2004 CAP TODAY Article Index

cap today

Note: This index does not include CAP TODAY “Marketplace” or “Abstracts”

AACC meetings
From a feast of products to a nibble of news: A sampling of what vendors served on the AACC exhibit floor, November 2004:104

AIDS/HIV/other bloodborne diseases
Rapid HIV test a weathervane for waived tests, April 2004:1
HIV, HCV windows nearly shut with minipool NAT, October 2004:5

Analyte-specific reagents (see Reagents)

Analyzer surveys (see Instrumentation/instrument surveys)

Anatomic pathology
Staying ahead of the AP pack-three key steps, April 2004:74

Anthrax (see Bioterrorism)

Antibiotic resistance
Welcoming resistance tests, old and new, May 2004:1

ASCP meetings
What ASCP’s Certification Maintenance Program means for you, May 2004:54

Automation
On the road to automation, proceed with caution, (PDF) March 2004:22
Specimen speedway: How twin towers and a bridge keep hematology automation on track at Permanente, August 2004:20
Blood banks join the automation chorus, October 2004:1
Playing by the rules with expert software, November 2004:1

Bethesda system
Revised Bethesda atlas fine-tuned and first-rate, January 2004:36
Bethesda ’01 questionnaire results: How cervical cytology reporting rates have changed, May 2004:42

Billing
Take heed: Know what you need for billing (billing, accounts receivable systems), (PDF) May 2004:27

Biomarkers
Ovarian cancer: Peak experience guides biomarker hunt, November 2004:1
New biomarkers could deliver a strike at stroke, November 2004:5

Bioterrorism
Building a better biosurveillance system, February 2004:12

Bladder cancer
Bladder biopsies in step with clinical side, August 2004:1

Blood/coagulation/hematology
Freeze is first step in setting blood payment, January 2004:5
Transporting fluids, blood cultures, and more, January 2004:34
Range rovers: Worrisome gaps persist in heparin therapy monitoring, January 2004:52
What’s cool in coag: Clot signature curves (coagulation analyzers), (PDF) January 2004:56
Q&A: Are buffer coat preps a useful procedure or should differentials not be performed below a certain level of WBC count? (Finn), January 2004:81
Q&A: What guidelines regarding INR values are recommended for POLs using a waived coagulation analyzer? (Cunningham), March 2004:103
The lowdown on hospital blood sugars, April 2004:1
Q&A: Is the Miller disk of great value? (Kroft), April 2004:97
Q&A: What ranges should be used when reporting CSF results from patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts? (Novak), May 2004:93
Safety net: Juggling the gains, losses of phlebotomy routines, June 2004:1
Q&A: How to report hematology results on lipemic specimens (Novak), July 2004:141
Q&A: Is microscopic exam needed if the only abnormal finding on the urine dipstick is trace blood? (Haber), August 2004:87
Q&A: Should an indirect antiglobulin test be used in the investigation of immune hemolytic anemia? (AuBuchon), August 2004:87
Q&A: What are the effects of vitamin E, olive oil, and other fats on coag factors? (Lefkowitz), August 2004:87
Q&A: Can fetal hemoglobin be used to evaluate fetal-maternal hemorrhage? (Finn), September 2004:113
How to validate heparin sensitivity of the aPTT? October 2004:72
Q&A: What is the correct procedure for performing an aPTT mixing study? (Cunningham), October 2004:118
Going with the flow in hematopathology, November 2004:1
Q&A: What are the guidelines for triaging a pediatric cerebrospinal fluid specimen sent for hematological cell count, total protein analysis, and microbiological culture? (Perry), December 2004:90
Q&A: What tests are recommended to evaluate a patient for DVT who is not postoperative or postpartum? (Van Cott), December 2004:90
Q&A: Which DVT tests can be obtained within a day or two of presentation to the ER, while on anticoagulant therapy, and during the clotting episode? (Van Cott), December 2004:91
Q&A: Counting reticulocytes using the Miller disk method (Novak), December 04:91

Blood banking/transfusion
Newsbyte: New FDA rule intended to reduce transfusion errors, May 2004:94
On the trail of TRALI, the latest Tx villain, June 2004:1
Blood banks join the automation chorus, October 2004:1
Once a shot in the dark, blood bank systems now hitting the mark (blood bank information systems), (PDF) October 2004:58

