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How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
meningococcemia?
How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
meningococcemia?
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
in and of itself.
When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
that are cloudy are almost always positive.
We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
also. It was a latex agglutination test.
We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
neoformans.
Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
above.
The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
positive gram smear.
Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
for lumbar punctures.
Anyone else care to chime in?
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
> How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> meningococcemia?
>
I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
in and of itself.
When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
that are cloudy are almost always positive.
We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
also. It was a latex agglutination test.
We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
neoformans.
Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
above.
The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
positive gram smear.
Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
for lumbar punctures.
Anyone else care to chime in?
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
> How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> meningococcemia?
>
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 26, 10:19 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
> Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
> in and of itself.
>
> When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
> usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
> labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
> basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
> which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
> and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
> saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
> microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
> specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
>
> Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
> on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
> morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
> negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
> considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
> meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
> intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
> that are cloudy are almost always positive.
>
> We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
> N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
> pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
> smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
> complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
> also. It was a latex agglutination test.
>
> We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
> onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
> look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
> out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
> mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
> these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
> media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
> is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
> PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
> Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
> neoformans.
>
> Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
> differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
> is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
> stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
> lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
>
> The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
> protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
> diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
> sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
> above.
>
> The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
> elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
> positive gram smear.
>
> Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
> meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
> over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
> for lumbar punctures.
>
> Anyone else care to chime in?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> > when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> > meningococcemia?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
cool.
On Jun 26, 10:19 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
> Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
> in and of itself.
>
> When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
> usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
> labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
> basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
> which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
> and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
> saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
> microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
> specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
>
> Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
> on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
> morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
> negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
> considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
> meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
> intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
> that are cloudy are almost always positive.
>
> We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
> N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
> pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
> smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
> complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
> also. It was a latex agglutination test.
>
> We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
> onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
> look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
> out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
> mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
> these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
> media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
> is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
> PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
> Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
> neoformans.
>
> Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
> differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
> is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
> stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
> lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
>
> The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
> protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
> diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
> sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
> above.
>
> The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
> elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
> positive gram smear.
>
> Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
> meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
> over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
> for lumbar punctures.
>
> Anyone else care to chime in?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> > when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> > meningococcemia?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
cool.
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
Why thanks, DarkProtoman. If you thought it was cool, it probably means
that you would be interested in working in a laboratory someday. That's
a good sign.
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELISPOT
* elispot . com /elispot-wells.html
* elispot . com /
It seems they are produced by a company in Germany. It would have to
have FDA approval to be in use in the US. To date I have not heard of
it, but there is a lot of new stuff coming out nowadays so that doesn't
mean anything, and I don't work in serology, which is the market for
these tests. The laboratory has changed immensely in the last thirty
years. Molecular testing has taken off just in the last five years. This
company seems to be in on all that new stuff. Anybody else know about
them?
* w w w .aid-diagnostika . com /english/index.htm
The website mentions auto-immune testing (of which I know nothing).
There is a whole class of autoimmune diseases that are currently
diagnosed by ANA (antinuclear antibody) testing along with other tests
if the ANA is positive. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis,
scleraderma, lupus, and others.
Keep being interested in new things, DP, and you'll do well in any type
of medical training you go into.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182964046.874085.240870@e9g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
> I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
> cool.
Why thanks, DarkProtoman. If you thought it was cool, it probably means
that you would be interested in working in a laboratory someday. That's
a good sign.
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELISPOT
* elispot . com /elispot-wells.html
* elispot . com /
It seems they are produced by a company in Germany. It would have to
have FDA approval to be in use in the US. To date I have not heard of
it, but there is a lot of new stuff coming out nowadays so that doesn't
mean anything, and I don't work in serology, which is the market for
these tests. The laboratory has changed immensely in the last thirty
years. Molecular testing has taken off just in the last five years. This
company seems to be in on all that new stuff. Anybody else know about
them?
* w w w .aid-diagnostika . com /english/index.htm
The website mentions auto-immune testing (of which I know nothing).
There is a whole class of autoimmune diseases that are currently
diagnosed by ANA (antinuclear antibody) testing along with other tests
if the ANA is positive. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis,
scleraderma, lupus, and others.
Keep being interested in new things, DP, and you'll do well in any type
of medical training you go into.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182964046.874085.240870@e9g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
> I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
> cool.
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 27, 10:30 am, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> Why thanks, DarkProtoman. If you thought it was cool, it probably means
> that you would be interested in working in a laboratory someday. That's
> a good sign.
>
> * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELISPOT
>
> * elispot . com /elispot-wells.html
>
> * elispot . com /
>
> It seems they are produced by a company in Germany. It would have to
> have FDA approval to be in use in the US. To date I have not heard of
> it, but there is a lot of new stuff coming out nowadays so that doesn't
> mean anything, and I don't work in serology, which is the market for
> these tests. The laboratory has changed immensely in the last thirty
> years. Molecular testing has taken off just in the last five years. This
> company seems to be in on all that new stuff. Anybody else know about
> them?
