Everything but the chemistry sink: Skills development for oversight of non-chemistry areas
3.0 ACCENT credits / 3.0 CME credits
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Afternoon course | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. US Central Time
McCormick Place Chicago
Description
This course will prepare laboratorians to face the increasing demand of being asked to ‘do more with less’ in the clinical lab. As most – if not all – laboratories are aware of, this demand is driving consolidation and the integration of traditionally separate sections into large, highly automated core laboratories leading to handling a broader range of testing areas. Consequently, clinical chemists and clinical laboratory scientists are often required to assume responsibilities or provide backup coverage for areas of the lab where they may have limited or no formal training. These areas include toxicology, hematology and coagulation, infectious diseases testing, molecular diagnostics, microbiology, immunology, and the ultimate ‘kitchen sink’ area – send out testing. This course will bring together content experts to share training through basic knowledge. Case studies on the integration of toxicology, infectious disease, and molecular testing into automated laboratories or their oversight by clinical chemists will be discussed.
Target audience
This activity is designed for physicians, advanced practice professionals (NPs, PAs, RNs, etc.), lab supervisors, lab directors (and/or assistant directors), lab managers (supervisory and/or non-supervisory), medical technologists, point-of-care coordinators, pathologists, toxicologists, and in-training individuals.
Presentation level
Intermediate
Prerequisite knowledge
General basic knowledge in the following is recommended:
- Operational aspects of the clinical laboratory
- Molecular biology and genetics (e.g., DNA/RNA, chromosomes, genes, exons, introns)
Molecular diagnostic lab techniques (e.g., PCR, sequencing, genotyping)
- Role of genetic pathology in inherited diseases and in cancers
- Chemistry and toxicological testing (e.g., immunoassay vs LDTs)
- Immunology and serologic methods and techniques
- Infectious disease pathogenesis and presentation
What to bring
A laptop or personal device for notetaking and audience participation.
Learning objectives
After participating in this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify differences between the management of chemistry and molecular or infectious disease sections of the laboratory.
- Discuss appropriate algorithm-based selection of molecular and/or serologic assays and provide result interpretation guidance for common infectious diseases.
- Strategize appropriate implementation and oversight of molecular laboratories.
Skills you will gain
- General management skills for chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, and molecular laboratory sections.
- Leadership skills for a molecular diagnostics lab to oversee operations, budgeting, design, and staff hiring.
- Ability to apply algorithmic approaches to diagnose common infectious diseases.
Faculty
Jacqueline Hubbard, PhD, DABCC | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Elitza Theel, PhD, ABMM | Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Neal Lindeman, MD, DABCC, DABP | Weill Cornell Medicine
Course outline
- (5 min) Welcome and introduction (Jackie Hubbard)
- (40 min) Challenges of overseeing diverse laboratory sections (Jackie Hubbard)
This course section use real-world examples, audience polls, and group discussion to illustrate the diverse responsibilities in overseeing lab operations. Dr. Hubbard will also cover common challenges and practical solutions to overseeing broad test menus that includes assays outside your core area of expertise.
Mass spectrometry-based toxicology testing will be used to illustrate the differences between automated chemistry testing labs and a lab section designed with vastly different technologies and workflows (such as laboratory developed tests). Case scenarios will be presented throughout for group discussion and polling.
(5 min) Q&A
(10 min) Break
- (45 min) Serologic testing for infectious diseases (Elitza Theel)
During this course section, Dr. Theel will describe common conundrums around infectious disease diagnostics for which either an algorithmic approach is required (e.g., Lyme disease, syphilis, Epstein–Barr virus, Chagas disease) or for which diagnostic test selection varies based on presentation (e.g., arboviral disease, vector-borne diseases). Participants will receive a review for these case scenarios complete with a guide on appropriate test utilization and result interpretation.
(5 min) Q&A
(10 min) Break
- (45 min) Molecular diagnostic testing (Neal Lindeman)
Dr. Lindeman will present on the essential aspects of molecular diagnostics that are distinct from traditional clinical chemistry. He will focus on readdressing chemistry assumptions when directing a molecular lab. Discussion on molecular diagnostic testing lab will include aspects on regulatory (e.g., LDTs), analytical (validation strategies, QC, and assay performance), operational (space, costs, personnel), and informatics (cost, complexity, and challenges of using ‘big’ data) issues. Participants will engage in interactive case studies discussions in a roundtable format to reinforce and apply concepts.
(5 min) Q&A
- (10 min) Q&A panel and closing
Faculty will review key take-home messages, actionable practice changes, and resources. Faculty will open the room for audience questions that were not already addressed in prior course sections.