Board of Governors
CAP annual stated meeting minutes, November 2004:86
2 elected, 2 re-elected to Board of Governors, November 2004:88
Award winners push ’luxury’ service: Pathology, November 2004:90

Bone marrow collection
Sure-handed sampling: Easing the trauma of bone marrow collection, March 2004:84

B-type natriuretic peptide
Clues pile up, suggesting broad BNP role, April 2004:1

Cancer
New school of FISH: Solid tumor testing, January 2004:1
Swinging for the fences with prostate cancer tissue bank, February 2004:1
Getting personal: Cancer assay could provide individual risk of recurrence, February 2004:46
Erbitux makes its entrance, with test in tow, April 2004:60
Where are we today and where do we go from here? May 2004:50
Cancer protocols: Leaner, later, more lenient, June 2004:58
Bladder biopsies in step with clinical side, August 2004:1
GI stromal tumors ’a model for what’s coming,’ September 2004:1
Ovarian cancer: Peak experience guides biomarker hunt, November 2004:1
Zigs and zags on the ZAP-70 highway, December 2004:1

CAP ’04
Just the facts-CAP ’04 picks practical path, May 2004:58
At CAP ’04, five honored for top-notch service, November 2004:86
CAP annual stated meeting minutes, November 2004:86

CAP Foundation
Annual coverage from CAP ’04, September 2004:82

CAP checklists/guidelines/protocols/publications
Cancer protocols: Leaner, later, more lenient, June 2004:58
Checklist clarifications: To each its own-guidelines for point-of-care QC, September 2004:66
Since you asked . . . answers on POC, September 2004:68

CAP programs
More CME/CE programs now packaged with PT, July 2004:108
Study finds people let preventive tests slide, July 2004:118
Histology slides into a benchmark (and landmark) program, September 2004:1

Capitol Scan
Physician payments up, test rates held at ’03 levels, January 2004:80
87070, 87081 coding edit is out, January 2004:80
Patient safety law needed now, January 2004:80
How are budget-neutrality adjustments made? January 2004:80
Interim CMS head, January 2004:80
Pharmacist bill in NJ becomes law, February 2004:102
Simpler process proposed for coverage changes, February 2004:100
2004 health spending-who gets what, February 2004:103
Protecting appropriate use of autopsy images, February 2004:104
Better specialty society representation in AMA House, February 2004:104
Senate fails to move ob-gyn liability bill, March 2004:109
Panel advises 2.5% fee increase, March 2004:109
What is anatomic pathology? March 2004:109
Provider identifiers set for ’07, March 2004:109
Drug reimportation issue could stall nomination, March 2004:109
At Executive War College, March 2004:109
Billing and getting paid for genetic tests, April 2004:95
Guarding access to gene-based tests, April 2004:96
Cholesterol testing by pharmacists not OK in SC, April 2004:96
Support for better blood payments, April 2004:96
No more grace periods for ICD-9 revision compliance, April 2004:96
Backing disclosure bill in Tennessee, May 2004:90
Another round of Stark II, May 2004:90
Lawmakers seek to avert 8 years of rate reductions, May 2004:91
Detecting bacteria in platelet components, May 2004:92
In Florida, sole-source plan out, capitated plan in, June 2004:108
Reassignment by off-site contractors now okay, June 2004:108
Refining ASHI accreditation standards, June 2004:108
Bill would reverse policy on critical-access lab pay, June 2004:109
House again behind liability reform, June 2004:109
Chorus grows louder for fee formula fix, July 2004:133
Direct-access testing report before AMA House, July 2004:133
Expanded list of CLIA specialties linked with 88361, July 2004:133
Senate okays sickle cell act, July 2004:134
More types of tissue require disease screening, July 2004:134
State rescreening bill for Pap tests still too stringent, August 2004:82
Federal support for SNOMED in advisory panel’s report, August 2004:82
A push for the patient safety bill, August 2004:83
Licensure bill blocked, September 2004:108
A unified message on fee schedule issues, September 2004:108
OIG’s ears open to Part A payment concerns, September 2004:109
Patient safety act passes Senate, September 2004:109
Alabama panel says fee splitting violates law, October 2004:116
CDC grant goal: Fewer lab errors, October 2004:116
Pay decisions consistent with CAP recommendations, October 2004:116
Fee language foiled in NY state budget, October 2004:117
Co-pays, deductibles not forgotten, November 2004:125
CAP, coalition seek role in competitive bidding demo, November 2004:125
Dr. Schwartz to head waived test work group, November 2004:125
More federal funds for sickle cell disease, November 2004:126
ASHI standards reflect CAP’s concerns, November 2004:126
Whistleblower protections in the works, December 2004:86
Better outpatient pay for blood products, December 2004:86
Clarifying the intent of direct billing advocacy, December 2004:86
Diabetes screening in ’05 fee schedule, December 2004:86

