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Naranjo AR, Krasowski MD, Hamdan A, O'Connor K, Carter C, Chen J, Greene DN. Reflex strategy to ensure accurate total testosterone results from consumer initiated, self-collected capillary samples. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 558:119676. [PMID: 38631605 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-collected capillary samples are convenient for direct access testing (DAT), but exogenous testosterone use may cause falsely elevated total testosterone (TT) results. We designed a quality assurance workflow to differentiate between accurate or erroneous supraphysiological TT concentrations. METHODS Clinical samples with TT > 1500 ng/dL were reflexed to luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and screened for exogenous testosterone use. Samples (n = 120) with normal TT were reflexed to LH/FSH as a control. RESULTS A total of 8572 TT samples were evaluated, of which 533 (6.2 %) had TT > 1500 ng/dL and were reflexed. Of these, 441 (82.7 %) had significantly decreased LH/FSH (<0.85/<0.7mIU/mL, respectively), 72 (13.5 %) had normal or borderline normal LH/FSH, and 20 (3.8 %) had insufficient plasma volume. In patients with TT > 1500 ng/dL, injectable exogenous testosterone use was most commonly accompanied by significantly decreased LH/FSH, while topical testosterone use was most commonly accompanied by detectable LH/FSH. Control samples were almost all (99.2 %) within or above the LH/FSH reference intervals. Unique patients ordered 351 TT tests where at least one TT result was > 1500 ng/dL. Based on TT and LH/FSH results, we hypothesized that patients were intermittently or consistently overusing exogenous testosterone, resolved elevated TT with recollection, or repeatedly contaminated their sample. CONCLUSION Self-collected capillary specimens are acceptable for TT testing. A quality assurance reflex to LH/FSH can determine the validity of supraphysiological TT results in a consumer initiated/DAT population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amal Hamdan
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | | | - Claire Carter
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Joyce Chen
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Dina N Greene
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States; University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, United States.
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Rytz CL, Turino Miranda K, Ronksley PE, Saad N, Raj SR, Somayaji R, Dumanski SM, Ganshorn H, Greene DN, Collister D, Newbert AM, Peace L, Ahmed SB. Association between Serum Estradiol and Cardiovascular Health among Transgender Adults Using Gender-Affirming Estrogen Therapy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38578239 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00151.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gender-affirming estrogen therapy (GAET) is commonly used for feminization in transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals, yet the optimal rate of change (ROC) in estradiol levels for cardiovascular health is unclear. We examined the association between serum estradiol levels and cardiovascular-related mortality, adverse events, and risk factors in TNB adults using GAET. METHODS Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science were systematically searched (inception-April 2023) for original articles reporting serum estradiol levels and cardiovascular-related mortality, adverse events, and risk factors in TNB adults using GAET. Data extraction was completed in duplicate following PRISMA guidelines. Stratified random effects meta-analyses using serum estradiol ROC (serum estradiolbaseline-serum estradiolfollow-up/study duration) was used to assess longitudinal studies (Low:0 RESULTS Thirty-five studies (13 cross-sectional, 19 cohort, 3 trials) were included. Two studies collectively reported 50 cardiovascular-related deaths, and four collectively reported 23 adverse cardiovascular events. Nineteen studies reporting cardiovascular risk factors were meta-analyzed by ROC stratum (Low=5; Moderate=6; High=8), demonstrating an association between moderate (0.40, 95%CI: 0.22, 0.59kg/m2, I2=28.2%) and high (0.46, 95%CI:0.15, 0.78kg/m2; I2=0.0%,) serum estradiol ROC and increased body mass index. High (-6.67, 95%CI:-10.65, -2.68mg/dL; I2=0.0%) serum estradiol ROC were associated with decreased low-density lipoproteins. Low (-7.05, 95%CI:-10.40, -3.70mmHg; I2=0.0%) and moderate (-3.69, 95%CI:-4.93, -2.45mmHg; I2=0.0%) serum estradiol ROC were associated with decreases in systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION In TNB adults using GAET, serum estradiol ROC may influence cardiovascular risk factors, which may have implications for clinical cardiovascular outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nathalie Saad
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Satish R Raj
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, United States
| | - David Collister
