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.

A shortage with a silver lining: A chance to reduce unneeded blood tests

A pandemic-related shortage of a mundane item – tubes to collect blood samples from patients — has caused headaches for health systems worldwide. But it may also have a silver lining: A lesson in how to reduce unneeded medical tests, whether or not there’s a shortage, according to a new study.

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.

New Research at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting Captures SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Patterns in Vaccinated and Naturally Infected Individuals

Two new studies presented today at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo reveal how antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus can vary among recipients of different COVID-19 vaccines and naturally infected individuals. The findings provide critical data about the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines that could inform future diagnostic research and vaccination efforts.

Breaking Research That Could Advance COVID-19 Treatment and Testing Announced at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

A groundbreaking study shows that a new rapid test identifies COVID-19 patients who will deteriorate with greater accuracy than existing tests, thus helping patients to get life-saving treatment. Findings on this method, as well as a novel study on the performance of coronavirus tests in children, were presented today at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo.

A New Test Could Improve Access to Mental Health Support for Healthcare Professionals Who Are Burned Out From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research presented today at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo shows that a new test could identify healthcare professionals who are experiencing high levels of work-related stress and anxiety. As COVID-19 cases surge again, this test could play a critical role in helping healthcare professionals on the frontlines of the pandemic to get essential mental health support.

New Noninvasive Tests for Colon and Prostate Cancer Presented at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

Two research teams have developed new noninvasive tests that use either blood or saliva samples to diagnose cases of colorectal cancer or prostate cancer, respectively. Presented today at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, these tests could facilitate screening efforts for colorectal cancer and allow clinicians to better distinguish early-stage prostate cancer from more benign prostate conditions.

Novel Insights on COVID-19 Vaccines and Virus Evolution, Artificial Intelligence in the Clinic, Miniaturization of Diagnostic Platforms, and Much More to Be Explored at the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo

At the 2021 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.

Laboratorios de Mayo Clinic detectan nueva enfermedad autoinmunitaria vinculada al cáncer de testículo

Los Laboratorios de Mayo Clinic pusieron en marcha la primera prueba autoinmunitaria en su clase para el anticuerpo contra la proteína tipo Kelch 11 (KLHL11), que sirve para detectar una enfermedad autoinmunitaria relacionada con el cáncer de testículo. La prueba está disponible a nivel nacional e internacional.

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.

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.

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.

CAP releases 2020 edition of Laboratory Accreditation Program checklists used for inspection of medical laboratories

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) released the 2020 edition of its Laboratory Accreditation Program checklists on June 4, 2020. CAP inspectors use the checklists, with approximately 3,000 requirements, during inspections to ensure laboratories comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations and achieve accreditation.

AACC Announces 2020 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 2020 AACC and AACC Academy Awards. Through this annual awards program, AACC and its academy recognize individuals worldwide for exceptional research and service in the field of laboratory medicine, and strive to raise awareness that clinical laboratory testing is vital to quality patient care.

AACC Reschedules 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo to December to Ensure a Healthy and Safe Meeting Experience for Attendees

AACC is pleased to announce that the organization will be able to preserve the complete 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo experience for its attendees by moving the meeting to December 13-17, 2020. After carefully monitoring the ongoing global crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the association’s leadership determined that rescheduling is the best way to safeguard the health of meeting attendees, partners, and staff, which is AACC’s number one priority.

CAP Opens Comment Period for MMR/MSI Testing, Advancing Care for Patients with Cancer

Recognizing a need for evidence-based recommendations to guide molecular testing in the management of patients with cancer, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and three collaborating societies are developing a clinical guideline for testing DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI) status in patients with a range of cancer types.

New AACC Guidance Document Outlines How Healthcare Professionals Can Prevent the Widespread Supplement Biotin From Interfering With Medical Tests

Biotin’s upsurge in popularity has led to a parallel rise in incidents of this health supplement interfering with critical medical tests. A new guidance document from AACC urges clinicians and laboratory experts to collaborate to prevent this potentially harmful test interference, and to ensure that patients taking biotin receive high quality care.

Novel Research That Could Advance Testing, Treatment for Concussions Showcased in the January Issue of AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine

In a special brain health collection, AACC’s The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine highlights the innovative clinical tests that laboratory medicine experts are developing to improve care for concussions.

Genes from ‘fossil’ virus in human DNA found to be active

Genes from a virus that was stitched into the human genome thousands of years ago are active, producing proteins in the human brain and other tissues, new research suggests. The finding might help explain why people who inherit this “fossil virus” appear to have a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.

The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine Is Now Indexed in PubMed

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce that its peer-reviewed publication The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine has been accepted for indexing in PubMed, one of the largest and most respected databases of medical research in the world.

AACC’s Journals, Clinical Chemistry and The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, to Be Published through Oxford University Press

AACC, a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine, is pleased to announce a publishing partnership with Oxford University Press for its peer-reviewed journals, Clinical Chemistry and The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine. Both journals will join Oxford University Press’s world-class science portfolio starting in January 2020. The partnership will increase researchers’ and healthcare practitioners’ access worldwide to the important science published in the journals.

Briefing: Point-of-Care Testing—Bringing the Lab to the Patient

Point-of-care testing is transforming healthcare: this type of testing helps patients get diagnosed and treated faster, and also makes it easier for patients in remote areas to have access to medical testing. Join AACC and leading experts in laboratory medicine for a discussion about what lies ahead for point-of-care testing and what needs to happen so that all patients can benefit from quality testing of this kind.

Expert Talks on Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing, Precision Medicine, and Breast Cancer Treatment Draw Nearly 20,000 Attendees to the 71st AACC Annual Scientific Meeting

AACC welcomed thousands of medical professionals and healthcare leaders to the 71st AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo from August 4-8. The meeting featured pioneering advances in medical testing that will help patients get the right diagnoses and the care they need.

IFCC Distinguished Awards for the IFCC WorldLab Congress, Seoul (KR) 2020 Call for nominations

The IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) confers several Distinguished Awards to scientists and clinicians who work in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine or related disciplines. Currently, calls for nominations are open for ten (10) IFCC Distinguished Awards for presentation at the IFCC Congress in May 2020, Seoul, Korea.