Julia

Technology vs. Lab Professionals

Volume 40 Number 3 | June 2026 Summary Automation is reshaping laboratory medicine, but it cannot replace the critical thinking, judgment, and expertise of trained laboratorians. This article argues that despite staffing shortages and advancing technology, skilled professionals remain essential for ensuring patient safety, troubleshooting issues, and interpreting complex, nuanced results that fall beyond the…

Expanding the Laboratory’s Role through Technology, Digital Health, and Interprofessional Innovation

Volume 40 Number 3 | June 2026 Summary This article discusses the evolving role of laboratory professionals in healthcare, highlighting their integration of new digital health tools, continuous monitoring devices, and interprofessional collaboration to enhance patient care and outcomes, emphasizing the importance of data quality, leadership, education, and ethical considerations in this transformation. Dhara Parekh,…

Patient Safety is the DNA of ASCLS

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary ASCLS has long centered patient safety as a core value, empowering medical laboratory professionals to protect patients through advocacy, education, and ethical practice. From early initiatives like the Consumer Information Response Team to today’s Diagnostic Equity partnership, the organization champions health literacy, diagnostic fairness, and a culture…

Regulatory Framework and Surveillance Systems Ensuring Blood Supply Safety in the United States

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary The article outlines the FDA’s comprehensive regulatory framework ensuring the safety of the U.S. blood supply through strict donor eligibility criteria, infectious disease testing, and routine inspections. It highlights updates to the Donor History Questionnaire, the shift to individualized risk‑based screening, and the TTIMS surveillance system, which…

Incorporating Professionalism and Ethics into Educational Programs in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary The article explains how the University of Utah’s Medical Laboratory Science program integrates professionalism and ethics throughout its curriculum. Students explore ethical issues early, study codes of ethics, create a class pledge, and revisit ethical expectations before clinical rotations. Interprofessional activities reinforce shared values, preparing graduates for…

The Fine Line

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary The article explores the tension between speed and accuracy in medical laboratory work, especially in hematology, where complex cases demand careful review. While efficiency supports patient care, rushing can risk missed abnormalities. The author reflects on personal experiences, peer insights, and management literature, emphasizing that balancing turnaround…

Ensuring Safety through Validation and Verification

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary The article explains how validation, verification, quality control, and risk management work together to ensure clinical laboratory safety. Validation confirms a method’s reliability; verification ensures it performs correctly in a specific lab; QC detects ongoing errors; and risk management strengthens procedures—creating a comprehensive system that protects patients,…

Patient Safety and Ethics in Laboratory Medicine

Volume 40 Number 2 | April 2026 Summary The article emphasizes that patient safety and ethical practice in laboratory medicine begin in the educational classroom. By integrating safety concepts, quality principles, and ethical decision‑making throughout Medical Laboratory Science and Medical Laboratory Technician curricula, students learn that every specimen represents a patient. Early, consistent training builds…