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Torres C, Muldrow RA, Naranjo AR, Cotten SW, Pierre CC, Greene DN. Development and validation of an LC-MSMS method to quantify creatinine from dried blood spots. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab 2024; 32:50-59. [PMID: 38511102 PMCID: PMC10950697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2024.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Screening for chronic kidney disease relies on accurate and precise creatinine measurements. Traditionally, creatinine is measured in serum or plasma using high-throughput chemistry analyzers. However, dried blood spots (DBS) can also be utilized to improve testing access. Methods Samples were obtained from a 6 mm DBS punch, which was reconstituted in water before undergoing an acetonitrile crash. The resulting supernatant was diluted using an 80:20 acetonitrile: water before injection. Creatinine was identified using an isocratic gradient, and detected using an API 4000 triple quadrupole mass analyzer. Quantification relied on matrix-matched calibrators, with values harmonized to the Roche Cobas enzymatic assay. Validation studies assessing method performance included precision, linearity, accuracy, method comparison, stability, interference, and matrix effects. Results The LC-MSMS assay was linear from 0.3 to 20 mg/dL (y = 1.02x-0.11; R2 = 0.996). Precision ranged from 5.2 to 8.1 % using matrix-matched controls (n = 4) that spanned the analytical measurement range. LC-MSMS results corresponded to the enzymatic assay (Roche) with a fitted line equation of y = 0.956x-0.07 (R2 = 0.995; n = 173). The Siemens and Roche enzymatic assays demonstrated higher accuracy in correlating to the DBS creatinine concentration (n = 40 paired venous/DBS collections) compared to the Beckman Jaffe assay (-2.5 % and -0.8 % versus -6.3 % and -4.1 %, respectively) or the iSTAT (-28.4 % and -27.1 %, respectively). Accuracy was unaffected by hematocrit, blood spot volume, excess IgG or IgA, or hypertriglyceridemia. No matrix effects were observed, and both extraction and processing efficiency were robust.Ambient stability extended to at least 10 days, and exposure to extreme temperature did not affect the creatinine results. Conclusion We successfully developed an accurate and precise LC-MSMS method for quantifying creatinine in DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Steven W. Cotten
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Christina C. Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dina N. Greene
- LetsGetCheked, Monrovia, CA, USA
- University of Washington Seattle, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Qi M, Naranjo AR, Duque AJ, Lorey TS, Schapiro JM, Suh-Burgmann BJ, Rummel M, Salipante SJ, Wentzensen N, Greene DN. Evaluation of Pre-Analytical Variables for Human Papillomavirus Primary Screening from Self-Collected Vaginal Swabs. J Mol Diagn 2024:S1525-1578(24)00055-2. [PMID: 38494078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening is an effective approach to assessing cervical cancer risk. Self-collected vaginal swabs can expand testing access, but the data defining analytical performance criteria necessary for adoption of self-collected specimens are limited, especially for those occurring outside the clinic, where the swab remains dry during transport. Here, we evaluated the performance of self-collected vaginal swabs for HPV detection using the Cobas 6800. There was insignificant variability between swabs self-collected by the same individual (n = 15 participants collecting 5 swabs per participant), measured by amplification of HPV and human β-globin control DNA. Comparison of self-collected vaginal swab and provider-collected cervical samples (n = 144 pairs) proved highly concordant for HPV detection (total agreement = 90.3%; positive percentage agreement = 84.2%). There was no relationship between the number of dry storage days and amplification of HPV (n = 68; range, 4 to 41 days). Exposure of self-collected dry swabs to extreme summer and winter temperatures did not affect testing outcomes. A second internal control (RNase P) demonstrated that lack of amplification for β-globin from self-collected specimens was consistent with poor, but not absent, cellularity. These data suggest that self-collected vaginal samples enable accurate clinical HPV testing, and that extended ambient dry storage or exposure to extreme temperatures does not influence HPV detection. Furthermore, lack of β-globin amplification in HPV-negative samples accurately identified participants who required recollection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Qi
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California
| | | | - Abigail J Duque
- The Permanente Medical Group, Northern California Kaiser Permanente Regional Reference Laboratory, Oakland, California
| | - Thomas S Lorey
- The Permanente Medical Group, Northern California Kaiser Permanente Regional Reference Laboratory, Oakland, California
| | - Jeffrey M Schapiro
- The Permanente Medical Group, Northern California Kaiser Permanente Regional Reference Laboratory, Oakland, California
| | | | | | - Stephen J Salipante
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nicolas Wentzensen
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Dina N Greene
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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5
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Greene DN, Goldstein Z, Krasowski MD. Uncertainty in Hormone Monitoring of Transgender and Non-Binary People. J Appl Lab Med 2024:jfae013. [PMID: 38452237 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Zil Goldstein
- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York, NY, United States
- City University of New York, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States
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6
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Miranda KT, Greene DN, Collister D, Krasowski MD, Ahmed SB, Cirrincione LR, Rosas SE, Saad N, Pierre CC. A Holistic Framework for the Evaluation of Kidney Function in a Gender-Diverse Landscape. Am J Kidney Dis 2024:S0272-6386(24)00632-2. [PMID: 38458377 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.01.522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The most commonly used equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate incorporate a binary male-female sex coefficient, which has important implications for the care of transgender, gender-diverse, and non-binary (TGD) people. Whether "sex assigned at birth" or a binary "gender identity" is most appropriate for the computation of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is unknown. Furthermore, the use of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for the development of physical changes to align TGD people with their affirmed gender is increasingly common, and may result in changes in serum creatinine and cystatin C, biomarkers commonly used to estimate glomerular filtration rate. The paucity of current literature evaluating chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence and outcomes in TGD individuals on GAHT makes it difficult to assess any effects of GAHT on kidney function. Whether alterations in serum creatinine reflect changes in glomerular filtration rate or simply changes in muscle mass is unknown. Therefore, we propose a holistic framework to evaluate kidney function in TGD people. The framework focuses on kidney disease prevalence, risk factors, sex hormones, eGFR, other kidney function assessment tools, and the mitigation of health inequities in TGD people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keila Turino Miranda
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America; LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California, United States of America
| | - David Collister
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, States of America
| | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Kidney Disease Network, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lauren R Cirrincione
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sylvia E Rosas
- Kidney and Hypertension Unit, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; Department of Nephrology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nathalie Saad
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christina C Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
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7
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Stoffel M, Beal SG, Ibrahim KA, Rummel M, Greene DN. Optimizing the data in direct access testing: information technology to support an emerging care model. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2024; 61:127-139. [PMID: 37800865 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2023.2258973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Direct access testing (DAT) is an emerging care model that provides on-demand laboratory services for certain preventative, diagnostic, and monitoring indications. Unlike conventional testing models where health care providers order tests and where sample collection is performed onsite at the clinic or laboratory, most interactions between DAT consumers and the laboratory are virtual. Tests are ordered and results delivered online, and specimens are frequently self-collected at home with virtual support. Thus, DAT depends on high-quality information technology (IT) tools and optimized data utilization to a greater degree than conventional laboratory testing. This review critically discusses the United States DAT landscape in relation to IT to highlight digital challenges and opportunities for consumers, health care systems, providers, and laboratories. DAT offers consumers increased autonomy over the testing experience, cost, and data sharing, but the current capacity to integrate DAT as a care option into the conventional patient-provider model is lacking and will require innovative approaches to accommodate. Likewise, both consumers and health care providers need transparent information about the quality of DAT laboratories and clinical decision support to optimize appropriate use of DAT as a part of comprehensive care. Interoperability barriers will require intentional approaches to integrating DAT-derived data into the electronic health records of health systems nationally. This includes ensuring the laboratory results are appropriately captured for downstream data analytic pipelines that are used to satisfy population health and research needs. Despite the data- and IT-related challenges for widespread incorporation of DAT into routine health care, DAT has the potential to improve health equity by providing versatile, discreet, and affordable testing options for patients who have been marginalized by the current limitations of health care delivery in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Stoffel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- M Health Fairview Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stacy G Beal