Cardiovascular disease/cardiac markers
The latest on IMA levels, high and low, March 2004:1
Clues pile up, suggesting broad BNP role, April 2004:1
How viral infections fit into myocarditis, October 2004:1
Q&A: Using CK-MB/total creatine kinase ratio to diagnose myocardial infarction-is it obsolete? (Christenson), October 2004:118

Company profiles
Erbitux makes its entrance, with test in tow, April 2004:60
Bells, whistles, and beyond with new Ortho system, December 2004:18

Competence assessment
Probing employee competency in POC testing, May 2004:64

Competitive bidding
Tracking yet another storm in Florida, December 2004:1

CPT questions/coding
In with the new-CPT 2004 charged with changes, January 2004:74
Should fine-needle thyroid specimen received for cytologic exam (examined microscopically as six noncentrifuged direct smear slides plus two smear slides for thin-layer technique) be reported as codes 88173 and 88112? February 2004:102
Does a cytospin smear constitute a “selective cellular enhancement technique” eligible for reporting with new CPT code 88112? February 2004:102
What is the correct CPT code for manual IHC microscopy when scoring HER2/neu? April 2004:95
Is it appropriate to use code 88141 if a patient has two previous abnormal Pap smears and then has a normal Pap test result? April 2004:95
How do you report an IHC stain if an axillary tail containing eight lymph nodes is submitted as one dissection and each lymph node is stained with cytokeratin? June 2004:108
CPT lists the thyroid as “total/lobe.” When can we bill two units using code 88307? June 2004:108
How to code bronchoalveolar lavage for pneumocystis prepared by cytospin and a Gomori methenamine silver staining technique, August 2004:82
Under what circumstances should we used modifier -59? August 2004:82
What date of service should we report for archived specimens? October 2004:117
What is the appropriate use for the new ICD-9 code 795.08? October 2004:117
Chapter and verse on next year’s CPT code changes, December 2004:5
How to code a specimen that is a right colon with attached terminal ileum and appendix, December 2004:88
Can code 83912 be billed along with all encompassing molecular microbiology test codes, such as 87799 or 87497? December 2004:88

Creatinine
Creatinine results one step closer to the mark, March 2004:5

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (see Prion disease)

Cytopathology/histology (see also PAP/NGC Programs Review)
Where are we today and where do we go from here? May 2004:50
Error rates: ThinPrep vs. conventional Paps, May 2004:52
Kaiser roll: The push for more HPV screening, July 2004:5
Histology slides into a benchmark (and landmark) program, September 2004:1
Help yourself-to open-access CytoJournal, December 2004:12

Data management
Everyone into the pool-a new approach to data, May 2004:5
Speaking volumes about IDN successes, July 2004:1

Dementia (see Alzheimer’s disease)

Digital imaging
Digital imaging, telepathology: What’s the holdup? July 2004:110

Direct-access testing
Direct-access testing gains another foothold, February 2004:5

Editorials of CAP president (see President’s Desk)

Executive War College
Want to trim $1,727,250? Here’s how one lab did, June 2004:78
Kaiser roll: The push for more HPV screening, July 2004:5
Not Mayo? No matter-smaller labs go molecular, July 2004:40
Digital imaging, telepathology: What’s the holdup? July 2004:110
Lean, mean—the evergreen hunt for efficiency, August 2004:1

