Jan Hartmann, Joao Dias, Alexandra Shilo, Yamini Bynagari, Brandon Garrett, Walter Jeske, Zorayr Manukyan, Karen Mkhitaryan, Dieter Adelmann, Kathirvel Subramaniam, Tetsuro Sakai
{"title":"TEG® 6s coagulation testing with a novel heparin neutralization cartridge: Technical validation and determination of normal reference ranges.","authors":"Jan Hartmann, Joao Dias, Alexandra Shilo, Yamini Bynagari, Brandon Garrett, Walter Jeske, Zorayr Manukyan, Karen Mkhitaryan, Dieter Adelmann, Kathirvel Subramaniam, Tetsuro Sakai","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We sought to establish normal reference ranges (NRRs) for a novel TEG 6s cartridge (TEG 6s Citrated: K, KH, RTH, FFH [Global Hemostasis]) (Haemonetics Corporation, Boston, MA, US).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Healthy volunteers (≥18 years of age) included in this single-arm study provided single samples of whole blood. Primary end points included TEG parameters in the citrated kaolin (CK), CK with heparinase (CKH), RapidTEG with heparinase (CRTH), and functional fibrinogen with heparinase (CFFH) assays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Evaluable data were contributed by 164 volunteers (48.8% female; 62% White/Caucasian). The following NRRs were established: CK maximum amplitude (MA), 51.0 to 67.6 mm; CKH-MA, 51.8 to 67.9 mm; CRTH-MA, 53.0 to 68.9 mm; CFFH-MA, 15.3 to 34.4 mm; CK reaction time, 5.0 to 9.1 minutes; CKH reaction time, 4.9 to 9.4 minutes; CKH lysis 30 minutes after MA, 0% to 3.2%. Duplicate measurements demonstrated high reproducibility. CFFH-MA correlated with Clauss fibrinogen concentration (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.74). Laboratory-based studies demonstrated maintenance of the relationship between CFFH-MA and fibrinogen up to 1344 mg/dL (hyperfibrinogenemic samples) and acceptability of heparin neutralization up to concentrations of low molecular weight and unfractionated heparin of 1.3 IU/mL and 5 IU/mL, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study established NRRs for the Global Hemostasis cartridge and serves as a proof of concept for the validity of results obtained using this cartridge.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"12-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775113/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141791607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2023 wage survey of medical laboratories in the United States.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae152","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae152","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142602632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeannette Guarner, Zully Osoria, Debra Barker, Leslie C Stigaard
{"title":"Escalation process of critical values when these cannot be communicated on first attempt: A hospital-wide process improvement project.","authors":"Jeannette Guarner, Zully Osoria, Debra Barker, Leslie C Stigaard","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae099","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Since laboratory critical values reflect such an abnormal pathologic state that there is imminent danger to the patient, it is crucial to deliver the result upon initial call with an escalation process when the initial call cannot occur. In our 8-hospital system, one of the hospitals used the escalation procedure twice as frequently compared with the other hospitals. This work presents hospital-wide quality improvement processes that decreased escalation of critical value calls so as to reach the same proportion of escalated calls compared to other hospitals in the system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The laboratory met weekly with leaders of different hospital areas and quality management; they presented the interventions they implemented, and the laboratory monitored their progress.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Monitoring and reviewing with providers the importance of critical values decreased temporarily escalated calls from 25% to 18%. Having a dedicated phone to call critical values in each hospital area decreased the calls in a sustained fashion, which now fluctuate between 9% and 14%. Other interventions, including having a dedicated person receiving critical value results, did not decrease escalated critical value calls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Having a dedicated phone in each hospital area that receives the initial critical value call simplifies and standardizes the process.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"97-101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142034925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Do errors in requesting and interpreting drug screens harm patients?","authors":"Roger L Bertholf","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae092","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae092","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141756586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adrianna Zara Herskovits, William T Johnson, Joseph H Oved, Spencer Irwin, Sital Doddi, Deronna John, Angelica Ocasio, Lakshmi V Ramanathan
{"title":"A semiautomated microfluidic ELISA for the detection of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis biomarkers.","authors":"Adrianna Zara Herskovits, William T Johnson, Joseph H Oved, Spencer Irwin, Sital Doddi, Deronna John, Angelica Ocasio, Lakshmi V Ramanathan","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae097","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by a massive overactivation of the immune system. Because the clinical findings are nonspecific, the development of assays to facilitate rapid diagnosis is critical for patient care. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of a microfluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HLH biomarkers and investigate the impact of insourcing this testing on workflow, cost, and turnaround time in a tertiary-care cancer hospital.