Q&A Column, 11/13
November 2013—Can you explain the logic behind doing a full workup for identification and sensitivity on multiple positive blood culture bottles on the same patient, drawn on the same day?
Webinars and Sponsored Roundtables — Register Now
Wednesday, September 23, 2026. 12 PM-1 PM ET
Roundtable presenters Dr. David Sacks MB, ChB, FRCPath, Chairman, Steering Committee National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP), and Priya Sivaraman, PhD, Senior Technical Product Manager, Tosoh Bioscience.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Thursday, September 24, 2026 11 AM-12 PM CT
This session explores the evolving role of RAS in precision oncology, from the biology of RAS mutations to the expanding landscape of targeted therapies. Through expert presentations, real-world case discussions, and interactive audience polling, participants will examine best practices for RAS biomarker testing across solid tumors, including lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. The session will highlight practical considerations for tissue and liquid biopsy, strategies to address testing gaps, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure timely identification of patients who may benefit from RAS-targeted therapies.
Webinar presenters David Braxton, MD, Chief of Molecular Pathology Services, Hoag Family Cancer Institute & Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, and Carlos Becerra, MD, Research Director for Medical Oncology, Margaret Given Larkin Endowed Chair for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Wednesday, September 30, 2026. 1 PM-1:30 PM ET
Roundtable presenters John Longshore, PhD, Head of Scientific Affairs, Global Oncology Diagnostics, AstraZeneca, and Flora Berisha, MS, Executive Director, Global Head of Diagnostic Partnering and Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, and Mark D. Ewalt, MD, Associate Medical Director for Laboratory Operations, Diagnostic Molecular Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics Service, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 11 AM-12 PM ET
Hear experts review the biological and clinical significance of the HER2 expression continuum in breast tissue, providing a clearer understanding of how these variations might impact diagnosis, and discuss the emerging importance of documenting HER2-low and HER2-ultralow categories using a validated IHC assay.
Webinar presenters Keith Wharton, MD, PhD, Global Medical Affairs Leader–Pathology,
Roche Diagnostics Solutions, and Hannah Y. Wen, MD, PhD, Director, Breast Pathology Fellowship, Associate Team Leader, Breast Pathology Team, Attending Pathologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Subspecialties
Interactive Product Guides
November 2013
Put It on the Board, 11/13
November 2013—Myriad Genetics presented last month new clinical data from a study with myRisk Hereditary Cancer, a 25-gene hereditary cancer panel, that showed a 60 percent increase in mutations detected in cancer predisposition genes in patients with a prior history of colon cancer, polyps, or both. Myriad presented this study and data from four others at the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.
Clinical pathology selected abstracts
November 2013—Analysis of transfusion related lung injury in children; Assessing outcomes of medical emergencies on commercial airline flights; Link between inflammatory biomarkers and risk of exacerbations in COPD
Anatomic Pathology Selected Abstracts, 11/13
November 2013—Diagnostic and prognostic morphometric features in WHO 2003 invasive endometrial stromal tumors; Association of tumor staging with adverse clinical outcome in neuroendocrine tumors of appendix; Detection of HPV capsid proteins L1 and L2 in squamous intraepithelial lesions; Feasibility and safety of sequential research-related tumor core biopsies in clinical trials; Evaluation of breast amyloidosis finds AL type most prevalent; Outside case review of surgical pathology for referred patients: impact on patient care; Reporting trends for right-sided hyperplastic and sessile serrated polyps; Atypical leiomyomas of the uterus: a clinicopathologic study of 51 cases; Pathological diagnostic criterion of blood and lymphatic vessel invasion in colorectal cancer
Newsbytes, 11/13
November 2013—New connectivity standards nearly ready to roll; CAP and mTuitive create application for care of cancer patients; European firm purchases Centricity LIS from GE; NovoPath offers Citrix platform for AP system; AHRQ tool focuses on lab test processes in medical offices; Brazilian hospital selects Cerner system
New programs next year in gyn, nongyn cytopathology
November 2013—Participants in the CAP cytopathology programs will have new modules to select and new cases to learn from in 2014. Samples of static images that accompany the Touch Imprint/Crush Prep cases. In gynecologic cytopathology, a new L module for education will feature liquid-based SurePath and ThinPrep slide methods only. These will be designated PAPL/APAPL, with a choice of series one or two.
At Henry Ford, 36 lab sites now under ISO umbrella
November 2013—When Richard J. Zarbo, MD, reflects on the strategy that helped his Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System achieve CAP accreditation to the ISO 15189 standard this summer, he likes to quote the system’s famously methodical founder: “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”
Awards, honors given for sterling service
November 2013—Philip T. Cagle, MD, was presented Oct. 13 with the Pathologist of the Year award during an evening event at the CAP ’13 annual meeting in Kissimmee, Fla. At the same event, at the Gaylord Palms Orlando, Feriyl Bhaijee, MBChB, was honored as Resident of the Year, and Si Van Nguyen, MD, received the second annual CAP Foundation Gene & Jean Herbek Humanitarian award.
Juggling IT demands—labs, vendors open up
Hopes, fears, frustrations, and change. In time for our annual LIS product guide (pages 23–38), that’s what CAP TODAY asked LIS companies and lab users of IT about. What we heard was talk of uncertainty, complexity, finite IT resources, the need to stay current, and, as one company president put it, “swimming with an anchor” attached. Here’s what they told us.
Next-gen sequencing now: a restless wave
November 2013—When it comes to home improvement projects, we all have our own comfort level. Some of us order a load of lumber and build a new addition to our home; others limit themselves to assembling a bookcase from Ikea. And there are those who leave everything to professionals.