News
The pros and cons of centralizing microbiology services
The structure and location of diagnostic laboratory services have undergone a significant shift in recent years. As part of laboratory stewardship, laboratories continually review their scope of service in order to better utilize healthcare resources while still meeting the needs of patients and clinicians.
Newborn blood testing saves life of infant after launch
Dr. Stacey Hume, genetics laboratory head at University of Alberta Hospital, talks about a newborn screening program that includes additional screening. The program has already saved the life of newborn infant.
New virus found in one-third of all countries may have coevolved with human lineage
In 2014, a virus called crAssphage that infects bacteria was discovered as part of the body’s intestinal environment. Now, a new study has investigated the origin and evolution of this virus, which may have coevolved with human lineage.
Managing millennials in the laboratory, from a millennial
Millennials are taking over the workforce. By 2025, this generation will make up most of the workforce (about 33 percent) in the United States, as estimated by Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Titrating talent
More chemistry graduates leave science than stay in it… what can we do about that? Stuart Brown thinks that increased collaboration between industry and academia is key in developing and keeping the next generation of scientists…
Doubled risk of death after minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cervical cancer
Another blow has been dealt for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in patients with cervical cancer — this time by Canadian researchers.
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) lab test start-up EverlyWell raises $50 million
If direct-to-consumer testing continues to attract healthcare consumers and financial investors, medical laboratories could have a new source of revenue. Many have tried but few have found the right formula to offer medical laboratory tests directly to consumers. Direct-to-consumer lab testing as a robust business model has been an elusive goal. But now one entrepreneur wants to crack this market and just attracted $50 million in venture capital to fund her idea!
Standardizing robotics and automation in the lab
Advances in computing and technological development in robotics are helping drive labs in to the world of automation. We often come across terms such as "Lab of the Future" and "Smart Lab" – but what do these actually mean?
Virologists escorted out of lab in Canada
Canada’s national police force is investigating “possible policy breaches” after researchers were escorted from a lab at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, CBC News reported earlier this week (July 14). Prominent virologist Xiangguo Qiu, her colleague and husband Keding Cheng, and an unknown number of her students from China were removed from the lab on July 5.
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