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Trends in order volume were evaluated for C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor ɑ (sIL2R), and a microfluidic ELISA was used to measure these analytes in serum samples. Analyte values, turnaround time, and costs were compared for this assay relative to reference laboratory testing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Test ordering has increased from 187 to 1030 requests annually over the past 5 years. Insourcing these analytes on a semiautomated ELISA can decrease time to result by approximately 2 days and generate a cost savings of roughly $140,000 annually within our laboratory.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Using a semiautomated ELISA for sIL2R and CXCL9 may help physicians arrive at a diagnosis and monitor therapy for patients with HLH while decreasing turnaround time and costs within the clinical laboratory.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"80-86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775115/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142078856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Weijie Ma, Dana L Wright, Ourania Parra, Nidhi D Shah, Candice C Black, Michael L Baker, Wahab A Khan
{"title":"Identification of novel TTN gene variant in a patient exhibiting severe dilated cardiomyopathy co-occurring with acute fibrinoid organizing pneumonia.","authors":"Weijie Ma, Dana L Wright, Ourania Parra, Nidhi D Shah, Candice C Black, Michael L Baker, Wahab A Khan","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae100","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is often hereditary, with 20% to 40% of nonischemic cases showing familial linkage, yet genetic testing is underused. This report describes an unreported pathogenic nonsense variant in the Titin (TTN) gene (NM_001267550.2:c.92603G>A) in a 24-year-old man with severe DCM and acute fibrinoid organizing pneumonia, highlighting a unique cardiopulmonary pathology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted detailed gross, histopathologic, immunophenotypic, and exome-based DNA sequencing analysis in the workup of this case. We also included the patient's clinical and radiologic findings in our study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>With rapid clinical deterioration and complex comorbidities, including substance abuse and psychiatric conditions, which precluded transplantation, the patient's cardiac function progressively worsened. Autopsy findings included extreme cardiomegaly, biventricular hypertrophy, and acute and chronic pericarditis. Significant pulmonary pathology consistent with acute fibrinoid organizing pneumonia was also noted. Molecular testing confirmed a deleterious maternally inherited TTN variant that was absent in the sibling of the proband and the extant medical literature, highlighting its rarity and significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case contributes to the ongoing body of work on the impact of TTN variants on DCM. It suggests a potential link between genetic variants and complex cardiac injury patterns, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the interplay between cardiomyopathy and pulmonary pathology.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"102-108"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142046103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah Zilka, Ruhan Wei, Drew Payto, Kelly Doyle, Jennifer Hockings, Jessica M Colón-Franco
{"title":"Analytical and operational considerations of measuring glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity using a fully automated assay.","authors":"Sarah Zilka, Ruhan Wei, Drew Payto, Kelly Doyle, Jennifer Hockings, Jessica M Colón-Franco","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae106","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study determined the performance characteristics of a quantitative glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) assay with automated lysis and evaluated the robustness of the operational workflow following implementation in a hospital laboratory.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The G6PD activity was measured in whole blood using an enzymatic quantitative test on a Roche cobas c501 analyzer with onboard lysis configuration and normalized to hemoglobin (Hb). The performance characteristics of the method and stability of G6PD in whole blood collected in EDTA-containing tubes were evaluated, and the reference interval was established on a population of healthy individuals (n = 279). The robustness of this automated workflow for sample lysis was evaluated during validation and after implementation for routine clinical use for 18 months and in 2,181 patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The G6PD assay was linear from 0.7 to 16.5 U/g Hb. Inter- and intra-assay precision using control and patient samples was below 12%. The G6PD results correlated well with a reference laboratory method (r = 0.96, y = 0.9615x - 1.222). The reference interval in our population was 9.8 to 15.5 U/g Hb. There were no interferences by lipemia and icteria, although grossly hemolyzed specimens may be affected. The testing workflow requires analyzing samples within minutes from mixing and loading into the instrument to avoid sample sedimentation. Measures to repeat samples with Hb 8.0 g/dL or less identified sedimented samples. In our patient population, 10.6% and 5.8% of the total males and females tested were G6PD deficient, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The G6PD assay with automated lysis is acceptable for patient testing. Several measures ensured the robustness of this workflow in a hospital laboratory.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"153-160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141995097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thinking like a pathologist: Morphologic approach to hepatobiliary tumors by ChatGPT.","authors":"Thiyaphat Laohawetwanit, Sompon Apornvirat, Chutimon Namboonlue","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae087","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ChatGPT in accurately diagnosing hepatobiliary tumors using histopathologic images.