientific societies endorsed a paper conveying the recommendation for EEG execution in accordance with clinical urgency, setting (inpatients/outpatients), status of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection (positive, negative and uncertain), and phase of governmental restrictions (phase 1 and 2). Briefly, in phase 1, EEG was recommended only for those acute/subacute neurological symptoms where EEG is necessary for diagnosis, prognosis, or therapy. Outpatient examinations should be avoided in phase 1, while they should be recommended in urgent cases in phase 2 when they could prevent an emergency room access. Reduction of staff contacts must be encouraged through rescheduling job shifts. The use of disposable electrodes and dedicated EEG devices for COVID-19-positive patients are recommended. CONCLUSIONS: During the different phases of COVID-19 pandemic, the EEG should be reserved for patients really benefiting from its execution in terms of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and avoidance of emergency room access.

How Are We Facing It? Dispatches From Pathology Residents in a COVID-19 Lombardy Hospital.

At the end of February, the Italian National Health Service reported a hot spot of Coronavirus disease in the Lombardy region. COVID-19 is a highly pathogenic viral infection which poses some challenges for healthcare workers. Indeed, Pathology Departments are involved in reorganizing samples' management, from their delivery until their processing, according to National and WHO guidelines. Since Lombardy has been declared COVID-19 hot spot, due to decreasing number of surgical procedures, our Department adopted a policy to reduce personnel, allowing pathologists to work remotely during the outbreak. Lacking clear information about viral load on tissue samples, all human specimens must be considered potentially infectious, as well as patients during post-mortem examinations, and clinical information on COVID-19 status is mandatory. It is also important that Pathology staff receive an adequate training, and adherence to rules should be always accompanied by common sense.

Procedures for Flow Cytometry-Based Sorting of Unfixed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infected Cells and Other Infectious Agents.

In response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many laboratories are involved in research supporting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development and clinical trials. Flow cytometry laboratories will be responsible for a large part of this effort by sorting unfixed antigen-specific lymphocytes. Therefore, it is critical and timely that we have an understanding of risk assessment and established procedures of infectious cell sorting. Here we present procedures covering the biosafety aspects of sorting unfixed SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and other infectious agents of similar risk level. These procedures follow the ISAC Biosafety Committee guidelines and were recently approved by the National Institutes of Health Institutional Biosafety Committee for sorting SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Laboratory Staff Turnover: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Study of 23 Clinical Laboratories.

CONTEXT.­: Knowledge of laboratory staff turnover rates are important to laboratory medical directors and hospital administrators who are responsible for ensuring adequate staffing of their clinical laboratories. The current turnover rates for laboratory employees are unknown. OBJECTIVE.­: To determine the 3-year average employee turnover rates for clinical laboratory staff and to survey the types of institutional human resource practices that may be associated with lower turnover rates. DESIGN.­: We collected data from participating laboratories spanning a 3-year period of 2015-2017, which included the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members that their laboratories employed in several personnel and departmental categories, and the number of laboratory staff FTEs who vacated each of those categories that institutions intended to refill. We calculated the 3-year average turnover rates for all laboratory employees, for several personnel categories, and for major laboratory departmental categories, and assessed the potential associations between 3-year average all laboratory staff turnover rates with institutional human resource practices. RESULTS.­: A total of 23 (20 US and 3 international) participating institutions were included in the analysis. Among the 21 participants providing adequate turnover data, the median of the 3-year average turnover rate for all laboratory staff was 16.2%. Among personnel categories, ancillary staff had the lowest median (11.1% among 21 institutions) and phlebotomist staff had the highest median (24.9% among 20 institutions) of the 3-year average turnover rates. Among laboratory departments, microbiology had the lowest median (7.8% among 18 institutions) and anatomic pathology had the highest median (14.3% among 14 institutions) of the 3-year average turnover rates. Laboratories that developed and communicated clear career paths to their employees and that funded external laboratory continuing education activities had significantly lower 3-year average turnover rates than laboratories that did not implement these strategies. CONCLUSIONS.­: Laboratory staff turnover rates among institutions varied widely. Two human resource practices were associated with lower laboratory staff turnover rates.