>
> * w w w .aid-diagnostika . com /english/index.htm
>
> The website mentions auto-immune testing (of which I know nothing).
> There is a whole class of autoimmune diseases that are currently
> diagnosed by ANA (antinuclear antibody) testing along with other tests
> if the ANA is positive. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis,
> scleraderma, lupus, and others.
>
> Keep being interested in new things, DP, and you'll do well in any type
> of medical training you go into.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182964046.874085.240870@e9g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
> > cool.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Can I be a medical laboratory assistant while I'm 16 --if I pass my
CHSPE, I get a certifcate of proficency, which in my state of
California is legally equivalent to a HS diploma 9I can skip my junior
and senior years and go directly to community college), and exempts me
from needing a work permit--?
On Jun 27, 10:30 am, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> Why thanks, DarkProtoman. If you thought it was cool, it probably means
> that you would be interested in working in a laboratory someday. That's
> a good sign.
>
> * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELISPOT
>
> * elispot . com /elispot-wells.html
>
> * elispot . com /
>
> It seems they are produced by a company in Germany. It would have to
> have FDA approval to be in use in the US. To date I have not heard of
> it, but there is a lot of new stuff coming out nowadays so that doesn't
> mean anything, and I don't work in serology, which is the market for
> these tests. The laboratory has changed immensely in the last thirty
> years. Molecular testing has taken off just in the last five years. This
> company seems to be in on all that new stuff. Anybody else know about
> them?
>
> * w w w .aid-diagnostika . com /english/index.htm
>
> The website mentions auto-immune testing (of which I know nothing).
> There is a whole class of autoimmune diseases that are currently
> diagnosed by ANA (antinuclear antibody) testing along with other tests
> if the ANA is positive. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis,
> scleraderma, lupus, and others.
>
> Keep being interested in new things, DP, and you'll do well in any type
> of medical training you go into.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182964046.874085.240870@e9g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > I was actually wondering what an ELISPOT was; but your post was pretty
> > cool.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Can I be a medical laboratory assistant while I'm 16 --if I pass my
CHSPE, I get a certifcate of proficency, which in my state of
California is legally equivalent to a HS diploma 9I can skip my junior
and senior years and go directly to community college), and exempts me
from needing a work permit--?
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 26, 10:19 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
> Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
> in and of itself.
>
> When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
> usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
> labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
> basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
> which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
> and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
> saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
> microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
> specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
>
> Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
> on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
> morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
> negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
> considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
> meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
> intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
> that are cloudy are almost always positive.
>
> We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
> N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
> pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
> smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
> complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
> also. It was a latex agglutination test.
>
> We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
> onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
> look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
> out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
> mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
> these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
> media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
> is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
> PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
> Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
> neoformans.
>
> Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
> differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
> is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
> stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
> lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
>
> The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
> protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
> diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
> sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
> above.
>
> The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
> elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
> positive gram smear.
>
> Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
> meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
> over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
> for lumbar punctures.
>
> Anyone else care to chime in?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> > when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> > meningococcemia?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
meningitis.
On Jun 26, 10:19 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I personally have never heard of this methodology. I looked it up in
> Google, and it seems to be a methodology for different tests, not a test
> in and of itself.
>
> When a lumbar puncture is ordered to rule out meningitis, there are
> usually 3-4 tubes of CSF drawn off in special lumbar puncture tubes
> labelled 1,2,3,4. All tests on CSF's are considered STAT tests and the
> basic tests are done right away. Every lab has its own protocol as to
> which tube goes where. One tube goes to microbiology; one to Hematology,
> and the other goes to chemistry. If there is a fourth tube it is usually
> saved for possible further testing in microbiology. All of them go to
> microbiology first at our place, since we have to have a sterile
> specimen. We then distribute the other tubes to the other departments.
>
> Micro does a cytocentrifuge smear of the fluid and performs a gram stain
> on this slide. If the gram stain is positive for any bacterial
> morphologies (gram positive cocci in pairs, gram negative rods, gram
> negative diplococci, etc.) the floor is called immediately as this is
> considered a life threatening situation. Bacterial meningococcal
> meningitis presents with a gram stain of many WBC's and gram negative
> intracellular diplococci. This infection can kill within hours. CSF's
> that are cloudy are almost always positive.
>
> We used to perform an antigen tests that included Ag for Group B strep,
> N. meningitidis, H. influenzae, a certain strain of E. coli, and S.
> pneumoniae. We stopped doing it a year ago, as a cytocentrifuged gram
> smear is more sensitive than the test was. The doctors really never
> complained that we stopped performing it. It was a pain in the rear,
> also. It was a latex agglutination test.
