BACKGROUND In patient and population samples, generation of analytical results that are comparable and independent of the measurement system, time, and location is essential for the utility of laboratory information supplied in healthcare. Obtaining analytical measurement results with such characteristics is the aim of traceability in laboratory medicine. As awareness of the benefits of having ...

BACKGROUND The problem of medical errors has recently received a great deal of attention, which will probably increase. In this minireview, we focus on this issue in the fields of laboratory medicine and blood transfusion. METHODS We conducted several MEDLINE queries and searched the literature by hand. Searches were limited to the last 8 years to identify results that were not biased by obso...

Automation streamlines a previously labor-intensive process and virtually eliminates sampling or labeling errors. The techniques of molecular biology and genetics continue to assist the physician in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with neoplastic diseases.

Genome-wide molecular approaches have substantially elucidated molecular alterations and pathways involved in the oncogenesis of brain tumors. In gliomas, several molecular biomarkers including IDH mutation, 1p/19q co-deletion, and MGMT promotor methylation status have been introduced into neuropathological practice. Recently, mutations in the ATRX (α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-l...

1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, 120-1 Neungdong-ro, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, Republic of Korea 2Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Via di Grottarossa 1035/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy 3 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Biochemistry Laborato...