Assessing competency for remote telecytology rapid on-site evaluation using pre-recorded dynamic video streaming.

INTRODUCTION: Telecytology using real-time microscopy has gained popularity for rapid on-site evaluations (ROSE). Although proficiency testing is routinely used in cytopathology, no established means of competency assessment is currently available for telecytology. Our aim was to determine the feasibility of a dynamic (real-time) platform to assess telecytology competency. METHODS: Remote Medical Technology dynamic (real-time) video streaming platform for ROSE is used at our institution, and short video clips of telecytology cases were recorded using Camtasia Studio 8 software during different ROSE sessions. Selected MP4 videos (range 13-88 seconds, mean 33 seconds), along with clinical histories, were used to build a multiple-choice question test with one training case and 20 test cases, utilising Tutor (Philips) software to host the web-based test. The test was voluntary for cytopathologists and cytotechnologists. Answers and feedback from test takers were analysed. RESULTS: Thirteen participants-four cytopathologists and nine cytotechnologists-previously trained to use telecytology, volunteered to take the test. Individual scores ranged from 10 (50%) to 19 (95%) with a median of 16 (80%). Most feedback received involved technical difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first tool to assess telecytology competency for ROSE using pre-recorded dynamic streaming videos. Despite technical challenges related to incorporating videos into a web-based test, the test was feasible and provided users with valuable feedback about their ROSE performance. Future effort will be devoted to establishing a more user-friendly test platform and establishing a benchmark for passing scores.

The accuracy of a point-of-care test among different operators using the QBC Autoread Plus Analyzer for the measurement of a basic full blood count.

BACKGROUND: Major issues around the implementation of point-of-care testing (POCT) include: user type, regulatory control, ongoing quality monitoring and limited guideline adherence.59 December 2019, Print editionObjectives. To determine if there are significant differences in the results of a POC full blood count test between different levels of healthcare and non-medical 'lay' users compared with laboratory users (technologists/pathologists). METHODS: This article retrospectively reviews the technical evaluation database of the intensive care unit (ICU), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. We searched for samples analysed by doctors, clerks and laboratory personnel. A minimum number of 60 comparisons were required. Bland-Altman plots, Spearman's correlation and Passing-Bablok fit were used to analyse the dataset. RESULTS: There were 72 comparisons for haematocrit (Hct), 98 for white cell count (WCC) and 137 for platelets (Plt) between the clerk and laboratory personnel. The correlations were 0.91, 0.96 and 0.92, respectively. All were statistically significant. Using the Bland-Altman method, there was good agreement between results of the clerk and those of the laboratory staff, with a mean bias of 0.5% (Hct), 0.1 × 109/L (WCC) and 10 × 109/L (Plt). An insufficient number of tests were performed by medical doctors for statistical comparison. CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate training, non-medical, non-healthcare lay users are able to perform a moderately complex POCT with similar accuracy as trained laboratory professionals. The focus should shift to equipment and quality management processes rather than the medical/technical qualification of the user.

Laboratorio de diagnóstico clínico y/o de vigilancia epidemiológica: norma técnica No. 22-2019-DRACES / Laboratory for clinical diagnosis and / or epidemiological surveillance: technical standard No. 22-2019-DRACES

La tinta del documento está bastante opaca. DRACES [Departamento de Regulación, Acreditación y Control de Establecimientos de Salud] Este documento tiene como objeto: "la regulación, autorización y control de los laboratorios de diagnóstico clínico y/o de vigilancia epidemiológica, en concordancia con el Reglamento para la Regulación, Autorización, Acreditación y Control de Establecimientos de Atención para la Salud, Acuerdo Gubernativo 376-2007." Es de carácter obligatorio, por lo que se aplica tanto al sector público, privado, social o subsector de la seguridad social, en todo el territorio nacional. Contiene además, las definiciones de los conceptos relacionados al tema principal, además de la infraestructura que deberá tener cada clínica, incluidos el equipo y recurso humano y técnico. En el capítulo II, incluye una clasificación del nivel de laboratorios, describiendo sus características, servicios, horarios, materiales técnicos y equipos.