>
> We then spin the rest of the fluid in our tube and plate the sediment
> onto blood agar and chocolate agar. We hold the plates three days and
> look for any growth each day before calling it negative and signing it
> out. We give updated preliminary reports each day. If fungal or
> mycobacterial infection is suspected, additional media are added for
> these organisms. Fungal media is held for four weeks and mycobacterial
> media (acid fast organisms, the most common of which is M. tuberculosis)
> is held for 6 weeks. Micro can also test for viruses, and enterovirus
> PCR seems to be a popular order. We also get seasonal requests for West
> Nile Virus. The most common fungal infection of CSF is Cryptococcus
> neoformans.
>
> Hematology gets an aliquot and performs a cell count. I believe a
> differential smear is done on a cytocentrifuged smear if the white count
> is over a certain level. A differential smear is stained with Wright's
> stain and the cells are enumerated - how many segmented neutrophils,
> lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. are seen.
>
> The most common tests that chemistry performs on CSF are glucose and
> protein, but other tests can be performed also, depending on the
> diagnosis. Sometimes spinal taps are performed to rule out multiple
> sclerosis, and then a different battery of tests is added on to the ones
> above.
>
> The textbook picture of a bacterially infected CSF would include an
> elevated total protein, a low glucose, an elevated WBC count, and a
> positive gram smear.
>
> Where did you come up with this ELISPOT test having to do with
> meningococcemia? Can you post a URL? Every lab I've ever worked in for
> over thirty years performs the testing above as a routine starting point
> for lumbar punctures.
>
> Anyone else care to chime in?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182898252.378118.168220@m37g2000prh.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > How and why would you perform an ELISPOT? Do they peform that test
> > when a lumber puncture's ordered in a suspected case of
> > meningococcemia?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
meningitis.
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
No, you would perform PCR testing for specific viruses including West
Nile, Herpes, and enterovirus. These are the most common. I'm basing
this response on what I see ordered by the docs on a daily basis. You
would also probably do a viral culture to cover anything the specific
PCR testing would miss. These are all very expensive tests so you would
be prudent and order based on the patient's presentation in the ER.
ELISPOT is a European product and probably not available in the U.S.
Viral workups are sometimes ordered after the docs get the basic
chemistries, cell count, and gram stain results. They are not
necessarily the first test ordered because viruses don't show up in any
type of smear and the testing is unavailable in most smaller hospitals.
Many times it is sent out to a reference facility.
Don't get me wrong - CSF's can be positive for bacteria without being
outright cloudy. We recently had a neonate positive for Group B beta
streptococcus. I wasn't on culture station that day but we were all
surprised when we saw the gram stain packed with gram positive cocci.
Unfortunately, the child passed away a couple of days later.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182972304.031928.148380@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
> If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
> bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
> neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
> meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
> capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
> ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
> meningitis.
>
No, you would perform PCR testing for specific viruses including West
Nile, Herpes, and enterovirus. These are the most common. I'm basing
this response on what I see ordered by the docs on a daily basis. You
would also probably do a viral culture to cover anything the specific
PCR testing would miss. These are all very expensive tests so you would
be prudent and order based on the patient's presentation in the ER.
ELISPOT is a European product and probably not available in the U.S.
Viral workups are sometimes ordered after the docs get the basic
chemistries, cell count, and gram stain results. They are not
necessarily the first test ordered because viruses don't show up in any
type of smear and the testing is unavailable in most smaller hospitals.
Many times it is sent out to a reference facility.
Don't get me wrong - CSF's can be positive for bacteria without being
outright cloudy. We recently had a neonate positive for Group B beta
streptococcus. I wasn't on culture station that day but we were all
surprised when we saw the gram stain packed with gram positive cocci.
Unfortunately, the child passed away a couple of days later.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182972304.031928.148380@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
> If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
> bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
> neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
> meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
> capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
> ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
> meningitis.
>
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 27, 2:23 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> No, you would perform PCR testing for specific viruses including West
> Nile, Herpes, and enterovirus. These are the most common. I'm basing
> this response on what I see ordered by the docs on a daily basis. You
> would also probably do a viral culture to cover anything the specific
> PCR testing would miss. These are all very expensive tests so you would
> be prudent and order based on the patient's presentation in the ER.
> ELISPOT is a European product and probably not available in the U.S.
>
> Viral workups are sometimes ordered after the docs get the basic
> chemistries, cell count, and gram stain results. They are not
> necessarily the first test ordered because viruses don't show up in any
> type of smear and the testing is unavailable in most smaller hospitals.
> Many times it is sent out to a reference facility.
>
> Don't get me wrong - CSF's can be positive for bacteria without being
> outright cloudy. We recently had a neonate positive for Group B beta
> streptococcus. I wasn't on culture station that day but we were all
> surprised when we saw the gram stain packed with gram positive cocci.