Firsthand Views
How promotable are you? January 2004:94
Is there a better way? February 2004:118
The busyness epidemic, March 2004:122
Does gender matter? April 2004:110
The painless job search, May 2004:110
Why good bosses are humble, June 2004:122
Great moments in management, July 2004:154
Lessons from the PO’ed, August 2004:98
Samurai negotiating, September 2004:126
The ’big lie of employment,’ October 2004:130
A need for more fighters, November 2004:138
The smart vs. wise employee, December 2004:102

FISH
New school of FISH: Solid tumor testing, January 2004:1

Flow cytometry
Going with the flow in hematopathology, November 2004:1
Zigs and zags on the ZAP-70 highway, December 2004:1

Genetics
Q&A: Do chromosomes linked to the Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myeloid leukemia belong to one of the two parental genomes? (Dewald), January 2004:81
Getting personal: Cancer assay could provide individual risk of recurrence, February 2004:46
Popping the question: Is it a genetic test? October 2004:1
A SNPpet of background on pharmacogenomics, November 2004:60

Genomics
A SNPpet of background on pharmacogenomics, November 2004:60

Hematopathology
Going with the flow in hematopathology, November 2004:1

Heparin
Range rovers: Worrisome gaps persist in heparin therapy monitoring, January 2004:52
How to validate heparin sensitivity of the APTT? October 2004:72

Hepatitis
Q&A: What is the recommended protocol for testing an employee for hepatitis after a needle-stick or biohazardous exposure? (Merrick, Caldwell), March 2004:103
HIV, HCV windows nearly shut with minipool NAT, October 2004:5

HPV
Kaiser roll: The push for more HPV screening, July 2004:5

Infectious disease surveillance
Building a better biosurveillance system, February 2004:12

Information systems, technologies (see also Automation)
’Broader net’ cast for new IT conference, January 2004:1
Lab portals: Gateway to the rest, February 2004:26
Making a case for computers to ’talk the talk’ (anatomic pathology computer systems), (PDF) February 2004:56
On the road to automation, proceed with caution (lab automation systems and workcells), (PDF) February 2004:22
Portal gets green light-now what? May 2004:1
Speaking volumes about IDN successes, July 2004:1
Airtight order entry: How an oversight led one pathology group to upgrade its ordering system, September 2004:20
Beyond all the bells and whistles of linking software (physician-office laboratory links software), (PDF) September 2004:26
Why online order entry plays second fiddle to electronic results reporting, September 2004:28
Once a shot in the dark, blood bank systems now hitting the mark (blood bank information systems), (PDF) October 2004:58
For some, newer and slicker means trouble quicker: Why labs should think twice before replacing an older but solid laboratory information system, November 2004:18
Change—the biggest constant in the LIS marketplace, (PDF) November 2004:22

Instrumentation/instrument surveys
What’s cool in coag: Clot signature curves (coagulation analyzers), (PDF) January 2004:56
Bedside glucose testing systems, (PDF) April 2004:24
Latest chemistry wish lists in low-volume labs (chemistry analyzers for low-volume laboratories), (PDF) April 2004:44
Automated immunoassay analyzers: The latest lineup, (PDF) June 2004:19
In vitro blood gas analyzers, (PDF) July 2004:15
Much to look forward to in chemistry analyzers (chemistry analyzers for mid- and high-volume laboratories), (PDF) July 2004:64
Coagulation device makers giving users what they need (coag analyzers at the point of care, self-monitoring), (PDF) August 2004:34
Bells, whistles, and beyond with new Ortho system, December 2004:18
Vendors selling simplicity and banking on the basics (high-volume hematology analyzers), December 2004:22

Insulin
The lowdown on hospital blood sugars, April 2004:1

Integrated delivery networks
Speaking volumes about IDN successes, July 2004:1
Lean, mean—the evergreen hunt for efficiency, August 2004:1
Long reach of IDN labs stretching even farther, October 2004:78

Kidney disease
Creatinine results one step closer to the mark, March 2004:5

Lab portals
Lab portals: Gateway to the rest, February 2004:26
AP vs. CP, scope, RFPs: Portal gets green light-now what? May 2004:1

