Multidisciplinary Collaboration to Facilitate Pathology-Driven Reflex Testing
Recorded On: 10/15/2020
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Broad molecular profiling to assess biomarkers that drive treatment decisions are now recommended by guidelines for numerous solid tumors. Pathologists, oncologists, radiologists, histologists, and molecular biologists are all key stakeholders in ensuring biomarker testing is performed according to the guidelines. Multidisciplinary teams must work together to break down the silos across disciplines in order to standardize biomarker testing and improve tissue utilization. Opening up lines of communication throughout the multidisciplinary team is now more important than ever to enable guideline-driven biomarker testing. Turnaround time is critical, as biomarker test results are used to determine appropriate treatment options. Enabling pathologists to order biomarker testing at diagnosis decreases the time to an actionable biomarker result. Biomarker testing algorithms should be developed in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate reflexive testing by tumor type. As we move into the age of precision medicine, it is even more essential that we take care to ensure tissue is preserved properly and triaged to ensure biomarker testing can be performed after the diagnosis is rendered. Due to the dearth of tissue available from fine needle aspirates or core needle biopsies, tissue stewardship is necessary to allocate the available tissue appropriately. The multidisciplinary team should also be utilized to address pre-analytical variables affecting the quality of biomarker testing results. It is important to understand how preanalytical variables that occur during tissue processing affect different technologies and how to work together across disciplines to optimize tissue quality and utilization to drive biomarker testing.
CEUs: This histology course is worth 1 continuing education credit. Course is available for 365 days from date of purchase.
Tabetha Sundin, PhD, MB(ASCP)
Scientific Director
Sentara Healthcare
I am the Scientific Director of Molecular Diagnostics and Serology at Sentara Reference Laboratory. I have a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with a focus in cancer biology. I have been credentialed as a high-complexity laboratory director from ABB and hold an molecular biology certification from ASCP. Our molecular diagnostics laboratory part of a hospital-based reference laboratory serving 11 hospitals and performing 9 million tests per year. In our molecular diagnostics laboratory we perform molecular microbiology, genetics, and molecular pathology testing. We perform PCR, NGS, microarray, and Sanger sequencing in our laboratory.
Cristi Rigazio, BS, MS, HT(ASCP)
Clinical Specialist
Sentara Laboratory Services
Cristi Rigazio is currently the Clinical Specialist of Anatomic Pathology for Sentara Laboratory Services in Virginia. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, equipment selection and validation, policy and procedure writing, development and training of the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and CAP compliance. Prior to joining Sentara, Cristi opened a Physician Owned Lab for a group of Gastroenterologists, responsible for obtaining state licensure and CAP accreditation. That opportunity presented opportunities to customize the LIS, learn about CPT codes, convert from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes and develop interfacing between the Electronic Medical Records system and the LIS. Cristi was first introduced to histology in the pre-clinical research environment, where she learned about GLP and FDA compliance.
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