Lab reins in magnesium tests with decision support
February 2026—Washington University in St. Louis implemented a clinical decision support intervention to reduce unnecessary magnesium testing.
Webinars and Sponsored Roundtables — Register Now
Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 11:00-11:30 AM CT
Learning Objectives:
- Explain how transparency and manufacturer partnerships improve quality, consistency, and decision-making confidence in specimen management.
- Evaluate blood collection tubes beyond cost and commodity assumptions, incorporating clinical impact and risk into decision-making.
- Assess the potential risk points when using a blood collection device that has not been cleared for a specific purpose.
Roundtable presenters Nick Fingland, PhD, PMP, Senior Director, R&D Operations and Science, BD, and Chris Farnsworth, PhD, D(ABCC), Section Head of Clinical Chemistry, Professor of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Learn about digital pathology technology that is future-ready, yet practical for today’s
laboratory needs.
Webinar presenters Scott Hammond, Senior Systems Consultant, Digital Pathology Division, Wexner Medical Center, Department of Pathology, and Ursula Hofer, Imaging Technologist, Pathology Digital Imaging Lab, Wexner Medical Center, Department of Pathology, and Sandra Banky, PA(ASCP), Director of Operations, Wexner Medical Center, Department of Pathology.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Subspecialties
Interactive Product Guides
2026 Issues
NTRK1-rearranged spindle cell sarcoma in an unusual location: molecular confirmation resolving a high-grade pediatric sarcoma differential
February 2026—A six-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain and was found to have a large mediastinal mass. Biopsy revealed a spindle cell sarcoma, and molecular testing identified an NTRK1 rearrangement, confirming the diagnosis of NTRK1-rearranged spindle cell sarcoma.
Pathologists, vendors talk LIS-IMS integration
February 2026—Cybersecurity and image management are key concerns for laboratories adopting digital pathology and AI. While cloud-based systems offer enhanced security and scalability, onboarding new vendors and instruments remains challenging due to stringent security requirements and potential vulnerabilities.
From the President’s Desk
February 2026—The pathology community must embrace new technologies, such as digital pathology and AI, to avoid being left behind.
Clinical pathology selected abstracts
February 2026—A study of 42 thrombocytopenic neonates found that platelet transfusions increased platelet counts but did not significantly impact bleeding. Another study investigated the impact of probiotics on gut microbiota after colonoscopy.
Anatomic pathology selected abstracts
February 2026—A study introduced a computational framework to analyze collagen disorder architectural (CoDA) features in colon cancer patients, revealing significant associations with clinical, molecular, and genetic factors. Additionally, a dedicated histopathologic assessment of rituximab-associated CVID-like enteropathy highlighted key histologic features, emphasizing the importance of pathologist awareness of this entity.
Molecular pathology selected abstracts
February 2026—A study of 830 children with pediatric central nervous system tumors found that 23.3% carried germline pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition genes, impacting tumor development and outcomes. Another study identified pathogenic variants in 13.2% of infertile women experiencing IVF/ICSI failures, with TUBB8 being the most frequently mutated gene.
Q&A column
February 2026
Q. Why aren’t more medical students interested in applying for a pathology residency? Read answer.
Q. What is your opinion on employing qualitative rapid homogeneous immunoassay (enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique, ELISA) urine screens for tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) testing in pregnant women and emergencies involving neonates, particularly at a low cutoff threshold of 300 ng/mL? Read answer.
Newsbytes
February 2026—Vega Health, founded by Dr. Mark Sendak, aims to democratize AI-based healthcare solutions by providing small to mid-sized health systems with access to proven AI innovations developed by healthcare professionals.
Developing novel assays for disease states
February 2026—CAP TODAY publisher Bob McGonnagle spoke on Dec. 2, 2025 with Steve Swartzell and Scott Johnston of ELITechGroup. McGonnagle’s questions and their answers follow. A few of the questions came from the roundtable audience and are identified as such.
Bob McGonnagle: Steve, how long have you been with ELITech and what is your background in molecular diagnostics?
Steve Swartzell: I am director of customer experience and have been with ELITechGroup for 22 years. My background is in microbiology. I started as a research scientist in R&D and I was an application specialist working directly with customers. I have many years of lab experience as well. Now I oversee all the field activities for ELITechGroup MDx in the U.S. Continue reading …
Watch the full conversation:
This roundtable discussion is sponsored by ELITechGroup.