If you're interested in learning more about toxicology testing, check out these sessions at the 2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo.
Toxicology testing in adolescents and young adults presents unique challenges and is often a cause of confusion for clinicians and laboratorians. Using an interactive, case-based approach, this session will describe the clinical needs and testing approaches for toxicologic assessment in adolescents and young adults as well as the common challenges and solutions for community and specialty hospital laboratories. Learn more.
The emergence of illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and analogs, represents a significant escalation of the ongoing opioids overdose epidemic in the United States. This session will review the current epidemic, describe analytical tools used for monitoring the epidemic, and highlight the complexity of the ongoing crisis through interactive case studies. Learn more.
Transplant recipients receive lifelong immunosuppression (IS) to prevent rejection. IS drugs require therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) because of narrow therapeutic indices and significant inter-individual variability in blood concentrations, with sub-therapeutic levels putting patients at risk for rejection and supra-therapeutic levels leading to toxicity. Learn more.
In recent years, there have been a staggering number of outbreaks related to the onslaught of new drugs in the illicit marketplace, resulting in a large number of hospitalizations and death. Commonly referred to as "research chemicals," "designer drugs," or "novel psychoactive substances" (NPS), these substances are used for their pharmacological effects similar to widely known drugs This session will provide an overview of how the laboratory plays this vital role and bring awareness to the focus and dedication required to stay at the leading edge to address this fast changing epidemic. Learn more.
This session will engage participants in a hybrid lecture/interactive discussion between a primary care physician, clinical chemist, and clinical pathologist on approaches to development of laboratory testing to support institution-specific goals for controlled substance prescription and monitoring. A primary care physician will describe the evolution of current practice requirements for primary care providers who prescribe controlled substances and institutional approaches to developing prescribing and monitoring guidelines. Learn more.
The clinical laboratory plays a central role in supporting multiple departments for toxicology testing services, including pain management, primary care, and emergency medicine (e.g., acute intoxication, overdose). Laboratory scientists may be contacted by providers for guidance with result interpretation and test selection, and should be prepared to assist providers with patient care. Learn more.
Thank you to all of the top-notch speakers, abstract authors, and exhibitors who have shared their innovations and insights at this year’s meeting—as well as the attendees, whose camaraderie and engagement have made this meeting such a success.
AACC has moved the dates for the 2021 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in Anaheim, California to September 19-23, 2021.