>Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 11:42:47 -0400 >To: Mrloken@AOL.COM >From: Ruth Croson-Lowney <rcroson@server.nybc.org> >Subject: apology >Cc: >Bcc: >X-Attachments: > >Re: Michael R. Loken, Ph.D. > Denise A. Wells, M.D.-apology > >Having worked in both a clinical and research flow lab, I still take >offense to the "apology" expressed by these 2 individuals. > >When I worked in a hospital clinical flow lab, the staff went through a >rigorous training period to ensure adherence to protocol and continuity of >results generated by the lab. Before any tests were performed on a >specimen, a discussion with the lab director (an M.D.) was mandatory. It >was the director who indicated which markers to use based on information >given by the requesting physician. All tissue specimens were also sent to >pathology for their evaluation, thereby ensuring an extensive as possible >information profile to aid the doctor in determining a diagnosis and >treatment plan. > >Results from our lab were checked by the lab supervisor, who reviewed all >printouts, and the lab director, who also reviewed all the printouts. If >any question arose concerning staining pattern and/or reagent use , it was >challenged at any of these steps. > >I would also like to know how you arrived at your assessment of >misdiagnosis by flow being 10-15%. > >We found often, that the doctors did not understand the tests they were >requesting and often tried to get the technicians to form a dignosis for >them. > >While I understand that this was only one institution, one would hope that >any licensed lab would follow a similar procedure. It is also necessary >to have standard flow courses, to continually educate and examine >protocols and analyses of differnet tissues. But to assess blame in one >area for misdiagnosis is extremely high-handed and arrogant. > > ******************************************************************* Ruth A. Croson-Lowney Supervisor, Flow Cytometry New York Blood Center 310 East 67th Street New York, NY 10021 (212) 570-3341 rcroson@nybc.org
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