Clinical Chemistry Achieves Impact Factor of 9.3; Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine Debuts at 2.0

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce that the journal Clinical Chemistry received an impact factor of 9.3 —the second highest in the journal’s history—and the Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine (JALM) received its first impact factor, of 2.0, according to the newly released 2022 Clarivate Journal Citation Reports.

AACC and National Kidney Foundation Release Guidance to Combat Racial and Gender Inequalities in Chronic Kidney Disease Care

Today, AACC—in collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)—released guidance to reduce racial and gender disparities in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The document gives members of the healthcare team actionable, evidence-based tools to improve equity in kidney health, including recommendations for using an updated algorithm that does not disproportionately affect any one group of individuals.

AACC Honors 2023 Award Winners for Advancing Laboratory Medicine and Patient Care

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 AACC and AACC Academy Awards. Through this annual awards program, AACC strives to support laboratory medicine professionals in all stages of their careers and to build awareness of the essential role that clinical laboratory testing plays in improving patient health.

AACC Releases Guidance on Procalcitonin Testing to Improve Care for Patients with Bacterial Infections

AACC has issued expert guidance on clinical testing for procalcitonin, a blood marker that helps detect serious bacterial infections and sepsis. By giving clinicians and laboratory professionals much-needed clarity on how to best use procalcitonin tests, the new guidelines could improve the treatment of critically ill patients and those with certain lower respiratory infections.

Breaking Research That Could Improve Cardiac Care for Children Published in AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine

A first-of-its-kind study has established pediatric reference intervals for two common tests for cardiovascular disease. Published in AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, these findings are crucial to advancing diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions in children.

A Novel Test Could Make Sure Newborns With a Serious Genetic Disease Get Essential Treatment

Scientists have developed a test that could greatly improve quality of life for infants with homocystinuria (HCU)—a congenital disease that, if not treated early, causes serious complications. Research demonstrating the efficacy of this test was published today in AACC’s Clinical Chemistry journal.

New AACC Guidance Aims to Serve as a Roadmap for Healthcare Professionals Navigating Cervical Cancer Testing Options

With the goal of improving cervical cancer care, AACC has published a new guidance document with expert recommendations on detecting this cancer. The guidance aims to update healthcare and laboratory medicine professionals on the latest advancements in this field, and to help them select the most effective cervical cancer detection strategy for their patients.

Research That’s Using Data Science to Revolutionize Patient Care Highlighted in the January Issue of AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine

In this special Data Science Issue, AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine highlights the groundbreaking work that laboratory medicine experts are doing to advance patient care through data analytics and to make this game-changing technology a routine part of healthcare.

Data Analytics Could Prevent Testing Bottlenecks During Future Pandemics

Breaking research demonstrates the efficacy of two data analytics-based strategies that clinical labs employed to meet COVID-19 testing demands during the height of the pandemic. These findings, published in the Data Science Issue of AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, give labs a blueprint for using data analytics to ensure patient access to testing during future infectious disease outbreaks.

A New Urine Test Could Help Curtail the Use of the Latest Synthetic Cannabinoids to Enter the Drug Scene

A first-of-its-kind study published today in AACC’s Clinical Chemistry journal shows that a novel drug test detects a new class of synthetic cannabinoids called OXIZIDs. This test could enable drug enforcement agencies to identify OXIZID users and could play a critical role in efforts to stop the spread of these drugs.

Innovative Smartphone and Artificial Intelligence-Based Tests Featured at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

Scientists have developed a cheap, convenient smartphone test for monitoring patients at risk for dangerous blood clots. Research demonstrating that this test works, along with a second study on using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve testing and treatment for people with kidney stones, will be presented at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo. Both studies could help resolve longstanding challenges in healthcare and laboratory testing.

New Tests That Could Solve Persistent Challenges in Children’s Healthcare Presented at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

A first-of-its-kind test could make it easier for newborns to get care for spinal muscular atrophy, a common genetic disease that is life-threatening but treatable if caught in time. Findings on this method and a second innovative test that could improve diagnosis of pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs) will be discussed today at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo.

