New Science Presentations At The Annual Meeting Of The American Association For Clinical Chemistry

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  IT / Internet / E-mail;  Conferences
Article Date: 17 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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More than 200 presentations on medicine and science will be held during the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's annual meeting July 27-31 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

Featured presentations include:

NEW TEST IDENTIFIES HEAVY DRINKERS

A new screening test for excessive alcohol consumption identifies twice as many heavy drinkers as the commonly used liver enzyme test. The Early Detection of Alcohol Consumption (EDAC) test determines the likelihood of heavy drinking in the previous four to six weeks.

Lead Presenter: James Harasymiw, PsyD, director, Alcohol Detection Services, Big Bend, WI.

Wednesday, July 30, 2:30-5:00 PM

CHEATING ON DRUG TESTS IS A CLICK AWAY

An explosion of web sites offering additives, detoxification solutions and bottled urine is leading more people to try and cheat on drug tests. While common household chemicals like laundry bleach and toilet bowl cleaner have been used for years to attempt to avoid a positive drug test, people are now purchasing such sophisticated products as "Ready Clean Drug Detox Drink," "Fast Flush Capsules" and synthetic urine in bottles from more than 1000 Web sites.

Lead Presenter: Amitava Dasgupta, PhD, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at University of Texas-Houston Medical School.

Monday, July 28, 7:30-8:30 AM and 12:30-1:30 PM

BLEEDING DISORDERS TOO OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS CHILD ABUSE

An incorrect diagnosis of child abuse, and even shaken baby syndrome, can occur in children suffering minor accidental trauma who also have undiagnosed bleeding disorders. A physician with expertise in coagulation and hematology said many cases of abuse are actually caused by an inherited disorder. Lead Presenter: Michael Laposata, MD, PhD, lead presenter and pathologist-in-chief at Vanderbilt University Hospital.

Tuesday, July 29, 2:30-5:00 PM

WEB SITE HELPS PATIENTS INTERPRET LAB TEST RESULTS

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry has announced that Lab Tests Online, a free web site that helps patients understand their lab test results, will soon reach the 50 million user mark. The non-commercial, peer-reviewed site attracts more than one million visitors every month seeking information about laboratory tests and how to interpret their test results.

Lead Presenter: George Linzer, executive producer, Lab Tests Online, AACC

No Presentation Planned

'DISCLOSURE COACHES' HELP PHYSICIANS EXPLAIN MEDICAL ERRORS

More hospitals should train and retain "disclosure coaches" to guide physicians and other healthcare workers through the delicate and potentially litigious process of explaining medical errors to patients.

Lead Presenter: Thomas H. Gallagher, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington.

Tuesday, July 29, 2:30-3:30 PM

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Source: Brian Ruberry
American Association for Clinical Chemistry

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