Laboratory Accreditation News/CLA programs
CLA polishes checklists, prepares Surveys for new year, February 2004:78
CLA cultivates relationships and grooms checklists, June 2004:82
Where there’s a will, there’s a way—and there’s Dr. Baptist, June 2004:82
Weeding out garden-variety PT failures and more, June 2004:86
CLA to work with states, state its plans for assessing labs, October 2004:98
All eyes on cytopathology lab inspections, October 2004:98

Laboratory Accreditation News: Queries and Comments
Is it permissible to validate new lots of reagent by running quality control material on the new lot in parallel with the old lot? February 2004:78
Do clinical labs need to keep all instrument printouts for at least two years or can the records be stored on disk when space is limited? February 2004:78
Procedure for confirming an abnormal blood smear in the remote lab and adhering to checklist question GEN.12258, February 2004:80
What to do when a proficiency testing challenge includes a specimen with immature cells, June 2004:84
What materials are acceptable for validating new lots of reagent? October 2004:100
Why the College requires annual training for the shipping of infectious materials, October 2004:101

Laboratory outreach
Laboratory outreach work: How to catch the big ones, April 2004:32

Language standardization (see also SNOMED)
Bladder biopsies in step with clinical side, August 2004:1

Legal issues (see also Medical mistakes)
Spirit of the law: The little-known history of Part A payments—and why they belong to you, March 2004:46
Getting results from point A to B, September 2004:1

Management issues/laboratory utilization
It’s a small world: Making the most of modest means, 3/04:1
Want to trim $1,727,250? Here’s how one lab did, 6/04:78
How many staff does it take? It’s no light bulb joke-Q-Probes sizes up staffing ratios, November 2004:78

Medical mistakes (see also Legal issues)
Rolling out a statewide system for patient safety, April 2004:5
New take on mistakes—stopping errors sooner, June 2004:5

Medicaid
Tracking yet another storm in Florida, December 2004:1

Microalbuminuria
Getting serious about microalbuminuria, August 2004:70

Microbiology
Delivering the goods to microbiology labs, January 2004:1
Two more for molecular methods: CNS, GBS, January 2004:22
Transporting fluids, blood cultures, and more, January 2004:34
Swinging for the fences with prostate cancer tissue bank, February 2004:1
Welcoming resistance tests, old and new, May 2004:1
Time to talk turkey in microbiology labs, July 2004:1
Swapping swabs for syringes and scalpels, August 2004:1

Molecular diagnostics
Two more for molecular methods: CNS, GBS, January 2004:22
Fleshing out molecular pathology reports, February 2004:1
ASR issues up in the air-but for how long? March 2004:1
Welcoming resistance tests, old and new, May 2004:1
Not Mayo? No matter-smaller labs go molecular, July 2004:40

Myocardial infarction (see Cardiovascular disease/cardiac markers)