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study compared the diagnostic accuracies of the GPT-4 model, providing the same set of images and 2 different input prompts. The first prompt, the morphologic approach, was designed to mimic pathologists' approach to analyzing tissue morphology. In contrast, the second prompt functioned without incorporating this morphologic analysis feature. Diagnostic accuracy and consistency were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 120 photomicrographs, composed of 60 images of each hepatobiliary tumor and nonneoplastic liver tissue, were used. The findings revealed that the morphologic approach significantly enhanced the diagnostic accuracy and consistency of the artificial intelligence (AI). This version was particularly more accurate in identifying hepatocellular carcinoma (mean accuracy: 62.0% vs 27.3%), bile duct adenoma (10.7% vs 3.3%), and cholangiocarcinoma (68.7% vs 16.0%), as well as in distinguishing nonneoplastic liver tissues (77.3% vs 37.5%) (Ps ≤ .01). It also demonstrated higher diagnostic consistency than the other model without a morphologic analysis (κ: 0.46 vs 0.27).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research emphasizes the importance of incorporating pathologists' diagnostic approaches into AI to enhance accuracy and consistency in medical diagnostics. It mainly showcases the AI's histopathologic promise when replicating expert diagnostic processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"3-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141726737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy L Austin, Russell R Broaddus, Rhona J Souers, Megan E Kane, Ravindra Kolhe, Dylan V Miller, Joel T Moncur, Shakti Ramkissoon, Laura J Tafe, Dimitri G Trembath, Rondell P Graham
{"title":"Current laboratory testing practices for mismatch repair deficiency and microsatellite instability testing: A survey-based review of current laboratory practices.","authors":"Amy L Austin, Russell R Broaddus, Rhona J Souers, Megan E Kane, Ravindra Kolhe, Dylan V Miller, Joel T Moncur, Shakti Ramkissoon, Laura J Tafe, Dimitri G Trembath, Rondell P Graham","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae094","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To describe mismatch repair (MMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing practices in laboratories using the College of American Pathologists (CAP) MSI/MMR proficiency testing programs prior to the 2022 publication of the MSI/MMR practice guidelines copublished by CAP and the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from supplemental questionnaires provided with the 2020-B MSI/MMR programs to 542 laboratories across different practice settings were reviewed. Questionnaires contained 21 questions regarding the type of testing performed, specimen/tumor types used for testing, and clinical practices for checkpoint blockade therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Domestic laboratories test for MSI/MMR more often than international laboratories (P = .04) and academic hospitals/medical centers test more frequently than nonhospital sites/clinics (P = .03). The most commonly used testing modality is immunohistochemistry, followed by polymerase chain reaction, then next-generation sequencing. Most laboratories (72.6%; 347/478) reported awareness of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for patients with high MSI or MMR-deficient results.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results demonstrate the state of MMR and MSI testing in laboratories prior to the publication of the CAP/AMP best practice guidelines, highlighting differences between various laboratory types. The findings indicate the importance of consensus guidelines and provide a baseline for comparison after their implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"60-68"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141791606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Beth Z Clark, T Rinda Soong, Kanika Goel, Esther Elishaev, Chengquan Zhao, Terri E Jones, Mirka W Jones, Lauren B Skvarca, Samaneh A Motanagh, Gloria J Carter, Jeffrey L Fine, Lakshmi Harinath, Tatiana M Villatoro, Jing Yu, Rohit Bhargava
{"title":"A comprehensive analysis of SOX17 expression by immunohistochemistry in human epithelial tumors, with an emphasis on gynecologic tumors.","authors":"Beth Z Clark, T Rinda Soong, Kanika Goel, Esther Elishaev, Chengquan Zhao, Terri E Jones, Mirka W Jones, Lauren B Skvarca, Samaneh A Motanagh, Gloria J Carter, Jeffrey L Fine, Lakshmi Harinath, Tatiana M Villatoro, Jing Yu, Rohit Bhargava","doi":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae104","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ajcp/aqae104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to evaluate SOX17, a transcription factor from the Sry high-mobility group-related box superfamily, as a diagnostic marker to determine site of origin using both whole-tissue sections and tissue microarrays (TMAs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>SOX17 immunohistochemistry was performed on gynecologic and nongynecologic tissues (N = 1004) using whole-tissue sections and both internally constructed and commercially available TMAs. SOX17 nuclear reactivity was scored as positive or negative on the whole-tissue sections and using the semiquantitative H score method on TMAs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using both whole-tissue sections and TMAs, SOX17 was positive in 94% (n = 155) of endometrial tumors and 96% (n = 242) of ovarian tumors. All breast cases (n = 241) and vulvar/cervical squamous cell carcinomas (n = 150) were negative. Among 1004 tumors from 20 sites, the only organs with positive tumors were ovary, uterus, and testis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SOX17 is a sensitive and specific marker for gynecologic origin in the tissues tested and may be a valuable adjunct to PAX8 and other commonly used markers to confirm endometrial or ovarian origin. SOX17 expression is lower in mucinous tumors, endocervical adenocarcinoma, high-grade neuroendocrine tumors, and undifferentiated/dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":7506,"journal":{"name":"American journal of clinical pathology","volume":" ","pages":"143-152"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142143009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}