Novel Research Sheds Light on Antibody Responses to the SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Vaccines

Two studies presented today at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo reveal how SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels vary among recipients of COVID-19 vaccines and naturally infected individuals. These findings add to a growing body of knowledge that is essential for guiding public health initiatives, and that might one day enable clinicians to assess individuals’ immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

AACC Announces 2022 Corporate Supporter Award Recipients; Thanks Organizations for Their Invaluable Support

AACC is pleased to announce the winners of its 2022 Top Corporate Supporter Awards. This year, AACC recognizes 35 different companies and organizations that generously support the association through advertising, sponsorships, and exhibiting. These significant contributions make it possible for AACC to further its mission of better health through laboratory medicine.

Artificial Intelligence in Personalized Medicine, Genomic Sequencing Advances, Human Brain Organogenesis, Building Trust with Patients, Guiding Patient Decisions with Mass Spectrometry, and Much More to Be Explored at 2022 AACC

At the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, laboratory medicine experts will present the cutting-edge research and technology that is revolutionizing clinical testing and patient care.

Medical and Patient Communities Unite to Urge Congress to Stop Bill That Would Impede Patient Access to Essential Diagnostic Tests

AACC joins more than 100 other medical and patient organizations that have expressed concerns about the Senate HELP committee rushing to pass the VALID Act, a bill that would limit patient access to vital laboratory developed tests and the lifesaving diagnoses these tests enable. Specifically, the medical and patient communities urge Congress to remove the VALID Act from the FDASLA Act, a piece of must-pass legislation that the Senate is on the cusp of ratifying.

AACC Announces 2022 Award Winners; Celebrates Achievements in Laboratory Medicine

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 AACC and AACC Academy Awards. Through this annual awards program, AACC and its academy recognize individuals around the world for outstanding research and service in the field of laboratory medicine, and strive to raise awareness of the vital contribution made by all lab professionals to patient care.

AACC Calls on Congress to Halt Legislation That Would Hinder Patient Access to Essential Medical Tests

AACC has sent comments to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee urging the committee not to include the VALID Act in its omnibus Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee legislation. VALID would limit the availability of vital laboratory-developed tests, decreasing patient access to life-saving diagnostic tools.

AACC Statement on Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening Tests

We share the FDA’s goal of alerting the public to the potential misuse of non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) tests. This is why we’ve been advocating for the modernization of how laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Experience “Innovation Uninterrupted” with Sysmex America at AACC 2020

Sysmex America, Inc., a leading diagnostic solutions company offering hematology, urinalysis, information systems and flow cytometry testing technology for optimal clinical laboratory performance, will be exhibiting virtually at the 72nd AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, December 14 – 17.

Two New Tests Could Lower the Coronavirus Mortality Rate by Improving Treatment for Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients

A new study shows that a first-of-its-kind rapid test could identify which COVID-19 patients are responding to drug treatments and which patients are still deteriorating and need higher doses of medication. Findings on this method and on a second test that could predict COVID-19 severity were presented today at the virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo.

Advances in COVID-19 Testing, Artificial Intelligence, Cancer Therapies, and The Future of Precision Medicine to Be Explored at The All-Virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the need for reliable, accurate, and accessible laboratory testing is more evident than ever before. At the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, laboratory medicine experts will present the cutting-edge research and technology that is revolutionizing clinical testing and patient care for COVID-19 and across the spectrum of healthcare.

AACC Announces 2020 Corporate Supporter Award Winners; Thanks Organizations for Their Invaluable Support

AACC is pleased to announce the recipients of the AACC 2020 Top Corporate Supporter Awards. This year, AACC recognizes 45 different companies and organizations that generously support the association through sponsorships, advertising, and exhibiting. These significant contributions make it possible for AACC to improve patient care by fostering research, innovation, and professional excellence in the field of laboratory medicine.

Artificial Intelligence Advances Showcased at the Virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting Could Help to Integrate This Technology Into Everyday Healthcare

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but integrating AI-based techniques into routine medical practice has proven to be a significant challenge. A plenary session at the virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo will explore how one clinical lab overcame this challenge to implement a machine learning-based test, while a second session will take a big picture look at what machine learning is and how it could transform medicine.

