Laboratory improvement

Machlett Laboratories improved Cool-idge tubes, 247-249... 

A clean and orderly laboratory improves performance and productivity. It also enhances morale and has a beneficial effect on safety. Unfortunately, housekeeping in many laboratories leaves... 

The Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI) Program aids in the purchase of laboratory equipment for use in undergraduate laboratories at all levels. Annual funding has been 23 million for the past 5 years and is anticipated to remain at this level for the near future. Typically, 2300 proposals are received, resulting in approximately 600 awards per year. ILI has two components The major one accepts proposals for equipment only, the other, known as Leadership in Laboratory Development, seeks to support the development of exemplary national models for laboratory curricula by providing funds for personnel and supplies as well as for equipment. Five percent of the ILI budget is devoted to Leadership projects, and preliminary proposals are required. A 50% institutional match for equipment costs is necessary for all ILI proposals. The maximum allowable request from NSF is 100,000. In the 1992 competition, 60 proposals to initiate or improve materials science laboratories were received 15 were from departments of chemistry, the remainder from engineering units. 

An analytically sensitive test always detects analytes when they are present in specimens. An analytically specific test does not detect analytes when they are absent. The Task Force also recommended that laboratories providing a test for routine clinical use (after it had been developed) demonstrate their ability to provide analytically valid tests. These laboratories are regulated under the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendments of 1988 (Holtzman, 2000). 

To order a copy of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, refer to stock no. 069-001-00042-4 (price 4.50/copy) and mail request to Government Printing Office, PO Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. 202-783-3238. FAX 202-512-2250. 

Department of Health and Hnman Services, Health Care Financing Administration (1992) Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Final Rule. Federal Register 57,7001-7288. 

The laboratory management shall determine the necessary competence of people working in the laboratoiy and ensure that it is available for the effective and efficient operation of the laboratory. Improvement of people s competence comes through awareness and training. The management of the laboratory should encourage people to... 

Proficiency tests first of all should help the laboratories improve their performance. But often they are also used as a control tool for accreditation bodies, customers and authorities. Thus, there may be a tendency among some participants to try to report a better performance than is justified. 

Furfural occurs in many essential oils and is produced in small quantities in many organic reactions,1 particularly those involving the decomposition of various carbohydrate materials. Pentoses when subjected to the action of hydrochloric acid are decomposed to give practically quantitative yields of this aldehyde.2 It is well known that carbohydrate materials such as corn cobs, wood, bran, etc., when heated with steam under pressure or distilled with dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acids, yield appreciable quantities of furfural.3 Particularly good yields, however, are obtained from ordinary corn cobs, and this material therefore appears best for the production of large amounts of furfural in the laboratory. Improvements in the production of furfural from carbohydrate material have appeared recently in the patent literature 4 but those do not appear as satisfactory as the ones described.5... 

Sample preparation techniques that prevent or minimize pollution in analytical laboratories, improve target analyte recoveries, and reduce... 

Regarding laboratory certification for private laboratories, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) state the conditions that all laboratories must meet to be certified to perform testing on human specimens under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (57 FR 7139, Feb. 28,1992). The requirements do not apply to any... 

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 2004. CLIA Subpart R. Enforcement Procedures. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA [online]. Available http //www.phppo.cdc.gov/clia/regs/subpart r.aspx. [accessed Jan. 18, 2006]. 

Rivers, P.A., A. Dobalian, and F.A. Germinario. 2005. A review and analysis of the clinical laboratory improvement amendment of 1988 Compliance plans and enforcement policies. Health Care Manage Rev. 30(2) 93-102. 

Improving the quality of the biomonitoring laboratories that analyze human samples for the purposes of diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or health assessment. These laboratories are regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 (42 CFR 493 [2000]). However, the focus of this statute is mainstream clinical testing. For example, the 41-page CLIA tabulation of approved proficiency-test providers lists only one environmental chemical (blood lead) (CMS 2005). 

A number of published reviews summarize this work [95,96], Although these membranes are still being studied in a number of laboratories, improvements in selective conventional polymer membranes have diminished interest in processes using liquid membranes. The preparation and use of these membranes are described in Chapter 11. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 2007b. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), Tests Granted Waived Status under CLIA. Available at www.cms.hhs.gov/CLIA/10 Categorization of Tests.asp accessed on May 2007. 

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