Performing Clinically Relevant Microbiology

Presenters:

• Heather Alvarez, MS, CLS(ASCP), Laboratory Manager, Prairie Ridge Health, Columbus
• Jorn Bansberg, BS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, Microbiology Lead, Vernon Memorial Hospital, Viroqua
• Eric Beck, PhD, D(ABMM), Clinical Laboratory Director of Microbiology, ACL Laboratories, West Allis
• Tim Block, BS, MLS(ASCP), Laboratory Manager, Froedtert West Bend Hospital, West Bend
• Erin Bowles, BS, MLS(ASCP), WCLN Outreach Coordinator, WI State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison
• Erik Munson, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee
• Thomas Novicki, PhD, D(ABMM), Clinical Microbiologist, Marshfield Labs, Marshfield
• Tyler Radke, BS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, Laboratory Manager, Bellin Health, Green Bay

Description of Session:

In 2018 the WSLH hosted an interactive WCLN Conference, entitled “Relevance and Best Practices“, where we discussed microbiology culture of urine, wound and lower respiratory specimens. Now in 2024, six years later and adding the additional specimen sources of blood, tissue and non-sterile fluid, we will revisit the topic.

Is culture still the best practice for identifying the pathogens causing infections in these sources? If not, how are laboratories performing relevant microbiology testing on these sources today?

LabTAG members will take the lead as we share ideas and discuss these various specimen sources looking at the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical aspects of providing relevant microbiology diagnostic testing. Audience participation in the discussions is critical to the success of the conference.

Additionally, we will present the 2024 Peter A. Shult award to this year’s recipient.

A certificate of participation will be granted to each participant based on 5.5 contact hours of instruction toward credit.

This program is co-sponsored by ASCLS-WI which is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. program.

As part of the new P.A.C.E. continuing education process, please go to the ASCLS CE Organizer web site to print your P.A.C.E. certificates. You will be asked for a code number to print the certificate. We will provide you this number during the conference.

P.A.C.E. credits are only available to those who attended the conference. Please note that the deadline for receiving P.A.C.E. education credit for this conference is May 9th, 2024.

Materials:

• 2024 WCLN Conference – Performing Clinically Relevant Microbiology Brochure