Key Discoveries in Cancer Treatment to Be Presented During the Virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

During the all-virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, leading scientific experts will dive into the groundbreaking advances that are the future of cancer care. One plenary session will focus on the cutting-edge treatment known as T cell therapy, while another will showcase recent discoveries about tumor metabolism that could lead to new, more effective cancer drugs.

Experts to Discuss the Essential Efforts of Clinical Laboratories to Fight the Opioid Epidemic at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

The opioid epidemic has only gotten worse since the advent of COVID-19, with some areas in the U.S. reporting a 50% increase in drug overdoses due to the pandemic. With no end in sight to this public health crisis, scientific sessions during the virtual 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo will highlight the integral role of clinical laboratories in efforts to manage it, as well as the latest drug tests needed to do so.

New Worthington Enzyme and Biochemical Product Catalog Features Solutions for Life Science Research and Bulk Requirements

Worthington, the leading supplier of specialty enzymes for over 70 years, announces today the publication of an expanded, 2021-22 Enzyme and Biochemical Product Catalog. As a primary enzyme producer for biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, pre-clinical research and bioprocessing applications, Worthington is the “go-to” expert in enzyme technology.

ALCEDIAG to announce game changing solutions in mental health diseases & diagnostic tools based on RNA-editing blood biomarkers

ALCEDIAG, one of 3 finalists for the “Disruptive Technology Award” at the annual AACC meeting 2020, will be holding a press conference to announce a game-changing technology and diagnostic tool for precision medicine in psychiatry: EDIT-BTM, the very first blood test for a high-performance differential diagnosis of unipolar depression and bipolar disorder.

Media Advisory: AnteoTech enters high sensitivity Assay Development market built on proprietary AnteoBind™ technology.

AnteoTech marks its entry into the Assay Development market through the design of a high sensitivity COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test. The test uses an AnteoBind™ activated Europium particle to enable the detection of low viral loads. AnteoTech is pleased to announce the expansion of its business to include Assay Development in addition to its existing Raw Material Supply business.

Baebies Selected as Finalist for the 2020 AACC Disruptive Technology Award

Baebies has been named a finalist for the 2020 American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s (AACC) Disruptive Technology Award for FINDER®, a near-patient testing platform. As a growth-stage company developing diagnostic products to provide a healthy start for children everywhere, Baebies FINDER tests for diseases from low blood volume (50 µL) with a turn-around time of approximately 15 minutes after sample introduction.

The Importance of Laboratory Developed Tests in Diagnosing COVID-19

Laboratory developed tests play a vital role in getting patients accurate diagnoses and effective care, and at no time has their importance been clearer than during the current pandemic. In this briefing, AACC’s leading experts in laboratory medicine will discuss why laboratory developed tests are crucial to fighting the coronavirus, as well as the regulatory barriers that nearly prevented labs from developing and introducing these tests for the virus.

AACC Urges Congress to Fund Laboratory Training Programs to Better Prepare the U.S. for Future Pandemics

In the face of a chronic shortage of professionals who are qualified to perform clinical laboratory tests—including those for COVID-19—AACC released a position statement today calling on Congress to provide federal funding to expand clinical laboratory training programs. This will help to ensure that labs have the staffing they need to deliver timely, accurate test results, particularly during public health emergencies such as the current coronavirus pandemic.

AACC and CDC Partner to Improve Cardiovascular Disease Testing Around the World

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation that aims to expand lipid testing in resource-limited countries. Improving access to this essential testing could help reduce the high worldwide mortality rate from cardiovascular disease by enabling patients to get treated for this condition earlier.

A New Test Could Identify COVID-19 Patients Who Are at Risk for Severe Illness

A novel study in AACC’s Clinical Chemistry journal shows that a new test for SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins known as antigens could determine which COVID-19 patients are most likely to become critically ill. This test could help improve management of COVID-19 by enabling hospitals to ensure that these patients have access to intensive care.

