Point-of-care (POC) HbA1c measurements show a high level of agreement with central laboratory test in the outpatient setting, according to a small study published Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical … [Read more...]
Point-of-Care PCR Tests Better Diagnosis, Rx for Kids’ Sore Throats
Given we are still in the midst of cold and flu season, a new study highlights the benefit of point-of-care (POC) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing among pediatric patients presenting to the … [Read more...]
Newborn Sequencing Delivers Some Unanticipated Findings
Newborn genomic sequencing (NGS) can identify risk for a wide range of disorders that otherwise may not be detected, even in seemingly healthy babies, according to a study published Jan. 3 in the … [Read more...]
Payer Medical Policies Can Promote Effective Use of Comprehensive Sequencing In Community Oncology Setting
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) identifies clinically relevant genomic alterations that can be used to inform treatment decisions in community-based oncology practices that benefit both patients … [Read more...]
Zika Blood Screening Not Cost-Effective, Study Finds
Screening blood donors for Zika virus is not cost-effective in the United States or Puerto Rico, according to a study published Jan. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Despite U.S. Food and Drug … [Read more...]
Low-Value, Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring is Common
A substantial percentage of patients with type 2 diabetes may be inappropriately self-monitoring blood glucose, according to a research letter published Dec. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Despite … [Read more...]
Pre-Op Urine Screening Not Necessary
Routine preoperative urine screening offers no clinical benefit, according to a large study published Dec. 12 in JAMA Surgery. Treating asymptomatic bacteriuria detected by screening does not cut the … [Read more...]
Ideal Age of Last Cervical Cancer Screening Depends on Test Type
With the adoption of cotesting—human papillomavirus (HPV) plus Pap cytology—cervical cancer screening methodology has focused primarily on the preferred frequency of combined testing. However, a new … [Read more...]
MSSA Screening Program Cuts Infections in NICUs
An active methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) screening and decolonization program in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) unit can lead to a sustained reduction in the incidence of clinical S. … [Read more...]
Penicillin Allergy Testing Underused, Could Lead to Cost Savings
Once a patient is labeled as having a penicillin allergy, it is rarely revisited. The label sticks and increases the patient's risk of receiving subsequent suboptimal, alternative antibiotic therapy, … [Read more...]