> Unfortunately, the child passed away a couple of days later.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182972304.031928.148380@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
> > bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
> > neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
> > meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
> > capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
> > ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
> > meningitis.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Ah...
What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?
On Jun 27, 2:23 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> No, you would perform PCR testing for specific viruses including West
> Nile, Herpes, and enterovirus. These are the most common. I'm basing
> this response on what I see ordered by the docs on a daily basis. You
> would also probably do a viral culture to cover anything the specific
> PCR testing would miss. These are all very expensive tests so you would
> be prudent and order based on the patient's presentation in the ER.
> ELISPOT is a European product and probably not available in the U.S.
>
> Viral workups are sometimes ordered after the docs get the basic
> chemistries, cell count, and gram stain results. They are not
> necessarily the first test ordered because viruses don't show up in any
> type of smear and the testing is unavailable in most smaller hospitals.
> Many times it is sent out to a reference facility.
>
> Don't get me wrong - CSF's can be positive for bacteria without being
> outright cloudy. We recently had a neonate positive for Group B beta
> streptococcus. I wasn't on culture station that day but we were all
> surprised when we saw the gram stain packed with gram positive cocci.
> Unfortunately, the child passed away a couple of days later.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182972304.031928.148380@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > If it's not cloudy, but lesser versions of meningococcemia or
> > bacterial meningitis symptoms --headache, pyrexia, photophobia, stiff
> > neck, etc-- exist --meningococcemia happens when you have bacterial
> > meningitis and you become septic--, and no creepy bruises caused by
> > capillaries exploding under the skin, I'd perform a sandwich ELISA or
> > ELISPOT to rule out influenza and test for aseptic --viral--
> > meningitis.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Ah...
What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?
>
I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?
>
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
OK, what's the most complicated, then?
What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
wrote:
> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
> > What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
OK, what's the most complicated, then?
What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
We do not have our MLT's do the anaerobic portion of aerobic anaerobic
cultures. They do everything else. After five years in the field they
can move up to the MT pay scale. This is how my employer works it; I
have no idea how others do it. However in many places only MT's read
cultures and MLT's are relegated to setting them up only. This division
of labor totally depends on where you are working and what the ratio is
of MT's to MLT's. Our team leader inspected a reference laboratory (very
large one) last year where one MT was supervising about ten MLT's in
microbiology. I'm not sure exactly how this worked. The reason for this
was mainly because the shortage of MT's dictated this; MLT's were more
plentiful.
I don't know about Histology as I am not trained for that department and
have never worked in there. It is a totally different registry exam and
totally different schooling to get there.
Most lab tests are listed as CLIA 88 waived (which means untrained doc's
office type people can perform them) and then progress to different
levels of complexity. If you really want to wade into this jungle of
government-speak, go here:
* w w w n.cdc.gov/clia/chronol.aspx
* w w w n.cdc.gov/clia/testcat.aspx
I would suspect that most microbiology laboratories require their
workers to be MT's because micro is a pretty complex department with
many areas you must learn (bacteriology, parasitology, mycology,
mycobacteriology, and now there is molecular....). Chemistry has gone
the heavy automation route where one person quite literally can be
responsible for hundreds of specimens. Our department just bought into a
semi-robotic type instrument. I'm not sure of the pecking order there. I
would guess MLT's can run analyzers with an MT supervising and available
for questions on abnormal situations.
I've been lucky to work in a city that had numerous schools of medical
technology back in the 70's. There are only two now; one is at our lab
and the other is university based. Many of those techs stayed on locally
and are now in their late 50's and early 60's, like I am. We are
fortunate in that we have always been able to hire on MT's pretty
easily. We only had an MLT training school in town for a short time. It
closed about 4 years ago. However, three techs who I've known forever
either just retired last April or will retire within the next thirty
days. They all have well over 30 years each in the lab field. I'm sure
this scenario will be repeated in many laboratories all over the country
in the next ten years. Decades of experience will walk out the doors.
This will happen in nursing, radiology, cytotechnology, and many other
technical fields. If you are young and you can hack the science and
math, there will be many opportunities for you. Kids nowadays shy away
from the hard subjects, but that is where the shortages will be and
that's where the money of the future will be made.
Judy Dilworth, M.T.(ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182996776.587990.84940@e16g2000pri.googlegroups . com ...
>
> OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
>
We do not have our MLT's do the anaerobic portion of aerobic anaerobic
cultures. They do everything else. After five years in the field they
can move up to the MT pay scale. This is how my employer works it; I
have no idea how others do it. However in many places only MT's read
cultures and MLT's are relegated to setting them up only. This division
of labor totally depends on where you are working and what the ratio is
of MT's to MLT's. Our team leader inspected a reference laboratory (very
large one) last year where one MT was supervising about ten MLT's in
microbiology. I'm not sure exactly how this worked. The reason for this
was mainly because the shortage of MT's dictated this; MLT's were more
plentiful.