AACC Honors Senator Roy Blunt for His Dedication to Improving Pediatric Medical Testing

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce that Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) is the recipient of AACC’s Outstanding Legislator Award for the 116th Congress. This award recognizes Sen. Blunt for his tireless efforts to improve children’s healthcare by advancing the development of pediatric reference intervals.

AACC Welcomes HHS Decision to Clarify Federal Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests

AACC welcomes a decision from the Department of Health and Human Services that the Food and Drug Administration does not have authority to regulate laboratory developed tests (LDTs) without formal notice-and-comment rulemaking.

Labs Still Do Not Have Supplies for COVID-19 Testing, AACC Survey Finds

A new survey of U.S. clinical laboratories conducted by AACC has found that nearly half of all responding labs still do not have the supplies they need to run COVID-19 tests. AACC presented these findings to the White House Coronavirus Task Force today in a letter that calls on the federal government to take a more active role in alleviating this problem, so that labs can increase their testing capacity in the midst of the virus’s latest surge.

AACC Is Honored to Participate in a New Federal Initiative to Improve COVID-19 Testing Across the U.S.

We at AACC would like to thank Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett P. Giroir, MD, for his leadership in establishing the National Testing Implementation Forum to address the persistent challenges that the U.S. is facing with COVID-19 testing and for inviting us to participate in this initiative.

The Impact Factor of AACC’s Clinical Chemistry Journal Increases to 7.292

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce that the impact factor of its journal, Clinical Chemistry, has risen to 7.292 in the 2019 Clarivate Analytics Journal Citation Reports. This impact factor places Clinical Chemistry in the top 4.2% of 12,838 ranked academic journals and speaks to the significant influence of the science it publishes on laboratory medicine and patient care.

To Prepare the U.S. for Future Pandemics, AACC Calls on Congress to Enact 4 Recommendations

In response to the Senate health committee’s white paper on preparing for future pandemics, AACC sent a letter to committee leadership detailing four key steps the government should take to ready the U.S. for the next outbreak. AACC urges the health committee to address these recommendations in future pandemic legislation, as they are crucial to preventing another public health crisis like the one COVID-19 has caused.

AACC Launches a New Competition to Support Innovative Research in Diagnostic Testing

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce a new competition that will support cutting-edge research that could significantly improve diagnostic testing and patient care. Winners of the competition will each receive a sample set from AACC’s Universal Sample Bank, which includes blood samples from hundreds of healthy individuals that were collected to aid medical studies.

AACC Releases Guidance Document on Using Point-of-Care Tests to Improve Patient Care

AACC has issued a new guidance document detailing best practices that hospitals and other healthcare institutions should follow when running a point-of-care testing program. As point-of-care tests emerge for more and more conditions—including COVID-19—the guidance emphasizes that it is essential for laboratory professionals and clinicians to collaborate on point-of-care testing programs to ensure this testing benefits patients.

To Prevent a Second Wave of COVID-19, AACC Calls on Senate to Include 5 Recommendations in Upcoming Coronavirus Bill

Now that the latest coronavirus relief package, known as the Heroes Act, has moved forward to the U.S. Senate, AACC has sent a letter to Senate leadership outlining five key recommendations that will improve COVID-19 testing capacity across the U.S. AACC urges the Senate to ensure these recommendations are addressed within the Heroes Act, as they are critical to preventing a second wave of the pandemic.

AACC Issues Recommendations on the Use of COVID-19 Antibody Tests

To ensure the proper use of antibody testing for the novel coronavirus, AACC today issued a public statement detailing the role these tests should play in the management of COVID-19 patients and in the development of public health policy. In particular, the organization emphasizes that healthcare professionals and policymakers should work closely with laboratory experts on antibody testing to ensure that these tests are validated, used appropriately, and interpreted correctly.

Not All FDA-Authorized COVID-19 Antibody Tests Are Equally Reliable

A first-of-its-kind study published today in AACC’s Clinical Chemistry journal compared the performance of two COVID-19 antibody tests and found that—even though both tests are FDA authorized—one produced more incorrect results than the other. These findings could help healthcare professionals and researchers to better select antibody tests, which are essential to both treating COVID-19 patients and determining the full extent of the outbreak.