CLSI and APHL Announce Two June Webinars Based on CLSI Documents
Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA-May 2012-Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) recently announced their upcoming June laboratory webinars on detection capability for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) assays and anaerobic bacteria susceptibility testing. These webinar programs, based on current CLSI documents, are intended to help pathologists, managers, supervisors, technologists, and laboratory and quality consultants learn how to optimize practices and processes in their laboratories.
The first webinar, taking place on June 7, 2012, from 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern (US) Time, is Understanding Detection Capability for Quantitative IVD Assays. The speaker for this webinar is James F. Pierson-Perry, Senior Key Expert-Biochemistry, at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, in Newark, Delaware, USA.
The June 7 webinar will focus on guidelines from the upcoming CLSI document Evaluation of Detection Capability for Clinical Laboratory Measurement Procedures; Approved Guideline-Second Edition (EP17-A2) for establishment, verification, and practical use of the three fundamental detection capability estimates: limit of blank, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation. At the conclusion of this program, the participant will be able to discuss the concepts of detection capability and identify protocols for the establishment and verification of different detection capability estimates suitable for specific laboratory methods. Participants will also be able to implement use of detection capability criteria for meaningful reporting of test results. This intermediate-level program is appropriate for laboratory scientists, pathologists, residents, students and those working in clinical, public health, and academic settings.
The second webinar, Anaerobic Bacteria Susceptibility Testing, takes place on June 21, 2012, from 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern (US) Time. The speaker is Hannah Wexler, PhD, an adjunct professor from the Department of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Antimicrobial resistance patterns for many anaerobic bacteria have changed significantly over the last several years. The general indications and rationale for testing organisms and choosing agents to test will be discussed. Also, the two CLSI-approved reference methods for determining minimal inhibitory concentration end points for anaerobic organisms will be described, along with a more detailed discussion about endpoint determination. The teleconference will focus on material presented in the recently published CLSI document Methods for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Anaerobic Bacteria; Approved Standard-Eighth Edition (M11-A8), which addresses methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria.
At the conclusion of the June 21 program, the participant will be able to define the needs and circumstances for which anaerobic susceptibility testing is indicated, as well as explain the procedures for each of the two reference susceptibility testing methods. Participants will learn how to describe the selection, preparation, and storage methods used for antimicrobial agents and list all the major changes and additions found in the new anaerobic bacteria susceptibility testing document.
More information about upcoming CLSI-APHL webinars is available at www.aphl.org/clsi. APHL is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science P.A.C.E.® Program. Participants will be awarded one contact hour for each program they successfully complete. P.A.C.E.® is accepted by all licensure states except Florida. Florida continuing education credit will be offered based on one hour of instruction.
CLSI is a volunteer-driven, membership-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to developing standards and guidelines for the health care and medical testing community through a consensus process that balances the perspectives of industry, government, and the health care professions. For additional information, visit the CLSI website at www.clsi.org or call 610.688.0100.
