Q&A column
Q. Which gynecological slides can cytotechnologists report? Read answer.
Q. Is it recommended that a hospital streamline its reference ranges for point-of-care and main laboratory tests? Read answer.
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
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Q&A column
Q&A column
Q. Can you explain further the revised CAP checklist requirement COM.40850 “LDT and Class I ASR Reporting,” which says to describe the method and performance characteristics in test reports unless the information is available to the clinician in an equivalent format? Read answer.
Q. Can we see reactive lymphocytes in the pediatric population (under age two), and can we report them? Read answer.
Q&A column
Q. Is anticoagulant adjustment in citrate tubes necessary when a patient’s hematocrit is less than 20 percent? Read answer.
Q. What is the substitute test for HbA1c for a patient with homozygous variant hemoglobin? Is a fructosamine and/or glycated albumin test appropriate? Read answer.
Q&A column
Q. How can one wisely apply GATA3 immunohistochemistry as a useful tumor marker in diagnostic surgical pathology? Read answer.
Q&A column
Q. Is there expert advice or standard practice for releasing preliminary critical values for patients to the LIS pending subsequent technologist or technician verification and documentation? Read answer.
Q. We hope to validate a procedure for the fixation, decalcification, and staining of bone marrow specimens but we will not be able to access fresh marrow specimens for our decalcification validation. Can you recommend an alternative tissue to validate the preservation of tissue morphology and antigenicity after decalcification? Read answer.
Q&A column
Q. What is the best way to report fecal fat testing? Read answer.
Q. Who developed the formula for the corrected white blood cell count for nucleated red blood cells, and how was the formula established? Read answer.
Q&A column
July 2018—Is CD30 currently being used as a predictive marker for therapy? Due to laboratory construction, our molecular instruments were relocated within the lab. Is full test validation required in this case? Or is running at least 20 known samples enough to verify the instrument/assay performance specifications?
Q&A column
June 2018—What is the role of total testosterone and free testosterone in gauging the effectiveness of androgen deprivation therapy?
We are planning to validate the mismatch repair panel in our immunohistochemistry laboratory. Do we use the CAP guidelines for antibody validation for a nonpredictive marker or a predictive marker?
Q&A column, 5/18
May 2018—Our immunohistochemistry laboratory is moving to a new building across the street. We are not getting new equipment, just moving the machines to the new building. Do we need to perform a full revalidation of all our antibodies?
Q&A column
April 2018—A semen analysis for viability was collected at 9:30 AM and not received in the laboratory until 1:40 PM. Our standard operating procedure says this test must be analyzed one hour after collection, with no disclaimers stated for late receivables. Therefore, it is my understanding that a specimen received five hours after collection would be considered unacceptable because the viability of the semen is compromised and the collection delivery does not follow our SOP.