When a doctor orders a blood test, the patient often goes to Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp or the hospital’s lab for a blood draw called a venipuncture. Venipuncture is an invasive procedure which must be performed with care. The person who performs the blood...
Read MoreAfter a laboratory test is performed, the lab may realize that it made an error that may impact patient care. Is the lab obligated to report the error? The answer is a resounding Yes. When an error is not reported and the patient is injured as a result of the...
Read MoreLike many medical products, lab tests are strictly regulated by the government – or are they? While diagnostic laboratories are theoretically required to comply with stringent federal laws, such as the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C), in...
Read MoreCeliac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects about one out of every 100 to 150 people. The disease causes the immune system to create antibodies in response to gluten, which is found in foods like barley, granola, oats, and crackers. The...
Read MoreIt’s well-known that cancer and heart disease rank among the leading causes of death in the United States. What fewer people realize is that medical errors claim nearly as many lives as the conditions they seek to treat, becoming the third leading cause of...
Read MoreWith about 30,000 people infected each year, Lyme disease causes a range of serious symptoms, including joint pain, chronic fatigue, facial paralysis, and in rare cases, even death. Because of these risks, anyone who is bitten by a deer tick should consider...
Read MoreThe results of common diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, urine tests, x-rays, CAT scans, and tissue biopsies, serve as the basis for up to 70% of all medical decisions made by U.S. healthcare providers. When a lab technician makes a mistake, or a lab’s...
Read MoreA biopsy is a tissue sample which can be placed on a slide and examined under a microscope to diagnose cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, oral cancer, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer (colon cancer). When a hospital or outpatient laboratory...
Read MoreAccording to the CDC, about 6.4 million women become pregnant in the United States every year. About 4.1 million will give birth, 1.2 million will terminate their pregnancies, and 1 million will miscarry. Regardless of which decision a woman intends to make, or what...
Read MoreWhile HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) doesn’t have a known cure, advancements in medical science have made it possible for today’s patients to live for years or even decades after receiving a diagnosis. However, in order for patients to have the best...
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