The high regard given to superheroes is readily apparent to anyone who has gone to the movies of late or is exposed to young children. Stalwarts such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain America are more popular than ever, and while these imaginary characters continue to delight us well past childhood, as we grow into our professional lives, the idea of a superhero can take on a very different ... read more

Q&A with Bernard M. Branson, MD Principal Consultant Scientific Affairs LLC   Medical Lab Management: How has HIV testing evolved over the last 15 years? Bernard Branson: The first 15 years of HIV testing from the mid-1980s through the 1990s were dominated by the use of indirect enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) that primarily detected IgG antibodies to HIV. The early 2000s marked two ... read more

The promise of next-generation flow cytometry platforms including mass cytometry (CyTOF) and mass spectrometry-based digital imaging is substantial. With widespread use in immunophenotyping, analysis of hematopoietic neoplasias, diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies, and for antibody screening and crossmatching, among other applications, flow cytometry is expected to continue to expand its clinical ... read more

Q&A with Dr. Joshua Hayden and Dr. Lars Westblade Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center Medical Lab Management: How long has mass spectrometry been in use in your clinical laboratories and what are its primary clinical utilities? Joshua Hayden: The first application of mass spectrometry in our laboratory ... read more

Although the focus of this issue (and the survey it is based upon) is automation and technology use, the fact remains that a clinical laboratory cannot function without educated, skilled, and engaged personnel. Today’s clinical laboratories rely on a complex system of advanced technologies coupled with the expertise and experience of laboratorians in order to ensure safety and success. A narrow ... read more