Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 1:00–2:00 PM ET
In this webinar, we will examine how immune recognition after allogeneic HCT can influence leukemia relapse and disease progression. The session will highlight the clinical relevance of HLA loss of heterozygosity (LOH), approaches used for its detection, and how LOH findings may support transplant strategies, including considerations for donor selection in subsequent transplantation.
Webinar presenter Alberto Cardoso Martins Lima, PhD, Clinical consulting scientist in histocompatibility,
specializing in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) at IGEN/AFIP São Paulo and CHC/UFPR in Curitiba, Brazil
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Hear an expert discuss the expanded clinical utility of HER2 IHC scoring in metastatic breast cancer and its impact on your practice
Webinar presenter Michelle Shiller, DO, AP, CP, MGP, FACP, Baylor University Medical Center.
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Hear an expert discuss how to integrate Kappa and Lambda in situ hybridization testing into your standard hematopathology workflow to accurately assess B-cell and plasma cell clonality. You will also gain the skills to recognize testing pitfalls in challenging reactive versus neoplastic proliferations and apply ancillary tools to resolve complex cases.
Webinar presenter Xiaojun Wu, MD, PhD, Assistant professor, Director of Hematopathology Section at NCR of Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Pathology, SOM at Johns Hopkins University
Moderated by: Bob McGonnagle, Publisher, CAP TODAY
February 2017—I have an oncology patient with a diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia. The patient’s sample has been drawn in sodium citrate, EDTA K2, sodium heparin, and warm saline replacements, and a true platelet count cannot be obtained. Platelets clump in all tubes, and multiple platelet clumps are observed under the microscope. The patient doesn’t have thrombocytopenia. What else can I do?
January 2017—I have a technologist who is a recent graduate from a medical technology school. She has her BA but the school she attended did not offer an internship program. We are offering her one year of on-the-job training so she will be able to sit for her ASCP certification exam after completing the one year of training.
Q. Are there guidelines on microsatellite instability analysis by immunohistochemistry on colorectal adenocarcinomas? Specifically, should immunohistochemical stains for the mismatch repair enzymes be performed on all colorectal adenocarcinomas regardless of the clinical or pathological findings? A medical group recently requested these studies on all colorectal adenocarcinomas.
November 2016—As originally described, there are technically five Gleason patterns: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. However, since patterns 1 and 2 are never used, there are no Gleason scores 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 1 = 3, 2 + 2 = 4, 2 + 3 = 5, and 3 + 2 = 5. Why is this? Isn’t this an alteration of Gleason’s original classification concept? Furthermore, there are cases in which a biopsy may contain a few glands that are diagnostic of carcinoma but insufficient to assign an accurate Gleason score. Would it simply be best to make a descriptive comment to that effect?
October 2016—What are the guidelines for proper handling and processing of blood specimens collected in serum separator tubes? Are there regulations guiding the practice of taking additional blood samples from a patient even though there are no orders for the blood samples? These “just in case” specimens are sent to our laboratory by the emergency department when a port or catheter is placed in the patient. The ED’s reasoning is that it prevents a patient from being stuck twice if there is an order for blood tests later. Our lab has to either store the samples or process them (centrifuge or separate RBCs from serum) so they are ready in case an order is entered later. Should this practice be banned? Should we refuse to accept these samples?
September 2016—We know we can count fewer than 100 cells for a manual differential if there is a very low white cell count. But if the white cell count is very high, should we count more than 100 cells? Some references state that >30,000 WBC/µL require a 200 cell differential, others >50,000 WBC/µL, and many do not mention at all the need to increase above 100 cells counted.
August 2016—If you obtain a platelet count from a blood sample collected in a sodium citrate tube, the result is multiplied by 1.1 to correct for the volumetric difference in anticoagulant compared with EDTA. When you result the platelet count from the sodium citrate tube, is it a CAP requirement to attach a comment such as: “_#__ Results reported from blue top tube. The reference range and other method performance specifications have not been established or approved by FDA. Use results with caution.”
July 2016—What are the steps to validating maximum dilution for certain analytes when the stated manufacturer dilution is not enough? What is considered best practice for verifying platelet-poor plasma for coagulation? Is it necessary to measure platelet counts from 2.7 mL and 1.8 mL tubes? Is annual verification consistent with best practice?
June 2016—Can you offer feedback on the growing trend of using type A fresh frozen plasma in emergencies instead of type AB? Is this being used mainly in trauma hospitals and military sites or is the trend becoming more popular in smaller hospitals too?
May 2016—What laboratory test should be used to monitor the effect of the heart failure medication Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan)? After getting a consultation report, I usually issue an addendum without changing my own diagnosis. Some of my colleagues use an amended report with their own diagnosis changed. They say this will help clinicians with patient management. I do not feel confident about many of these difficult cases, so I do not want to change my diagnosis. We would like to establish a department policy to address this. Can you provide guidance?