I don't know about Histology as I am not trained for that department and
have never worked in there. It is a totally different registry exam and
totally different schooling to get there.
Most lab tests are listed as CLIA 88 waived (which means untrained doc's
office type people can perform them) and then progress to different
levels of complexity. If you really want to wade into this jungle of
government-speak, go here:
* w w w n.cdc.gov/clia/chronol.aspx
* w w w n.cdc.gov/clia/testcat.aspx
I would suspect that most microbiology laboratories require their
workers to be MT's because micro is a pretty complex department with
many areas you must learn (bacteriology, parasitology, mycology,
mycobacteriology, and now there is molecular....). Chemistry has gone
the heavy automation route where one person quite literally can be
responsible for hundreds of specimens. Our department just bought into a
semi-robotic type instrument. I'm not sure of the pecking order there. I
would guess MLT's can run analyzers with an MT supervising and available
for questions on abnormal situations.
I've been lucky to work in a city that had numerous schools of medical
technology back in the 70's. There are only two now; one is at our lab
and the other is university based. Many of those techs stayed on locally
and are now in their late 50's and early 60's, like I am. We are
fortunate in that we have always been able to hire on MT's pretty
easily. We only had an MLT training school in town for a short time. It
closed about 4 years ago. However, three techs who I've known forever
either just retired last April or will retire within the next thirty
days. They all have well over 30 years each in the lab field. I'm sure
this scenario will be repeated in many laboratories all over the country
in the next ten years. Decades of experience will walk out the doors.
This will happen in nursing, radiology, cytotechnology, and many other
technical fields. If you are young and you can hack the science and
math, there will be many opportunities for you. Kids nowadays shy away
from the hard subjects, but that is where the shortages will be and
that's where the money of the future will be made.
Judy Dilworth, M.T.(ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1182996776.587990.84940@e16g2000pri.googlegroups . com ...
>
> OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
>
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On 2007-06-27 22:12:56 -0400, DarkProtoman <Protoman2050@gmail . com > said:
> On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
> wrote:
>> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
>> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
>> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>>
>> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
>> Microbiology
>>
>> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>>
>> news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>>
>>
>>
>>> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
Automation is making laboratory testing a lot easier. However, there
are many times when even a "simple" test turns out to be more
complicated. For example when we crossmatch blood for a patient - most
times it goes very smoothly, other times it becomes a real challange to
find a blood unit that is complatible with the patient. To fail at this
procedure could result is a very quick death to the patient.
In microbiology most bacteria are eaily identified, but as I've always
told my techs the bacteria don't read the text books and they can do
pretty much what ever they please. A 1 day process to identify
something can go for several days and then have to be sent out to a
reference lab. i had an organism from a patient's infection that I just
could not identify any further than the group of
"Pasteurella/Hemophilus/Actinobacillus Group". I sent it to our state
health department lab and they also failed to identify it. They sent it
to the CDC in Atlanta, GA where they finally identified it as
Actinobacillus acinomycetemcomitans, and it took them about a year to
get that id back to us. We used the patient's case in our microbiology
grand rounds.
There are many very complex testing that goes on in laboratories -
things like histology, flow cytometry, eletrophoresis, toxicology by
mass spectrophotometry, etc. Usually these tests are performed by
specialists in those fields and because of their complexity are not
done by regular staff.
--
John Gentile MS, M(ASCP)
Laboratory Information Mgr.
VA Medical Center
Providence, RI
yjgent@cox . net
On 2007-06-27 22:12:56 -0400, DarkProtoman <Protoman2050@gmail . com > said:
> On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
> wrote:
>> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
>> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
>> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>>
>> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
>> Microbiology
>>
>> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>>
>> news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>>
>>
>>
>>> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
Automation is making laboratory testing a lot easier. However, there
are many times when even a "simple" test turns out to be more
complicated. For example when we crossmatch blood for a patient - most
times it goes very smoothly, other times it becomes a real challange to
find a blood unit that is complatible with the patient. To fail at this
procedure could result is a very quick death to the patient.
In microbiology most bacteria are eaily identified, but as I've always
told my techs the bacteria don't read the text books and they can do
pretty much what ever they please. A 1 day process to identify
something can go for several days and then have to be sent out to a
reference lab. i had an organism from a patient's infection that I just
could not identify any further than the group of
"Pasteurella/Hemophilus/Actinobacillus Group". I sent it to our state
health department lab and they also failed to identify it. They sent it
to the CDC in Atlanta, GA where they finally identified it as
Actinobacillus acinomycetemcomitans, and it took them about a year to
get that id back to us. We used the patient's case in our microbiology
grand rounds.
