QuidelOrtho Science BYTES Podcast

Diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease

It is estimated that between 8 and 10% of the global adult population has some form of kidney damage.  Early detection of kidney damage is critical.  If left undetected, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure which means regular dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant is necessary for survival.

In this podcast episode, we will discuss who is at risk for chronic kidney disease, screening strategies, and ways to classify the level of impairment.  In addition, we’ll discuss a unifying approach for estimating glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the United States with the recommendations published by a task force established by the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology.

About our Speaker: 
Dr. Claudio Suárez graduated from the University of Chile with a degree in Medicine and a specialty in Laboratory Medicine. His experience in the clinical laboratory at the University Hospital motivated him to get a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Systems at the University for Development in Chile. He is also Lean Certified by the University of Michigan.
 
Dr. Suarez had leadership roles in different types of laboratories, public and private, being responsible for clinical chemistry and post-analytical departments. In the second half of his career, Dr. Suarez extended his experience to the IVD industry, leading regional consultancy teams across Latin America for the design and implementation of lab solutions. He has been a regular speaker in different areas of laboratory medicine.  Currently, Dr. Suarez is the Regional Medical Director for Latin America and a member of the Global Medical & Scientific Affairs team at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. 

Heart Failure and the role of NT-proBNP

Heart Failure (HF) is a common disease that affects an estimated global population of over 40 million. It is the most frequent cause of hospitalizations in patients over the age of 65, placing a considerable financial and social burden on patients, healthcare providers, and care providers. Accurate clinical assessment of HF and cost-effective management strategies are critical in improving patient outcomes and reducing the socioeconomic burden of this disease.

In this podcast episode, we will have a conversation between Dr. Christopher deFilippi, a cardiologist at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, and Dr. Ivan Salgo to learn more about heart failure, how it is diagnosed, and the value of using the in-vitro diagnostic test NT-proBNP.

 

About our Speaker:

Dr. Christopher deFilippi is a distinguished cardiologist who currently works at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI) in Fairfax, Virginia as the Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs.

In his oversight of clinical research, he has built IHVI to be a national leader in site-based research. He serves on the Editorial boards of Circulation, JACC, and JACC: Heart Failure. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine. His research is focused on evaluating in-vitro diagnostics and proteomics discovery for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy guidance across the spectrum of health from detection of preclinical cardiovascular disease to diagnosis and treatment in the critically ill.

Role of the Donation Screening Lab

The need for a sufficient supply of safe blood is constant and globally there is an ongoing need for effective blood programs as they are critical to support patient management. The role of the donor/donation screening lab is fundamental to the protection and maintenance of the donor inventory and supply since it performs the screening of donors prior to collection of a donation to determine if the donor is ‘suitable’ to be able to donate on that occasion with the end goal of providing safe blood products for transfusion. 

Any donation screening laboratory would want to provide the most consistent, accurate, and reliable results possible.
Learn in this episode how an effective donation screening program can provide the basis to ensure the collection of donations only from those donors considered suitable to donate, and then deliver safe, high-quality blood and components which minimize risks to recipients.

 

About our Speaker: 
Dr. Alan Kitchen has been an independent consultant in blood safety and infectious disease screening since leaving the English blood service (National Health Service Blood and Transplant - NHSBT) in 2017. Initially trained in Transfusion Science, holds a Ph.D. in Virology from the Academic Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, University of London, UK. Had worked in the English blood service for 40 years, over 30 of which were spent working directly in the field of Transfusion Microbiology. Prior to leaving NHSBT was a Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of the NHSBT National Transfusion Microbiology Reference Laboratory. Previously Head of Microbiology at the North East Thames Regional Transfusion Centre, running both an operational screening laboratory and a small research program. Currently, Secretary of the UK Standing Advisory Committee for Transfusion Transmitted Infections, a long-standing member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel for Transfusion Medicine, and a member of the newly formed WHO Blood Regulatory, Availability and Safety Advisory Group.

Ensure safety with a Quality Certificate Program

Donor and product safety has improved significantly over the last decade as a consequence of the introduction of measures such as evidence-based blood donor selection criteria. In parallel, the implementation of quality assurance programs based on good manufacturing practices has also played a key role in improving the safety and quality of blood and blood components.

The main objective of a quality program within the blood bank and transfusion service is to minimize risk to safety and quality by ensuring that the lab’s processes will reliably deliver safe blood and blood components. In many countries, implementation of a quality certificate program has become a regulatory or government requirement; however, an effective program not only forms the basis for safety but can also deliver benefits to the Blood Service beyond meeting compliance.

Learn in this episode from AABB consulting services how commitment to safety and quality is available with the new AABB Quality Certificate Program – Based on AABB’s Fundamental Standards for Blood Collection and Transfusion, the Certificate is an internationally recognized distinction, acknowledging your facility’s commitment to a culture of quality and excellence. 

About our Speaker:
Christine Bales is the AABB Vice President of the Consulting and Global Services and serves as a technical expert in Quality Management Systems for Blood Centers and Transfusion Services. Christine designs implementation models to be used as roadmaps for Blood Donor Centers and Transfusion Services’ facility accreditation processes and quality system improvements. She has experience as an assessor for AABB and a CAP inspector.
Christine has over 20 years of management experience in clinical laboratories, blood donor centers, and hospital-based transfusion services. During Christine’s years as CEO and senior management, she led organizations through strategic planning, process improvement activities, and facility accreditation processes. Christine holds a Certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Purdue University, and certifications in Medical Technology and Immunology from ASCP. She is a member of the AABB (Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies) ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathology), ASQ (American Society for Quality), and CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute).

