November 26: PSA - To Screen or Not to Screen

Dr. Richard Cleve

It’s a question many physicians and patients have had to grapple with over the years.  Proponents argue PSA catches cancer sooner.  Naysayers argue it leads to a lot of wrong diagnoses and needless anxiety.  We’ll explore some of the recent medical literature on the subject and also consider some laboratory concerns around the test.

Presentation in PDF format

October 16: Experience and Expectations:  eGFR Reporting in Canada

Dr. David Seccombe

This presentation  examined the impact of the post-analytical standardization program for creatinine and the routine reporting of eGFR by the clinical laboratories in BC.   

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are now recommending that an estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) be used for the routine assessment of renal function.  The National Kidney Foundation (NKF-US) Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Advisory Board in the United States and the Canadian Society of Nephrology have supported this recommendation and are asking clinical laboratories to routinely report an estimate of GFR for adult patients. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations are recommended for this purpose as they are based upon the patient’s age, gender and serum creatinine test result and do not require the patient’s weight. In March of 2004, British Columbia introduced a program to standardize the measurement of creatinine in 107 clinical laboratories in an effort to minimize the contribution of laboratory testing error to the reporting of eGFR and to reduce on a province wide basis the rates of miss-classification. The program was introduced as an interim strategy pending standardization of creatinine testing by instrument manufacturers – a process that was estimated to be completed by 2009. 

Presentation in PDF format

May 22: Cholesterol

Dr. Richard Cleve

This TeleHealth Video Broadcast looked at current knowledge on cholesterol from a noted expert in the field, with experience in educating medical laboratory professionals in this essential cardiovascular area.

The presenter, Dr. Richard Cleve, obtained his BSc in biochemistry at Brock University, St. Catharines ON, a MSc in physics from University of Guelph, Guelph ON, and his MD from the University of Western Ontario, London ON.

He then went on to do a residency in medical biochemistry at McMaster University, Hamilton ON. After residency he took a position with C.J. Coady Associates and started working at B.C. Biomedical labs in October.

Starting in January he also serves as the biochemist at Surrey Memorial Hospital and a consultant biochemist to Peace Arch and Delta Hospitals.

Representation in PDF format

April 17: Microbiology for Public Health: The Role of Medical Laboratories

Dr. J.L Isaac-Renton

This TeleHealth Video Broadcast covered the role of clinical and diagnostic microbiology labs in acute care, community, and public health reference settings, and how the different microbiology disciplines relate to specific communicable diseases of public health relevance. Included were the Core Functions of Public Health Labs, how they relate to the work of medical laboratory professionals, and how they benefit residents in BC and Canada.

The presenter, Dr. J.L. Isaac-Renton, is Director of Laboratory Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control and Professor of Medical Microbiology at UBC.

Judy Isaac-Renton has an MD and a Diploma in Public Health from the University of Toronto. After developing an interest in communicable diseases, she obtained her Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Medical Microbiology at the University of British Columbia. She has worked as a Medical Microbiologist at the Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre (VHHSC) and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

After being Head of Division of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, she also took on Acting Medical Director position for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at VHHSC. Most recently, she became Director, Laboratory Services, BCCDC, where she is also the Microbiologist in charge of Environmental Services. In May, 2005, Dr. Isaac-Renton also took on responsibilities of Program Director, Microbiology and Public Health, PHSA Laboratories.

She is a Professor, Medical Microbiology, in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia. Some of her current other activities are Vice Chair of the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network, Co-Chair Provincial Infection Control Network, Co-Chair PHSA Laboratories, Member UBC Department Executive, PLCO Microbiology Clinical Advisory Group and PLCO Quality Advisory Group, Board member for the Premier’s Leading Edge Endowment Fund, and a member of the Canadian Water Network (CWN). She holds external grant funding from both CWN and CIHR.

Power point presentation, part I

Power point presentation, part II

March 20: Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment - A Physiology Based Practical Approach

Dr. Jerilynn Prior

This TeleHealth Video Broadcast, looked at how bone renews itself, the roles of diet and lifestyle in bone balance, and the changes in normal bone remodeling across the life cycles of women and men. You gained information to ensure your own bone health, and to assist others to understand and prevent bone loss.  She also discussed osteoporosis, the importance of fractures, and the kinds of therapies available and helpful
for fracture prevention.

No presentation is available

February 28: Blood Tissues and SNOT

- Building Better Living Through Plastics

Dr.  Mark Scott discussed the "immunocamouflage" of tissues, cells, and viruses, and present the pioneering work of his laboratory in using immunocamouflage to prevent allorecognition of foreign cells and tissues for use in transfusion and transplantation medicine, and in the prevention of viral infection. This research has focused on transfusion medicine (Red Blood Cells, Platelets, and White Blood Cells), and on the prevention of viral infections in both the blood banking environment (e.g., CMV) and as a prophylactic approach to the prevention of respiratory viral infections (e.g., common cold). Dr. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Pathobiology from the University of Minnesota, and is currently Associate Director of Intellectual Property and Business Development and Senior Scientist for Canadian Blood Services, and Clinical Professor in the Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Centre for Blood Research at UBC.

