American Association for Clinical Chemistry
Improving healthcare through laboratory medicine
NACB Blog
Will the Use of Dried Filter Paper Specimens (blood, plasma, urine) Become More Common in Clinical Laboratories Other Than for Newborn/Metabolic  Screening?

2/14/2012 8:25 AM | Comments (14) Recommend (877)

By Donald H. Chace, PhD, MSFS, FACB
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​Collection of a few drops of blood on filter paper from the heel of newborns has been the specimen of choice in neonatal screening laboratories for nearly 50 years.   Robert Guthrie pioneered the use of this sample collection device for detection of phenylketonuria (PKU).  The filter paper, which ...(Read More)
Posted at 2/14/2012 8:25 AM | Tags: Instrumentation/Technology | Special Populations
If Not Hemophilia, What Is Causing This Bleeding Disorder?

9/20/2011 7:58 AM | Comments (1) Recommend (1,519)

By William Winter, MD
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A toddler has a history of severe bleeding with minor trauma. Child abuse was excluded by evaluation of the family. The initial evaluation includes normal PT, PTT, thrombin time, platelet count and PFA-100. What should you next consider and how can the diagnosis be made?   Response: Factor XIII de...(Read More)
Posted at 9/20/2011 7:58 AM | Tags: Case Study | Special Populations | Molecular Pathology and Genetics
Neonatal Bilirubin: Nomograms, Fractions, and Transcutaneous Measurements

3/15/2011 8:06 AM | Comments (4) Recommend (1,614)

By Stanley F. Lo, PhD, DABCC, FACB
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Why do we measure bilirubin in neonates?  As most of you know, the natural physiological process of neonatal jaundice can be harmful to the newborn if the bilirubin concentration is too high.  In the case of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, the increase is primarily due to an immature liver which is ...(Read More)
Posted at 3/15/2011 8:06 AM | Tags: Renal/GI/Hepatic | Special Populations
Has the Time Come to Bid Adieu to Tests of Fetal Lung Maturity?

1/4/2011 8:01 AM | Comments (11) Recommend (2,009)

By David G. Grenache, PhD, FACB
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Abbott Laboratories recently announced that it was ending production of its widely used fetal lung maturity test, the TDx FLM II, due to the retirement of their TDx and TDxFLx instrument platforms.  The impact of the loss of this test on the obstetrical and clinical laboratory communities remains...(Read More)
Posted at 1/4/2011 8:01 AM | Tags: Instrumentation/Technology | Special Populations | New/Other Disease Markers