There are many very complex testing that goes on in laboratories -
things like histology, flow cytometry, eletrophoresis, toxicology by
mass spectrophotometry, etc. Usually these tests are performed by
specialists in those fields and because of their complexity are not
done by regular staff.
--
John Gentile MS, M(ASCP)
Laboratory Information Mgr.
VA Medical Center
Providence, RI
yjgent@cox . net
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On Jun 28, 6:11 pm, John Gentile <yjg...@cox . net > wrote:
> On 2007-06-27 22:12:56 -0400, DarkProtoman <Protoman2...@gmail . com > said:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
> > wrote:
> >> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
> >> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
> >> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>
> >> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> >> Microbiology
>
> >> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> >>news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>
> >>> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> > What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
>
> Automation is making laboratory testing a lot easier. However, there
> are many times when even a "simple" test turns out to be more
> complicated. For example when we crossmatch blood for a patient - most
> times it goes very smoothly, other times it becomes a real challange to
> find a blood unit that is complatible with the patient. To fail at this
> procedure could result is a very quick death to the patient.
> In microbiology most bacteria are eaily identified, but as I've always
> told my techs the bacteria don't read the text books and they can do
> pretty much what ever they please. A 1 day process to identify
> something can go for several days and then have to be sent out to a
> reference lab. i had an organism from a patient's infection that I just
> could not identify any further than the group of
> "Pasteurella/Hemophilus/Actinobacillus Group". I sent it to our state
> health department lab and they also failed to identify it. They sent it
> to the CDC in Atlanta, GA where they finally identified it as
> Actinobacillus acinomycetemcomitans, and it took them about a year to
> get that id back to us. We used the patient's case in our microbiology
> grand rounds.
>
> There are many very complex testing that goes on in laboratories -
> things like histology, flow cytometry, eletrophoresis, toxicology by
> mass spectrophotometry, etc. Usually these tests are performed by
> specialists in those fields and because of their complexity are not
> done by regular staff.
> --
> John Gentile MS, M(ASCP)
> Laboratory Information Mgr.
> VA Medical Center
> Providence, RI
> yjg...@cox . net - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.
On Jun 28, 6:11 pm, John Gentile <yjg...@cox . net > wrote:
> On 2007-06-27 22:12:56 -0400, DarkProtoman <Protoman2...@gmail . com > said:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 27, 7:03 pm, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com >
> > wrote:
> >> I have no idea. We don't have any idea what the "official" charges are
> >> for what we do. We do what is ordered by the physician and let the
> >> billing departments and the insurance companies fight it out.
>
> >> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> >> Microbiology
>
> >> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> >>news:1182980315.723692.317700@o11g2000prd.googlegroups . com ...
>
> >>> What's most expensive lab test you ever performed?- Hide quoted text -
>
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > OK, what's the most complicated, then?
>
> > What's the most complicated test a MLT/HT can perform?
>
> Automation is making laboratory testing a lot easier. However, there
> are many times when even a "simple" test turns out to be more
> complicated. For example when we crossmatch blood for a patient - most
> times it goes very smoothly, other times it becomes a real challange to
> find a blood unit that is complatible with the patient. To fail at this
> procedure could result is a very quick death to the patient.
> In microbiology most bacteria are eaily identified, but as I've always
> told my techs the bacteria don't read the text books and they can do
> pretty much what ever they please. A 1 day process to identify
> something can go for several days and then have to be sent out to a
> reference lab. i had an organism from a patient's infection that I just
> could not identify any further than the group of
> "Pasteurella/Hemophilus/Actinobacillus Group". I sent it to our state
> health department lab and they also failed to identify it. They sent it
> to the CDC in Atlanta, GA where they finally identified it as
> Actinobacillus acinomycetemcomitans, and it took them about a year to
> get that id back to us. We used the patient's case in our microbiology
> grand rounds.
>
> There are many very complex testing that goes on in laboratories -
> things like histology, flow cytometry, eletrophoresis, toxicology by
> mass spectrophotometry, etc. Usually these tests are performed by
> specialists in those fields and because of their complexity are not
> done by regular staff.
> --
> John Gentile MS, M(ASCP)
> Laboratory Information Mgr.
> VA Medical Center
> Providence, RI
> yjg...@cox . net - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
I highly doubt whether anyone would hire you at that age to perform lab
testing. They might hire you to do things like unpack boxes or do some
other scut work like making media (very few places make their own any
more), but there's a certain maturity people in charge of hiring are
looking for and the age of 16 probably just doesn't cut it. You would
have to have passed all required tests, obviously. Training takes a
couple of years. If you're 15 now, how would you accomplish this? If
you're skipping a couple of years of high school you still have the
training to accomplish. Their are requirements for hiring set by CAP
(College of American Pathologists) that accredit the majority of labs in
the country. Managers have to show documentation of their employees'
levels of training.