It's Not Just a Needlestick: Exploring Phlebotomists' Knowledge, Training, and Use of Comfort Measures in Pediatric Care to Improve the Patient Experience.

BACKGROUND: Blood draws are a routine element of the pediatric patient experience. They are also associated with the greatest fear and pain for a child. Because of the limited literature regarding phlebotomists' knowledge, experience, training, or stress related to their use of comfort techniques during pediatric blood draws, this study explored current practices and training methods. Phlebotomist training tends to focus on clinical technique rather than pediatric or patient comfort support. The study includes aims to develop a measurement for phlebotomists' use of comfort techniques for pediatric blood draws. METHOD: Focus groups of parent advocates (n = 24) and pediatric phlebotomists (n = 11) reviewed the survey questionnaire, and it was revised before being e-mailed to hospital system phlebotomists (n = 128). RESULTS: Almost half of the sample group lacked training in child development. The most frequently used comfort measures were words of explanation and reassurance, positioning of the child, and distraction. Requesting child life specialist support and using pain management devices or topical anesthetics were used less often. Primary challenges to performing pediatric blood draws were anxious patients and parents. CONCLUSION: Phlebotomists' use of available comfort measures occurs infrequently. Including child development and comfort techniques in training programs is essential to providing pediatric patients with a more satisfactory experience.

Mentorship for Nurse Scientists: Strategies for Growth From the Oncology Nursing Society Research Mentorship Task Force.

PROBLEM STATEMENT: To describe research mentorship strategies needed to strengthen oncology nursing science and ensure that a cadre of nurse scientists are available to carry out the research mission of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). DESIGN: Multimethod consensus-building approach by content experts of the ONS Research Mentorship Task Force and approval by the ONS Board of Directors was employed. DATA SOURCES: Expert opinion, surveys, notes from an all-day research mentorship retreat, and literature review were used. ANALYSIS: Content analysis was used to synthesize notes from the research mentorship retreat. FINDINGS: Various strategies were identified to strengthen the pipeline of oncology nurse scientists and promote development across the career trajectory. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mentorship is essential to advance the growth and impact of oncology nursing science and requires support throughout the career trajectory.

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis core curriculum project: Core competencies in laboratory thrombosis and hemostasis.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory analyses of blood samples are essential for diagnostics and therapy monitoring of patients with bleeding and thromboembolic diseases. Following publication of the core curriculum for clinical thrombosis and hemostasis, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recognized that thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory specialists require distinct competencies that differ from medical doctors working clinically with patients. To address this gap the ISTH formed a working group of international hemostasis and thrombosis laboratory specialists to develop an evidence-based core curriculum for laboratory specialists. OBJECTIVE: This research sought consensus from the international community on core competencies required for laboratory specialists in thrombosis and hemostasis. METHODS: A draft list of 64 competencies was developed and an online stakeholder survey was circulated electronically to 15 302 ISTH members and contacts in the wider international community. The results were analyzed and used to develop the final approved core curriculum. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty responses contained meaningful data, with broad international representation of specialists. No draft competencies were excluded, and 58 were rated as "does" or "shows how." The Leik measure of consensus for most competences was "moderate" (n = 30) or "fair" (n = 32). CONCLUSIONS: The development of an international core curriculum for laboratory specialists provides a foundation for the development and enhancement of education and quality management of the laboratory. Although there is no formal designation for laboratory specialists, international governing bodies and regulatory organizations are encouraged to consider the diagnostic core curriculum for development and accreditation of more standardized educational programs and formal assessment across jurisdictions.