The Role of the Lab in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes: A Physician’s Perspective

Diabetes is a global health threat diabetes with the number of people living with diabetes continuing to rise. Diagnostic testing is one of the major tools to help prevent and manage the disease.  In this podcast episode, we will have a conversation with Dr. Ivan Salgo, Head of Medical, Clinical, and Scientific Affairs at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics about the role laboratory testing plays in the prevention and management of diabetes.

 

About our Speaker:

Dr. Ivan Salgo is the VP of Medical, Clinical, and Scientific Affairs at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, where he leads teams focused on multiple care areas such as infectious disease, acute care, cardiology, and endocrinology.  Dr. Salgo received his M.D. degree with Distinction in Research from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He did his residency and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology where he later joined the faculty.  Dr. Salgo’s past research includes the use of Healthcare Analytics to assess patient deterioration using multiple digital biomarkers.

Key learnings from COVID-19 for the Labs with Dr. Arturo Casadevall

The COVID-19 pandemic has been already in our lives since late 2019 and the variants surge is rapidly increasing. Is there anything we can learn from the experience? Fast forward to the fall of 2021, what are the recommendations for Hospitals and Laboratories around the world for the current pandemic and future spread of diseases? In this podcast episode, we will have a conversation with Dr. Arturo Casadevall an infectious disease specialist and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University about learnings from this pandemic, vaccines, variants, and how antibody testing can play a key role.

About our Speaker:

Dr. Arturo Casadevall is a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He holds a joint appointment in molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on how microbes cause disease and how the immune system defends itself. Dr. Casadevall serves as chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He received his M.S., Ph.D., and M.D. from New York University. His team is currently engaged in understanding how hosts defend against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Dr. Casadevall’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Society for Microbiology Founders Distinguished Service Award, the National Institutes of Health Merit Award, and the Rhoda Benham Award from the Medical Mycology Society of America.  He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Automation is Possible for All Laboratories

Description:
With increasing compliance requirements and resource challenges around the world, there is a growing need for the integration of digital platforms to reduce errors, reduce the need for double checks/signoffs, and provide greater process efficiency. There is a need for laboratories to implement workflow tools that automate processes and test rules to improve efficiency. Join our speaker in learning how in an evolving health care industry automation is possible for the laboratory's goals.  

About our Speaker:
Aaron W. Hurst MLT(ASCP) is the Laboratory Supervisor of Quality Systems of the Newton Medical Center in Kansas. His responsibilities include supervisory roles as the second shift supervisor, blood bank supervisor, and chemistry laboratory supervisor. He still retains these last 2 responsibilities along with the quality systems management role. Aaron has devoted his medical technologist career to help evolve the Newton Hospital laboratory with activities focused on improved efficiency, applied lean management, and enhanced patient safety. Aaron has been a contributor speaker in National and International forums. He has been recognized by the American Red Cross, Wichita, for “maximizing efficiencies.” and recently by the Medical Laboratory Observer for Automation in Action in the blood bank.

How to manage Partial D in donors and patients

After the success of our April episode, “Your Lab Journey With the Rh System and Weak D,” we continue the topic. Tune in for a conversation about partial D, the differences, types, and implications it has on transfusion.    

 

Sue Johnson serves as director of Versiti’s Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) program. Her experience includes: Director and Adjunct Associate Professor at Marquette University Graduate School, Transfusion Medicine Program. Clinical Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Health Sciences. Associate Director of Indian Immunohematology Initiative. Sue has authored numerous publications in the field of transfusion medicine and immunohematology and is an established lecturer on the topic of immunohematology. She currently chairs the AABB publications committee. Sue has taken an active role in the education of medical laboratory science students for more than 20 years and her knowledge in the Rh blood group system is globally renown.

Are Process Excellence and Lean the same thing?

Process Excellence is a proven way to cut costs, raise productivity, and improve service levels. PEx® combines the tools and methodologies of:     

• Six Sigma—measuring and reducing your error and defect rate
• Lean Thinking—eliminating waste to speed your workflow and deliver better value.
• Design Excellence—structuring a process from the outset so that it flows efficiently with minimal opportunities for waste or error

This podcast will provide the tools to understand the benefit of Process Excellence in your Lab to achieve goals regarding efficiency and performance.

 

About our Speaker:
Dr. Alistair Gammie holds a Diploma from the Royal College of Pathologists. He worked for 22 years in the UK National Health Service. In 2016 he joined Ortho Clinical Diagnostics as Senior Global Director ValuMetrix. He is Lean Healthcare accredited. Dr. Gammie has been involved with Laboratory Consulting Services for over 20 years looking at workflow, simulation, modeling, Lean 6 Sigma projects, laboratory design, automation, and re-organization. He has looked at the workflow in Laboratories throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, the USA, and South America. He has been involved with Continuous Improvement and Top+ Business Excellence which places a high priority on ‘green’ and sustainability. Dr. Gammie is an EFQM European awards assessor as he has observed the use of the EFQM model in multiple sectors.

Overcoming the Challenges of Blood and Plasma Supply with Dr. Pampee Young

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets, or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.  1 blood donation can potentially save 3 lives and now the conversation is towards convalescent plasma donations as a promising therapy for COVID-19, the journey to support during critical times starts with the donor qualification. 

In this episode, Dr. Pampee Young will provide background on the needs and challenges of blood banks and donor centers for blood and plasma supply and practices sharing plans to overcome them.

About our Speaker: 
Dr. Pampee Young. Dr. Young is the Chief Medical Officer of the American Red Cross. In 2018 Dr. Young was a professor of Pathology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she served as the Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine. Dr. Young has over 80 peer-reviewed publications. Her research interests at Vanderbilt were in the field of regenerative medicine using stem cell-based cell therapy and small molecular therapeutics. And currently Dr. Young’s efforts are in research on blood center innovation, product availability and safety.