BROADCASTING on location at the Clinical Virology Symposium

Our first presenter, Dr. John McKinnon, will be presenting on:

CLINICAL IMPACT OF MISSING CMV VIREMIA IN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is prevalent in transplant patients, and is frequently associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In CMV positive recipients of allogeneic human stem cell transplantation, the incidence of viral reactivation can be seen in up to 80% of patients, with up to 30% of these patients ultimately developing clinically significant CMV disease.¹ The potential clinical impact of missing CMV viremia cannot be understated. In the first part of this presentation, Dr. John McKinnon will present data from his study comparing two commercial assays for the quantitation of CMV and potential relationship with mutations on UL54.  

Learning Objectives:

• Review of the current recommendations for CMV viral load monitoring in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• Clinical study results of comparing two commercial assays for CMV viremia and genotypic resistance testing of samples with CMV viremia.
• Clinical implications for our site and potential approaches to management of suspected CMV viremia.

Our second presenter, Dr. Frederick (Rick) Nolte, will be presenting on:

STREAMLINING AND STANDARDIZING MOLECULAR TESTING THROUGH CONSOLIDATION

Consolidation of laboratory testing on a single automated molecular platform can result in many benefits to the laboratory, namely by reducing the number of redundant instruments, streamlining operations, and standardizing testing – all of which may translate into considerable cost savings and improved operational efficiency. In the second part of this presentation, Dr. Rick Nolte presents his experience with consolidating IVDs and LDTs on a versatile molecular platform.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the key factors to consider in selecting a molecular diagnostic test platform
• Describe our experience with consolidation of LDTs and IVDs on the Abbott m2000 platform
• Highlight the operational efficiencies that can be achieved through Lean laboratory design and the use of middleware in molecular diagnostic laboratories

¹ J.E. McKinnon et al. Comparison of Roche and Abbott Cytomegalovirus Quantitative PCR Assays in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients. Poster presented at IDWeek, October 4-8, 2017, San Diego, CA