Presentation in PDF format

January 17: Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions

Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction is a rare but serious complication of blood transfusion. It is a well known fact that most hemolytic transfusion accidents are due to clerical errors.

This presentation reviewed the pathophysiology of both acute and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, followed by routine and special transfusion service laboratory investigation.

Finally, the prevention of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction and reducing the risk of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction
was discussed.

The presenter, Eric Ching ART; MT(ASCP)SBB, was born and raised in Hong Kong and completed his MT training
at the University of Hawaii. The following year, he finished his
internship at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu and immigrated to Kamsack, Saskatchewan. He began his blood banking career at the Calgary Red Cross, becoming acharge technologist in component production and quality control. For the next 18 years, working at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Eric taught and learned from many students, technologists, ART candidates, pathology residents, and hematology fellows. He also helped establish the bone marrow and stem cell transplant cryopreservation and purification program in Calgary.

Eric has been involved in continuing education activities with SAIT since 1986, and with CSMLS since 1994. Eric now works as the Western Canada Blood Bank System Specialist and education specialist for Dominion Biologicals Ltd and
ImmucorGamma. Through sponsorships from DBL and ImmucorGamma, Eric conducts workshops in blood group serology and presents seminars regularly in provincial and national meetings. He is also a chartered member of the MODE
Group, which promotes continuing education to medical laboratory technologists and other health care professionals in conjunction with CSMLS. In May, 2007, at the Canadian
Society for Transfusion Medicine, Eric won the Dr. Donald
Buchanon Memorial Lecture Award for his contribution to transfusion medicine in Canada.

May 10: Making the Most of Your Hepatitis Testing

This TeleHealth seminar focused on the fascinating issue of the clinical relevance of viral hepatitis testing in the laboratory, since the causative agent in viral hepatitis cannot be diagnosed on clinical grounds alone. An update and review, the seminar included the biology, epidemiology, and serology of hepatitis A, B, and C; examination of acute and chronic serological profiles; and an explanation of both antigen and antibody involved in the humoral response.

The seminar's objectives included interpretation of the Acute Hepatitis Panel; identification of the serological tests for hepatitis A, B, and C; and recognition of the clinical utility of molecular assays in chronic viral hepatitis. The seminar enabled participants to identify the current serological and molecular tests available for the clinical assessment of viral hepatitis.

The presenter, Dr. Luis Lasalvia, MD, MBA, has clinical experience as an MD as well as a three-year post-doctoral position in hospital Endocrinology. With a BA in Marketing and an MBA, he has worked for over ten years as a medical and marketing manager in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry. Currently working in Scientific Affairs at Bayer Diagnostics, he conducts scientific forums and grand rounds in his areas of specialty. He has extensive experience as a guest speaker, and presents at over 100 events each year in Canada, the US, and overseas.

Presentation in PDF format

March 15: Working Together: Molecular Diagnostics in the Clinical Laboratory by Alana Bergstrome, MSc

Molecular technologies are powerful tools when used together with traditional laboratory methods to provide optimal patient care. This presentation examined molecular technologies and their applications in the clinical environment. Basic molecular theory, specific examples of testing methodologies and case studies were included.

The presenter is Supervisor of Molecular Diagnostics, Operations and Marketing with MDS Metro Labs. She holds a Masters degree in Medical Genetics from UBC and is certified as a Clinical Specialist in Molecular Biology by the National Credentialing Agency in the US. She has 15 years' experience in laboratory research and development and applied diagnostics in both the public and private sectors, and has 17 abstract and peer-reviewed publications at conferences and in scientific and medical journals.

February 15: Alternatives to Blood Transfusion by Eric Ching ART, MT(ASCP)SBB. Despite great improvements in transfusion safety in recent years, transfusions of blood components and products are still far from risk-free. Ching, an established expert in transfusion medicine, looked at the appropriateness of transfusion of blood components from the perspective of technologists, enabling them to become better “gate-keepers” in reducing the incidence of unnecessary transfusion. Pharmacological agents, artificial hemoglobin, intraoperative hemodilution, and autologous pre-deposit of blood were also discussed. Born in Hong Kong, Ching trained and practiced in Hawai'i before spending several years with the Calgary Red Cross. He has taught transfusion medicine to student technologists, ART candidates, pathology residents, and hematology fellows at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, and later at SAIT. Ching is currently western Canada Territory Manager and Product and Education Specialist for Dominion Biologicals Ltd. and ImmucorGamma.

Presentation in PDF format