Culture Relevance and Best Practices

Presenters:

• Heather Alvarez, B.S., CLS(ASCP),  Laboratory Manager, Columbus Community Hospital
• Allen Bateman, Ph.D., D(ABMM),  Assistant Director, Communicable Disease Division, WSLH
• Eric Beck, Ph.D., D(ABMM),  Technical Director of Microbiology, ACL Laboratories
• Tim Block, B.S., Laboratory Manager, Froedtert & MCW – St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Joshua Kropp, B.S., MLS(ASCP)^CM, Lead Microbiologist/MLSII, The Diagnostic and Treatment Center
• Erik Munson, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, Marquette University
• Ray Podzorski, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Microbiology Director, St. Mary’s Hospital
• Tyler Radke, B.S., MLS(ASCP), Laboratory Supervisor, Bellin Health
• Karen Siebers, B.S. MT(ASCP), Medical Technologist, Microbiology, ThedaCare Laboratories
• Sarah Stoner, M.S., MB(ASCP)^CM, Technical Lead – Microbiology, Gundersen Health System
• Tyler Tschanz, B.S., CLS(ASCP), Microbiologist, Mayo Clinic Health System – Luther Hospital
• Dave Warshauer, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Deputy Director, Communicable Disease Division, WSLH

Description of Session:

This one day conference is being coordinated by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for Wisconsin clinical laboratory professionals. The conference will focus on the relevance and best practices of urine, wound, and lower respiratory cultures.  The LabTAG members will present some common challenges laboratories face in performing these cultures, including handling special requests from clinicians. Often there isn’t a clear right or wrong way to respond to these challenges. LabTAG will then lead facilitated discussion on the relevance and best practices for each culture type so all can share their thoughts and practices.  The audience should come prepared to enter into the discussions to obtain the most value from this conference.

Materials:

• Conference Agenda
• WCLN Webinar: Urine and Wound Cultures
• WCLN Webinar: Lower Respiratory Cultures