My guess is probably not, but I'm not in management. We hire college
kids that are studying courses towards lab or nursing or something in
the biology field, but these kids are usually in their early 20's. They
work at the tube station (taking specimens from our underground tube
system and dispersing them throughout the lab to the proper stations).
They also work in specimen processing doing typing. All outpatient work
has to have the insurance data, patient data, etc. entered into the
computer system and THEN the work is ordered up on that specimen. The
crew that does this is all in their 20's.
You seem like you're in a huge hurry to do something - not sure what.
Slow down and finish your schooling. Many of our lab techs worked as
waitresses/waiters or in retail while they were going to school before
their training year. We usually only hire students in micro WHILE
they're in MT training, and they are only allowed to set up specimens.
They are not allowed to read out gram stains or chart any results. We've
never hired anyone in MLT training. Our department is just too
complicated. I worked as a chemistry tech on the weekends while in
training in 1973-74. I had to go through chemistry first before I could
do weekends in there. My training took up 40 hours/week so I couldn't
work during the week except at night. I used to work evenings doing
paper charting (pre-computer), where we pasted lab results in patients'
charts. The techs hand-wrote out results on these chartable requisitions
and signed their initials. I was 24 years old at the time - two years
post degree. I worked for a couple of years before I decided to apply
for MT training - worked as a lab secretary. With current regulations I
doubt whether I would be able to do now what I did then. I actually
performed and signed out total protein results and performed protein
electrophoresis unsupervised on weekends. I did other chemistry testing
also, but it was mostly electrophoresis.
My guess is that the state of California also would not allow you to
work in a lab doing lab work at that young of an age.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1183089331.061703.142300@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
> OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
> part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.
>
I highly doubt whether anyone would hire you at that age to perform lab
testing. They might hire you to do things like unpack boxes or do some
other scut work like making media (very few places make their own any
more), but there's a certain maturity people in charge of hiring are
looking for and the age of 16 probably just doesn't cut it. You would
have to have passed all required tests, obviously. Training takes a
couple of years. If you're 15 now, how would you accomplish this? If
you're skipping a couple of years of high school you still have the
training to accomplish. Their are requirements for hiring set by CAP
(College of American Pathologists) that accredit the majority of labs in
the country. Managers have to show documentation of their employees'
levels of training.
My guess is probably not, but I'm not in management. We hire college
kids that are studying courses towards lab or nursing or something in
the biology field, but these kids are usually in their early 20's. They
work at the tube station (taking specimens from our underground tube
system and dispersing them throughout the lab to the proper stations).
They also work in specimen processing doing typing. All outpatient work
has to have the insurance data, patient data, etc. entered into the
computer system and THEN the work is ordered up on that specimen. The
crew that does this is all in their 20's.
You seem like you're in a huge hurry to do something - not sure what.
Slow down and finish your schooling. Many of our lab techs worked as
waitresses/waiters or in retail while they were going to school before
their training year. We usually only hire students in micro WHILE
they're in MT training, and they are only allowed to set up specimens.
They are not allowed to read out gram stains or chart any results. We've
never hired anyone in MLT training. Our department is just too
complicated. I worked as a chemistry tech on the weekends while in
training in 1973-74. I had to go through chemistry first before I could
do weekends in there. My training took up 40 hours/week so I couldn't
work during the week except at night. I used to work evenings doing
paper charting (pre-computer), where we pasted lab results in patients'
charts. The techs hand-wrote out results on these chartable requisitions
and signed their initials. I was 24 years old at the time - two years
post degree. I worked for a couple of years before I decided to apply
for MT training - worked as a lab secretary. With current regulations I
doubt whether I would be able to do now what I did then. I actually
performed and signed out total protein results and performed protein
electrophoresis unsupervised on weekends. I did other chemistry testing
also, but it was mostly electrophoresis.
My guess is that the state of California also would not allow you to
work in a lab doing lab work at that young of an age.
Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology
"DarkProtoman" <Protoman2050@gmail . com > wrote in message
news:1183089331.061703.142300@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
> OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
> part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.
>
Re: How and why would you perform an ELISPOT?
On 28 Jun, 22:10, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com > wrote:
> I highly doubt whether anyone would hire you at that age to perform lab
> testing. They might hire you to do things like unpack boxes or do some
> other scut work like making media (very few places make their own any
> more), but there's a certain maturity people in charge of hiring are
> looking for and the age of 16 probably just doesn't cut it. You would
> have to have passed all required tests, obviously. Training takes a
> couple of years. If you're 15 now, how would you accomplish this? If
> you're skipping a couple of years of high school you still have the
> training to accomplish. Their are requirements for hiring set by CAP
> (College of American Pathologists) that accredit the majority of labs in
> the country. Managers have to show documentation of their employees'
> levels of training.
