ASCLS Today is the membership newsletter of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

To submit an article for ASCLS Today, contact Editor Debra Rodahl.

Our Darkest Hour: Las Vegas Mass Shooting

Shannon Billings, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Manager, Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Most mass casualty stories are told from the point of view of the victims or the first responders, the doctors, medics, nurses, or police.  This is not that story. Sunday night began as an ordinary night at Desert Springs Hospital Medical…

Journey Toward Leadership Development: Region II Leadership Academy

Julie Bayer-Vile, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSCCM, MBCM; Mary Ann McLane, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM; Stephanie Noblit, MLS(ASCP)CM; Catherine Otto, MLS(ASCP)CM Region II Leadership Academy Task Force Leadership within any endeavor carries certain universal characteristics in the people who are considered leaders, the instances that call for leadership, and the individuals who are led. Where there is much controversy over…

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Strengthening ASCLS Constituent Societies Through Communication

Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President {/textblock_content}[/yee_text_block][yee_button title=”Stream an interview with Deb and go more in-depth on strengthening constituent societies.” href=”https://www.ascls.org/images/ASCLS_Today/President_Interview/Rodahl_201804_FINAL.mp3″ color=”yee-btn-primary” size=”yee-btn-default” state=”” icon=”” icon_assign=”right” target=”_blank” rel=”” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none” visiable=”1″][/yee_button][yee_text_block css_animation=”no” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none” visiable=”1″]{textblock_content} In my president’s acceptance speech, I noted that I plan to focus my efforts…

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Strengthening ASCLS Constituent Societies Through Mentorship

Deb Rodahl, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President {/textblock_content}[/yee_text_block][yee_button title=”Stream an interview with Deb and go more in-depth on strengthening constituent societies.” href=”https://www.ascls.org/images/ASCLS_Today/President_Interview/Rodahl_201806_FINAL.mp3″ color=”yee-btn-primary” size=”yee-btn-default” state=”” icon=”” icon_assign=”right” target=”_blank” rel=”” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none” visiable=”1″][/yee_button][yee_text_block css_animation=”no” ex_class=”” style_detail=”” yee-widget-theme=”default” border_color=”” border=”none” visiable=”1″]{textblock_content} In my president’s acceptance speech, I noted that I plan to focus my efforts…

Apheresis Platelet Antibody Titers: Are We Ready for a New Standard in Platelet Transfusion Practice?

Marianne T. Downes, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM The American Red Cross reports that in the United States, platelet transfusions are needed every 30 seconds.i This translates into a need of over 1 million platelet units annually. Platelets are clinically useful in a wide array of situations including correcting platelet loss due to massive hemorrhage, platelet deficiency secondary…

Leadership Continuity: The Passing of the Torch

Stephanie Godfrey, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS-Missouri President “True leadership lies in guiding others to success and ensuring that everyone is performing at his/her best.” This adapted quote from Bill Owens resonates deeply for many leaders within ASCLS. Succession planning is one of the key tools that we use to ensure continuity and for guiding the next set…

Laboratory Informatics: An Increasingly Valuable Commodity Emerging from Today’s Laboratories

Andrea Pitkus, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Informatics Scientific Assembly Vice Chair Informatics is the study of data, and their use. Often, but not always, the data may be in information or computer systems. Health informatics is, therefore, the generation and use of data used in healthcare, while laboratory informatics is the study of laboratory data. Many…

The Road to Diversity

D. Wayne Wilson, B.S., MT(AMT) Medical laboratory scientists use their acquired scientific knowledge to correlate a patient’s medical history and laboratory results to validate the patient’s diagnosis. The new information presented is influential in interpreting results, as should be the goal when new ideas are encountered. Diverse ideas are synthesized into new innovative ideas in…