The increase in cybercrime in not uncommon in the current climate; particularly the hijacking of a corporation or an organization’s network being held ransom for a payout via ransomware. What may seem surprising is that the focus of cyber criminals is not always large corporations. In fact, there is a growing trend in health care organizations and systems being targeted. One recent example is the attack on the Health Service Executive of Ireland in May 2021, which affected both national and local systems that are involved in all core services.

IQMH Proficiency Testing is proud to share this article prepared and authored by Tamara Ashfield, Elizabeth McCready, Mary Shago, Hong Wang, Elizabeth Sinclair‐Bourque, Eva Cappa, Amanda Piche Marolt, Kathy Chun

Practice patterns of prenatal and perinatal testing in Canadian cytogenetics laboratories

ABSTRACT

Objective

To survey patterns of practice in Canadian cytogenetics laboratories and evaluate whether newer technologies have influenced testing algorithms for the detection of common aneuploidies and other genomic imbalances in the prenatal and perinatal settings.

IQMH Proficiency Testing is thrilled to share this article prepared and authored by: Angela C. Rutledge (lead author), Anna Johnston, Dana Bailey, Ronald A. Booth Pamela Edmond, Victor Leung, Kika Veljkovic

Survey of renin and aldosterone testing practices by Ontario laboratories – Providing insight into best practices

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Testing for renin and aldosterone in clinical laboratories is complicated by pre-analytical considerations such as the posture for blood collection and susceptibility to cryoactivation of renin. From an analytical perspective, there are both renin activity and renin mass or concentration assays available. There can also be variability in result reporting practices and the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) cut-off applied to screen for primary aldosteronism (PA). The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) Centre for Proficiency Testing surveyed laboratories on their handling of renin and aldosterone testing to better understand current practices.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) possesses a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome. Mutations of this genome may occur over time, and while these changes are not unexpected, specific mutations may alter important characteristics of the virus. When viral genomic changes are associated with potential altered transmission, virulence, or vaccine efficacy, they may be identified as a particular SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC). Currently, there are three commonly discussed VOCs.

Authors: Elaine Leung, Anna Johnston, Brian Olsen, Hong Chang, Tracy Martin, Miranda Wozniak, David Good

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Examination of a blood film is the second most common hematology test, after the complete blood count. Interpretation of a peripheral blood film by trained laboratory professionals provides valuable diagnostic information. The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) Hematology Scientific Committee developed a questionnaire to gather information regarding current practices for manual blood film review and reporting from laboratories participating in IQMH Morphology proficiency testing (PT) surveys.

Please join us in extending our best wishes to IQMH President, Jeff Sumner, who is retiring on March 31, 2021. Jeff has been leading IQMH since 2017 and has dedicated his career to improving the quality of medical laboratories across the country for many years.

Consultant Technologist – Microbiology (Contract)

The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) (an affiliate of Accreditation Canada) is a provider of world-class medical laboratory proficiency testing (PT) programs. IQMH is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing medical laboratories' quality infrastructure through its proficiency testing programs. Our clients are composed of national and international players in the medical diagnostic testing sector. IQMH's Centre for Proficiency Testing provides PT programs for medical laboratories in the following disciplines: chemistry, hematology, endocrinology, immunology, transfusion medicine, pathology, cytopathology, genetics, microbiology, and virology disciplines.

Have you been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

As frontline healthcare workers with increasing demands in the workplace, attention to mental health is as important now as ever before. Empowering yourself with the tools to maintain a healthy mindset can benefit overall social, emotional, and psychological wellbeing.

In 2021, the Immunology (IMGY) survey will assess CRP (C-reactive Protein), high sensitivity (hs-CRP), and wide-range (wr)CRP assays as a single analyte (CRP). Previously, the IMGY survey targeted low values of CRP, which were best analyzed by hs-CRP assays. Newer immunoassays can measure a broad analytical range of CRP concentrations, and the number of laboratories replacing hs-CRP assays with full range CRP assays continues to increase. In order to assess the full range of clinically-encountered CRP values, the IMGY survey will now offer a range of CRP concentrations (0.1–120.0 mg/L). Assessments will continue to be made by all-methods’ mean.

The purpose of this bulletin is to remind participants of the changes related to the packaging and shipment process for Coagulation survey material in 2021.

A copy of the Shipment Changes for 2021 Coagulation Surveys was included in the previous September 2020 survey.