Put It on the Board, 9/15

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More than half of pathology trainees in 2012 were women

Pathology was among seven medical specialties in which women accounted for the majority of graduate medical education trainees in 2012, said a research letter published online. According to the diversity in GME study, pathology drew a larger share of Hispanic trainees but fewer black trainees than there were overall.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used publicly reported data to assess the representation of women and historically underrepresented minority groups in medicine (Deville C, et al. JAMA Intern Med. Published online Aug. 24, 2015. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4324).

Of the 115,111 trainees in GME in the 20 largest residency training specialties, 46.1 percent were female, while in pathology women made up 54.6 percent of trainees. Obstetrics and gynecology attracted the largest share of women, 82.4 percent. The other five specialties in which women accounted for the majority of trainees were pediatrics, dermatology, internal medicine/pediatrics, family medicine, and psychiatry. Orthopedics drew the smallest share of women, 13.8 percent.

Of the 20 specialties examined, 7.5 percent of trainees were Hispanic and 5.8 percent were black. In pathology, 7.7 percent of trainees were Hispanic and 3.7 percent were black.

In 2012, 30.1 percent of the nearly 690,000 practicing physicians were female, 5.2 percent were Hispanic, and 3.8 percent were black. In medical schools, 48.3 percent of that year’s 16,835 graduates were female, and 15.3 percent were underrepresented minorities.

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Front-end automation for multiplex genetic analysis

Agena Bioscience has introduced the Chip prep module to automate sample handling after PCR for the Mass­Array 96-well system. This enables laboratories to operate the MassArray system largely unattended for high-throughput, multiplex genetic analysis.

“Whether you are a lab manager, pathologist, or medical director, automation of the post-PCR workflow reduces labor and helps to improve the quality and consistency of genetic testing,” Agena Bioscience CEO Peter Dansky said in a statement.

The Chip prep module is designed to minimize hands-on time and reduce the risk of cross-contamination associated with manual sample handling. It automates several processing steps, including dispensing and desalting samples onto the SpectroChip Array and subsequently loading these onto the MassArray analyzer. The module can process eight 96-pad SpectroChip Arrays in less than a day and includes onboard cooling and storage, which allow overnight processing and storage of two additional SpectroChip Arrays. The module is an add-on to the Mass­-Array analyzer.

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Noridian OKs Prolaris for Medicare coverage

Noridian Healthcare Solutions has issued a final local coverage determination for Prolaris, Myriad Genetics’ 46-gene RNA-expression prognostic test for assessing the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Noridian is a Medicare administrative contractor for the western U.S.; its decision follows a final LCD from Palmetto GBA in January.

The final LCD takes effect Oct. 15 and provides Medicare coverage for prostate cancer patients defined as low risk and very low risk by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The Medicare coverage decision extends payment for testing to the approximately 60,000 U.S. patients diagnosed each year with localized prostate cancer who meet the criteria of a Gleason score of six or lower and serum PSA level of less than 10 ng/mL.
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