>
> My guess is probably not, but I'm not in management. We hire college
> kids that are studying courses towards lab or nursing or something in
> the biology field, but these kids are usually in their early 20's. They
> work at the tube station (taking specimens from our underground tube
> system and dispersing them throughout the lab to the proper stations).
> They also work in specimen processing doing typing. All outpatient work
> has to have the insurance data, patient data, etc. entered into the
> computer system and THEN the work is ordered up on that specimen. The
> crew that does this is all in their 20's.
>
> You seem like you're in a huge hurry to do something - not sure what.
> Slow down and finish your schooling. Many of our lab techs worked as
> waitresses/waiters or in retail while they were going to school before
> their training year. We usually only hire students in micro WHILE
> they're in MT training, and they are only allowed to set up specimens.
> They are not allowed to read out gram stains or chart any results. We've
> never hired anyone in MLT training. Our department is just too
> complicated. I worked as a chemistry tech on the weekends while in
> training in 1973-74. I had to go through chemistry first before I could
> do weekends in there. My training took up 40 hours/week so I couldn't
> work during the week except at night. I used to work evenings doing
> paper charting (pre-computer), where we pasted lab results in patients'
> charts. The techs hand-wrote out results on these chartable requisitions
> and signed their initials. I was 24 years old at the time - two years
> post degree. I worked for a couple of years before I decided to apply
> for MT training - worked as a lab secretary. With current regulations I
> doubt whether I would be able to do now what I did then. I actually
> performed and signed out total protein results and performed protein
> electrophoresis unsupervised on weekends. I did other chemistry testing
> also, but it was mostly electrophoresis.
>
> My guess is that the state of California also would not allow you to
> work in a lab doing lab work at that young of an age.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1183089331.061703.142300@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
>
>
> > OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
> > part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Technically California wouldn't, but those rules only apply to those w/
o a HS diploma or equivalent. Passing the CHSPE is equivalent to a HS
diploma.
On 28 Jun, 22:10, "JEDilworth" <bactit...@nospamhortonsbay . com > wrote:
> I highly doubt whether anyone would hire you at that age to perform lab
> testing. They might hire you to do things like unpack boxes or do some
> other scut work like making media (very few places make their own any
> more), but there's a certain maturity people in charge of hiring are
> looking for and the age of 16 probably just doesn't cut it. You would
> have to have passed all required tests, obviously. Training takes a
> couple of years. If you're 15 now, how would you accomplish this? If
> you're skipping a couple of years of high school you still have the
> training to accomplish. Their are requirements for hiring set by CAP
> (College of American Pathologists) that accredit the majority of labs in
> the country. Managers have to show documentation of their employees'
> levels of training.
>
> My guess is probably not, but I'm not in management. We hire college
> kids that are studying courses towards lab or nursing or something in
> the biology field, but these kids are usually in their early 20's. They
> work at the tube station (taking specimens from our underground tube
> system and dispersing them throughout the lab to the proper stations).
> They also work in specimen processing doing typing. All outpatient work
> has to have the insurance data, patient data, etc. entered into the
> computer system and THEN the work is ordered up on that specimen. The
> crew that does this is all in their 20's.
>
> You seem like you're in a huge hurry to do something - not sure what.
> Slow down and finish your schooling. Many of our lab techs worked as
> waitresses/waiters or in retail while they were going to school before
> their training year. We usually only hire students in micro WHILE
> they're in MT training, and they are only allowed to set up specimens.
> They are not allowed to read out gram stains or chart any results. We've
> never hired anyone in MLT training. Our department is just too
> complicated. I worked as a chemistry tech on the weekends while in
> training in 1973-74. I had to go through chemistry first before I could
> do weekends in there. My training took up 40 hours/week so I couldn't
> work during the week except at night. I used to work evenings doing
> paper charting (pre-computer), where we pasted lab results in patients'
> charts. The techs hand-wrote out results on these chartable requisitions
> and signed their initials. I was 24 years old at the time - two years
> post degree. I worked for a couple of years before I decided to apply
> for MT training - worked as a lab secretary. With current regulations I
> doubt whether I would be able to do now what I did then. I actually
> performed and signed out total protein results and performed protein
> electrophoresis unsupervised on weekends. I did other chemistry testing
> also, but it was mostly electrophoresis.
>
> My guess is that the state of California also would not allow you to
> work in a lab doing lab work at that young of an age.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "DarkProtoman" <Protoman2...@gmail . com > wrote in message
>
> news:1183089331.061703.142300@i13g2000prf.googlegroups . com ...
>
>
>
>
>
> > OK, apparently no one answered my question about whether I could work
> > part-time as a medical laboratory assistant when I'm 16.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Technically California wouldn't, but those rules only apply to those w/
o a HS diploma or equivalent. Passing the CHSPE is equivalent to a HS
diploma.
