Laboratory News and Emerging Issues
Laboratory Newsletters
Laboratory-based Surveillance of Influenza
- Montana Public Health Lab Influenza Testing Activity Updates
- National influenza activity- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Diagnostic Testing for Suspect Influenza Laboratory Guidance
- Surveillance Testing for Influenza Laboratory Guidance
- Notes from the second annual Montana Laboratory Influenza Update
Bioterrorism Preparedness for Sentinel Laboratory Personnel
July 26, 2012 at Carroll College in Helena, MT. P.A.C.E. credits will be awarded
Early Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
On May 18, 2011, Dr. Scott Lindquist, Infectious Disease physician and tuberculosis (TB) specialist, presented a WebEx for public health professionals, infection preventionists, and clinical laboratorians on early diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the use of direct nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing. The presentation can be viewed at: Dr. Scott Lindquist.
This presentation is sponsored by the Northern Plains Consortium Public Health Laboratories of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Portacount® Respirator Fit Testing Program
DPHHS Preparedness Programs are loaning Portacount® Respirator Fit Testers to hospitals and other facilities that utilize N95 respirators as part of their personal protective equipment. A Fit Tester may be checked out for up to three weeks. To obtain more information about this new service, contact Dayle Perrin, Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, 444-3898.
To request the use of a Portacount® Respirator Fit Tester, please complete a request form, and mail, fax, or e-mail, using the contact information on the form. For technical details about the Portacount® Respirator Fit Tester, contact the Montana Public Health Laboratory, 800-821-7284.
Specimen Acceptance Criteria
To keep in line with patient safety initiatives, as of March 15, 2011, the Montana Public Health Laboratory (MTPHL) is requiring that all submitted specimens be labeled with two identifiers. The identifiers can be hand written or a computer generated label, and may include a full name and birth date, a full name and facility identifier, or any combination that will accurately identify the patient specimen and match it to the requisition form. Specimens received after March 15, 2011 that are not properly labeled with two identifiers will be rejected. If you have any questions regarding this implementation, please call Debbie at 406-444-5970.
Carbapenem - Resistant Enteric Isolates
Round up these isolates & send to MTPHL - The June 25th MMWR reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified three carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae that are resistant via the NDM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM MBL) rather than KPC. All three recently had medical care in India where this resistant mechanism is common. If any clinical laboratories in Montana have identified carbapenem-resistant enteric isolates from people who have had recent exposure to medical care in India or Pakistan, please submit these isolates to the Montana Public Health Laboratory. MTPHL will perform initial testing for carbapenemases, and refer screen positive isolates to CDC for additional testing. The full MMWR article can be accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5924a5.htm?s_cid=mm5924a5_e