Myocarditis
How viral infections fit into myocarditis, October 2004:1

NCCLS
Why the name NCCLS will be no more after ’04, December 2004:56

Newsbytes
Indoor positioning system tracks who, what, and where, January 2004:82
Impac enters agreement to acquire Impath’s assets, January 2004:82
AABB conference focuses on the here and now and beyond, January 2004:82
Atlas opens doors on public health division, January 2004:83
SCC releases new version of SoftPath software, January 2004:83
BioLab Software offers new server for biotechnology data, January 2004:83
Computerized health data a win for U.S. Army, February 2004:99
IBX acquires medical records management product, February 2004:100
Flo secures wireless mobile computing business, February 2004:100
New portable pen scanner, February 2004:100
Visualization technology offers new take on tumors, March 2004:106
Government trying to can assorted varieties of spam, March 2004:106
New workbook focuses on clinical decision support, March 2004:108
Bayer Diagnostics licenses Axeda’s DRM software, March 2004:108
Missouri to use indexing software for surveillance, March 2004:108
Directory of directories has punch, hit often, April 2004:95
Misys introduces Optimum suite of products, April 2004:95
Telcor marketing integrated outreach system, April 2004:95
Fletcher Flora offering LabPak Ace Manager, April 2004:95
PracticeXpert acquires transcription company, April2004:95
Cerner becomes first global distributor of SNOMED CT, May 2004:94
New FDA rule intended to reduce transfusion errors, May 2004:94
CLMA/ASCP meeting offers a peck of products and news, May 2004:96
Korchek enters agreement with Mediware, May 2004:97
New system for accessing genetic information, May 2004:98
SCC Soft Computer releases workflow engine, May 2004:98
IDM introduces latest version of Surround, May 2004:98
ARUP Laboratories forges ahead with faster, larger, sleeker systems, June 2004:106
New feature for transfusion product gets FDA clearance, June 2004:106
Axolotl adds functionality to electronic health record, June 2004:106
Fletcher Flora partners with Labtest Systems, June 2004:106
TheraDoc upgrades Web-based infection control product, June 2004:106
SNOMED CT now available free of charge through NLM, June 2004:106
BioMerieux offers real-time clinical intervention software, July 2004:138
First national health information technology coordinator sets agenda, July 2004:138
Internet chat site allows doctors to blow off steam, July 2004:138
FDA clears SCC’s blood service management system, July 2004:139
Orchard releases new version of Harvest LIS, July 2004:139
Misys marketing handheld collection, labeling software, July 2004:139
One hospital’s efforts to reap the rewards of wireless, August 2004:84
Sprint and PatientKeeper to jointly market software, August 2004:86
PentaWare adds PDF conversion to software, August 2004:86
Nonlinear Dynamics releases new version of Progenesis, August 2004:86
JCAHO removes bar-code mandate from safety goals, 9/04:110
The ’nitty-griddy’ on super computing, 9/04:110 Cerner purchases Gajema Software, September 2004:111
ASTM marketing standards for dictation and speech recognition technology, September 2004:111
Software tackles discounts for the uninsured, September 2004:111
Directory of health care information technology standards available, 10/04:111
AACC meeting dishes up a dollop of systems and software, October 2004:112
HL7 CCOW specification receives ANSI approval, October 2004:114
Radio-frequency identification: Coming soon to a patient near you? November 2004:121 Government to spend millions on health information technology projects, November 2004:121
QC OnCall software available with Instrument Manager, November 2004:122
Atlas partners with Dundas Software to enhance graphical reporting, November 2004:122
JulySoft and AcerMed collaborate on reporting laboratory test results, November 2004:122
Presentations and products at AABB meeting, December 2004:82
Web-based resource center focuses on electronic health information exchange, December 2004:84 Vianeta introduces digital patient information software, December 2004:84
Bio-Rad offering new Internet quality control software, December 2004:84
SNOMED to add osteopathic medical terminology, 12/04:84

Obituary
Kenneth McClatchey, DDS, MD, February 2004:6
Edwin B. Herring, MD, May 2004:8
Eleanor B. Sinton, MD, June 2004:12
William B. Hamlin, MD, June 2004:88
Donald A. Senhauser, MD, October 2004:11

PAP/NGC Programs Review
Revised Bethesda atlas fine-tuned and first-rate, January 2004:36
Hailing clinical history in the Pap smear requisition, January 2004:36
January 2004:40
Papillary breast lesions in fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens, January 2004:42 Unsatisfactory slides added to 2004 gyn graded slide sets, January 2004:42
PAP/NGC Q&A: How to label a slide when the number of intact cells do not meet the minimum criteria recommended by Bethesda 2001 for smears, January 2004:44
The ABCs of anal-rectal cytology, May 2004:42
Bethesda ’01 questionnaire results: How cervical cytology reporting rates have changed, May 2004:42
HPV testing in cervicovaginal cytology: Where are we today and where do we go from here? May 2004:50
Error rates: ThinPrep vs. conventional Paps, May 2004:52
Significance of atypical repair in liquid-based gynecologic cytology, May 2004:52
What ASCP’s Certification Maintenance Program means for you, May 2004:54
Location-guided screening of Pap smears: One lab’s experience, August 2004:56
Whose name should go on this report anyway? Protecting ourselves and our practices in the current legal environment, August 2004:56
Q&A: How to calculate cytotechnologist’s workload limits in a lab where a combination of manual and location-guided screening is used, August 2004:60
Interpretive trends and pitfalls: A look back at ’03, August 2004:62
Detection of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix in Pap tests, August 2004:66
Body fluids: Good and bad actors in the nongynecologic cytology program, August 2004:66 Defining the precision of the Pap test, August 2004:66
The Bethesda System for Reporting Cervical Cytology (2nd edition), August 2004:68