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
Product Spotlight
Werfen
| Company | Werfen |
|---|---|
| Instrument name | ACL AcuStar |
| Contact | Annie Lopatin |
| City State | Bedford, MA |
| Phone | 800-955-9525 |
| Website | |
| First year sold | 2010 |
| List price/Model type | —/benchtop |
| Dimensions (H × W × D)/Weight/Instrument footprint | 21 × 34 × 24 in./170 lbs./10 sq. ft. |
| No. of units in clinical use in U.S./Outside U.S. | 5/196 (available in most countries) |
| Composition of installs: Hospital lab/Reference lab/Other | 100%/0/0 |
| Targeted daily, monthly, annual test volume | daily: 20–150; monthly: 600–4, 500; annual: 36, 000–54, 000 |
| Operational type | random access |
| Country where analyzer designed/Manufactured | U.S./U.S. |
| Company manufactures instrument | no |
| FDA-approved clotting-based tests | — |
| FDA-approved chromogenic tests | — |
| FDA-approved immunologic tests | heparin-induced thrombocytopenia IgG, domain 1, anticardiolipin IgG, anticardiolipin IgM, B2GPI IgG, B2GPI IgM |
| Other FDA-approved tests | — |
| User-defined tests in clinical use | — |
| Tests in development or awaiting FDA 510(k) clearance | ADAMTS13, von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor, von Willebrand antigen |
| Methodologies supported | immunologic (chemiluminescent) |
| Number of different measured assays onboard simultaneously | 20 |
| Number of different assays programmed and calib. at one time | 20 |
| No. of user-definable (open) channels/No. active simultaneously | 0/0 |
| Factor assays require manual manipulation or dilutions | — |
| Test throughput per hour/Assay run time | 60 (1 test in throughput)/30 min. |
| Design of sample-handling system | samples loaded into carousel rack |
| Operates on whole blood or spun plasma | spun plasma |
| Reagent type | self-contained multiuse cartridges (liquid) |
| Reagent barcode-reading capability | yes, for all tests |
| No. of reagent containers held onboard/Reagents ready to use | 20/yes |
| Reagent lot tracking/Reagent inventory/Reagents refrigerated onboard | yes/yes/yes |
| Reagents, consumables loaded without interrupting testing | yes (reagents and consumables) |
| Instrument uses proprietary or third-party reagents | proprietary reagents |
| Maximum time same lot number of reagents can be used | 6 months |
| Walkaway capability/Walkaway duration | yes/30 specimens or 280 tests |
| Min.–max. specimen volume that can be aspirated at one time | 2–250 µL |
| Min. sample volume required for PT/PTT/Factor VIII activity | 50 µL/50 µL/50 µL |
| Types of disposables used | cuvettes, trigger, solutions |
| Primary tube sampling supported/Pierces caps on primary tubes | yes/no |
| Accommodates most standard tube sizes/Nonstandard sizes | yes/no |
| Sample barcode-reading capability/Autodiscrimination | yes/yes |
| Auto tracks product volume/Measures number of tests remaining | yes/yes |
| Short sample detection | yes |
| Clot detection as preanalytical variable in plasma sample | no |
| Auto detects adequate reagents for aspiration or analysis | yes (aspiration and analysis) |
| Detection or quantitation for hemolysis, turbidity, icterus, lipemia | — |
| Dilutes patient samples onboard | yes |
| Automatic rerun capability/Auto reflex testing capability | yes/yes |
| Lag time during which hypercoagulable sample not detected | — |
| User can adjust reagent volumes/Sample volumes | no/no |
| User can adjust No. of reagents/Sources of reagents | no/no |
| User can adjust incubation times/Reading times | no/no |
| Autocalibration/Calibrants stored onboard | no/no |
| Multipoint calibration supported/Recommended frequency | yes/6 months |
| • PT alone | — |
| • PT, PTT | — |
| • Fibrinogen | — |
| • Factor VIII activity assay | — |
| • D-dimer | — |
| Time delay from ordering stat to aspiration of sample | <1 minute |
| How labs get LOINC codes for results | functionality not provided |
| Onboard real-time QC/Onboard software capability to review QC | yes/yes |
| Information that can be barcode-scanned on instrument | specimen identifier, reagent lot No. |
| Compatible with laboratory automation systems | no |
| Data-management capability/LIS or EHR systems interfaced | onboard/Meditech |
| Interface supplied by instrument vendor | contract dependent |
| Results transferred to LIS as soon as test time complete | yes |
| Bidirectional interface capability | yes (broadcast download and host query) |
| Remote servicing provided/UPS backup power supply | no/yes |
| Instrument connections to transfer information | data-management system, which in turn connects to LIS; directly to LIS; commercial middleware (Werfen, Beckman Coulter) |
| Interface standards supported | ASTM 1394-91 |
| Information transferred to data-management software | specimen ID |
| Avg. time for basic user training | 4 days (at customer site) |
| Approximate scheduled maintenance time | daily: 5 minutes; weekly: 5 minutes |
| Maintenance records kept onboard | yes |
| Warranty with purchase/Annual service contract cost (24/7) | yes/— (cost dependent on contract) |
| Distinguishing features (supplied by company) | on-demand heparin-induced thrombocytopenia IgG testing with results available in 30 minutes; uses sensitive chemiluminescent technology, improving sensitivity; reagents are ready to use with onboard stability up to 12 weeks |