CLSI and APHL Announce Upcoming Blood Collection Teleconference

WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) announce the upcoming teleconference New Standard for Blood Collection on Filter Paper as well as additional educational teleconference programs for clinical and public health laboratories.

The teleconference New Standard for Blood Collection on Filter Paper will take place on 13 March 1:00–2:00 pm Eastern (US) Time. Speaker, Marcia Lavochkin, RN, BSN from the Maternal Child Health Section of the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, will base the teleconference on the newly updated CLSI standard Blood Collection on Filter Paper for Newborn Screening Programs; Approved Standard—Fifth Edition (LA04-A5). She will address collection, handling, and transport of the specimen in order to assure a high-quality specimen for newborn screening. Emphasis will be placed on practical examples of how to use this document.

At the conclusion of this program, the participants will be able to list the critical steps necessary to obtain a quality specimen on filter paper and identify the major changes made to this latest standard.

Additional teleconference session titles through June include:

• Incorporating Good Laboratory Practice Into Your Instruction –– 27 March
• New CLSI Consensus Recommendations for Blood Cultures –– 10 April
• An Integrated Approach to Body Fluid Analysis –– 8 May
• Using Proficiency Testing to Improve Laboratory Practices –– 12 June

Programs are based on current CLSI documents and are intended to help pathologists, managers, supervisors, and technologists learn how to optimize use of these documents in their laboratories. Teleconference sessions provide an opportunity for health care professionals to delve into the practical use of CLSI documents across many disciplines.

For teleconference session details and to register, visit http://www.aphl.org/courses/Pages/CLSI_2008.aspx.

About APHL

APHL works with members to strengthen laboratories serving the public’s health. By promoting effective programs and public policy, APHL strives to provide public health laboratories with the resources to protect the health of US residents and to prevent and control disease globally. For more information, visit www.aphl.org.

About CLSI

CLSI, formerly NCCLS, is a global, nonprofit, membership-based organization dedicated to developing standards and guidelines for the health care and medical testing community. CLSI’s unique consensus process facilitates the creation of standards and guidelines that are reliable, practical, and achievable for an effective quality system. For more information, visit www.clsi.org or call +610.688.0100.