Chair's Message

Anatomic Pathology

Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories

First Genetic Counselor Joined Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Service

We are pleased to announce Meggie Dinh, MS, CGC has joined the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories for the expansion of the Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Service. Meggie is board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and licensed in California.

She received her MS in Genetic Counseling from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and her BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to her genetic counseling training, Meggie worked at Fulgent Genetics where she gained extensive knowledge and experience in clinical molecular testing. Meggie is the first genetic counselor joining the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories. We look forward to her contributions to expanding our Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Service in molecular testing of both inherited conditions and cancers (solid tumors and hematologic malignancies).

New IDH1/IDH2 Idylla Test Offers Faster TAT

In September, the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories launched the new IDH1/IDH2 Idylla test. We are one of the first clinical laboratories to implement the new Idylla testing platform for IDH1 and IDH2. The new test platform features:

• IDH1 and IDH2 hotspot mutation detection in one test
• Faster 2-day turnaround time (TAT)
• Higher sensitivity of 1-5% compared to standard Sanger sequencing test with a sensitivity of 10-15%

Abstract Accepted for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP)

An abstract reporting the test validation of this assay has been accepted for poster presentation at the AMP 2024 Annual Meeting and the abstract will be published in the November 2024 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics:

• Rapid IDH1/IDH2 Mutation Assessment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Glioma
• Authors: Thien A. Huynh, Liying Zhang, Yan Li, Jose Solis, Allison W. Stanley, Hua Jin

Histology & Immunohistochemistry Promotions

Congratulations to our new leaders in the the Histology and ICH labs! We appreciate your hard work and leadership!

• Sandy Htay promoted to Supervisor of Histology – 12/10/23
• Deomarie Sy promoted to Lead Histotechnologist in Histology – 12/10/23
• Nancy Gomez promoted to Lead Histotechnologist in Histology – 4/14/24
• Inna Lozovskaya promoted to Supervisor is Immunohistochemistry – 6/23/24
• Janet Austria promoted to Lead Histotechnologist in Immunohistochemistry – 8/4/24

Laboratory Medicine

Clinical Chemistry

Total Laboratory Automation

• Total Lab Automation (TLA) went live for chemistry at the Ronald Reagan Laboratory on Aug 27, 2024 and the old Modular Pre-Analyticals (MPA) line was removed.

Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Annual Meeting – Chicago, IL

• The team presented at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) Annual Meeting from July 28-Aug 1, 2024 in Chicago.
• Poster Presentations
  • "Activation" of Macro-AST by Pyridoxal Phosphate Supplementation
    • Lu Song, Erica Fermon, Thomas Drake
    • Their poster won the third place Best Abstract Award from the Industry Division of ADLM!
  • Comparative Analysis of Serology Test Performance: Evaluation of Elecsys Platform for Hepatitis Markers
    • Imir Metushi, Susana Kim, Ginny Javier, Diana Ciobanu, Gary Nunez, Richard Jurie, Thomas Drake, Omai Garner
• Roundtable Discussion
  • From Theory to Reality: A Closer Look at Toxicology Screens for Drugs of Abuse
    • MC: Dr. Imir Metushi - the roundtable presentation and discussion format was attended by 19 individuals (10/session max) and occurred over two sessions.

• Breaking Boundaries: Exploring Performance Enhancement and anti-Doping Testing in Sports
  • Authors: Imir G. Metushi, Allison Wagner, Brian Ahrens, Magnus Ericsson, Olivier Rabin, Tim Sobolevsky, Travis T Tygart
  • Published: Clinical Chemistry 2024; 70(7): 897-904
• A Comparative Analysis of Two Commonly Used FDA-Approved Immunoassays for Fentanyl Detection
  • Authors: K H Brian Lam, Marlen Menlyadiev, Vincent Buggs, Suttida Parnprome, Amadeo Pesce, Raymond T Suhandynata, Robert L Fitzgerald, Lu Song, Imir G. Metushi
  • Published: Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine. 2024 Sep 3; 9(5):905-912
• "Activation" of Macro-AST by Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate in the Assay to Determine Aspartate Aminotransferase Activities
  • Authors: Erica J. Fermon, Marlon Sy, Thomas A. Drake, and Lu Song
  • Published: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. 2024 Oct 16

Other Updates

• Lu Song was invited to present on “Interference of Monoclonal Proteins with Spectrophotometric Methods” at the 10th annual Conference of AnalytiX in Nagoya Japan on April 22, 2024.
• Continued efforts spent in updating chemistry assays with improved sensitivity, specificity, and linearity, or results reporting.

Microbiology

2024 is the Year of Lab Efficiency in Micro division, aiming for enhancing labor efficiency, reducing workflow complexity, and improving throughput and speed.

Lab Efficiency in Virology Section: Converting manual multi-step low-throughput Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to fully automated high-throughput platform (Roche Cobas 6800/8800 for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and BK polyomavirus (BKV) viral load tests and FluA/B & Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) PCR tests).

Lab Efficiency in Bacti Section: Converting culture-based labor-intensive and time-consuming tests to high-throughput rapid molecular tests (Laboratory developed tests for Legionella PCR and Nocardia PCR).

Lab Efficiency in NGS Section: converting manual multi-step NGS library prep to fully automated system (Tecan MagicPrep); save one day of labor per run and allow workflow flexibility.

Transfusion Medicine

Blood Bank

• Implemented new/revised MTP protocols, including a new blood product, Intercept Fibrinogen Concentrate (IFC), which is maintained thawed in each blood bank for immediate release for obstetric patients requiring massive transfusion.
• Implemented the new Blood Transfusion Report that allow physicians, nurses, and clinical staff to easily and efficiently see a consolidated view of a patient's Type and Screen/Check Type status, Last Type and Screen Result, Blood Bank Test results, relevant Lab Results, links to Transfusion Policy and Consent Policy documents and Blood Consent/Refusal documents from the Chart, transfusion and transfusion reaction history. Example below (click to enlarge).
• Published the 2024-2026 edition of the “Transfusion Medicine Pocket Reference” with the addition of our first Clinical Laboratory Pocket Reference. These pocket references contain important information on blood bank tests, transfusion products, transfusion reactions and blood bank protocols, as well as specimen collection information. They are distributed to nursing and housestaff. Hard copies are available from the RR Blood Bank. Examples below (click to enlarge).

Blood & Platelet Center

• UCLA Blood & Platelet Center implemented an initiative to perform full RBC phenotype on donors who self-identify as African American to support RBC phenotype-matching needs for patients with sickle cell disease.

Sarah M. Dry, MD
Chair, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine