In a recent issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Chandra and colleagues described the use of multiple multiplex immunoassays and complex computer algorithms to investigate the possibility of improved laboratory diagnosis and novel classification of rheumatoid arthritis on the basis of biomarkers. Such complex predictive tools in rheumatology can be guided by the experience of multiplex testin...

BACKGROUND Our laboratory, a large, commercial, esoteric reference laboratory, sought some form of total laboratory automation to keep pace with rapid growth of specimen volumes as well as to meet competitive demands for cost reduction and improved turnaround time. METHODS We conducted a systematic evaluation of our needs, which led to the development of a plan to implement an automated trans...

118cc-1-3-117 Full text Multicenter studies require a high degree of standardization to guarantee the demanded quality standard. One potential source of error is incorrect blood specimen collection in the different study centers, especially if different types of anticoagulants or specific inhibitors (eg cyclooxygenase inhibitors for prostaglandin determinations) are used. To avoid such problems...

AIM Insufficient attention for the Ki-67 immunohistochemistry has been given to the importance of tissue handling for surgical breast cancer specimens. We sought to investigate the effect of fixation status on the Ki-67. METHODS We examined the effect of fixative, time to and duration of fixation using surgical specimens, and finally, compared the paired Ki-67 index in the tumour between core...

Cartridge-based microfluidics is a promising technology for clinical diagnostics. By miniaturizing the fluid-handling processes required for genomic and proteomic analyses, reagent and specimen volume is minimized along with the size of the system. We demonstrate an automated microfluidic system capable of performing six multiplexed genomic and proteomic analyses simultaneously, by means of an ...

The microscope is the most ubiquitous instrument in the clinical laboratory. We discuss improvements in its use, in terms of "front-end" automation of specimen handling and "back-end" automation of image analysis: automated intelligent microscopy. Examples of spatial and spectral differentiation illustrate the potential of this automated version of microscopy as a useful tool with very powerful...

In this chapter we discuss the latest developments in the field of high-pressure freezing (HPF). The Leica HPF machine EM HPM100 is discussed in detail due to significant changes compared to its predecessor model. Its centerpiece is a multipart polymer cartridge which holds the specimen carrier sandwich and guides it automatically through the freezing process until immersed in liquid nitrogen. ...

A relatively slow transition has occurred from so-called 1st-generation thyrotropin (TSH) assays (e.g., RIAs) through 2nd-generation assays (e.g., IRMAs) to 3rd-generation assays (e.g., immunochemiluminometric assays). Analysis of data from a modified internal quality-control design, followed up by a computer simulation, showed that specimen carryover has minimal effect on 2nd-generation TSH as...