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- LetsGetChecked, Monrovia, CA, USA
| | - Khalda A Ibrahim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Dina N Greene
- LetsGetChecked, Monrovia, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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8
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Pierre CC, Greene DN, Delaney S, Lockwood CM, Peck Palmer OM. Reconsidering the use of race adjustments in maternal serum screening. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:522-525. [PMID: 37327981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The use of race in maternal serum screening is problematic because race is a social construct rather than a distinct biological classifier. Nevertheless, laboratories offering this testing are encouraged to use race-specific cutoff values for maternal serum screening biomarkers to determine the risk of fetal abnormalities. Large cohort studies examining racial differences in maternal serum screening biomarker concentrations have yielded conflicting results, which we postulate may be explained by genetic and socioeconomic differences between racial cohorts in different studies. We recommend that the use of race in maternal serum screening should be abandoned. Further research is needed to identify socioeconomic and environmental factors that contribute to differences in maternal serum screening biomarker concentrations observed between races. A better understanding of these factors may facilitate accurate race-agnostic risk estimates for aneuploidy and neural tube defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina C Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, PA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Shani Delaney
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Christina M Lockwood
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Octavia M Peck Palmer
- Departments of Pathology and Clinical and Translational Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Franco JMC, Muldrow RA, Cieslak W, DeArmond P, Orahoske C, Payto D, Greene DN, Bunch D. Matrix-matched calibrators are necessary for robust and high-quality dried blood spots lead screening assays by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab 2023; 30:45-50. [PMID: 38023943 PMCID: PMC10658398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Reliable lead screening methods are necessary to support early identification of lead exposure in children. Sample collection using dried blood spots (DBS) offers advantages compared to traditional venipuncture and capillary collection. Here, we describe and compare three lead DBS inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) methods for lead screening. Materials and methods Lead was extracted from Whatman 903 protein saver cards punches and analyzed by ICP-MS across three independent clinical laboratories. Each laboratory evaluated the performance of aqueous and matrix-matched DBS calibrators using external quality control samples (WI State of Laboratory of Hygiene Program). Leftover patient samples (n = 39) were used for an interlaboratory comparison of lead DBS. Lead DBS results were compared to whole blood methods. Results The DBS ICP-MS methods using matrix-matched DBS calibrators had superior performance to the aqueous calibrations. There was a strong correlation between lead measured in DBS (matrix-matched) and whole blood for the three methods evaluated. Conclusion Lead can be measured accurately by ICP-MS in DBS samples when matrix-matched calibrators are used. External quality control programs are valuable to assess the performance of DBS methods. DBS lead ICP-MS methods are a robust analytical option for lead screening even though the limitations of DBS are well recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cody Orahoske
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, United States
- Cleveland State University, United States
| | - Drew Payto
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation, United States
| | - Dina N. Greene
- Lets Get Checked Labs, United States
- University of Washington, United States
| | - Dustin Bunch
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, United States
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, United States
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10
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Hines NG, Greene DN, Imborek KL, Krasowski MD. Patterns of gender identity data within electronic health record databases can be used as a tool for identifying and estimating the prevalence of gender-expansive people. JAMIA Open 2023; 6:ooad042. [PMID: 37359949 PMCID: PMC10290553 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Electronic health records (EHRs) within the United States increasingly include sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) fields. We assess how well SOGI fields, along with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and medication records, identify gender-expansive patients. Materials and Methods The study used a data set of all patients that had in-person inpatient or outpatient encounters at an academic medical center in a rural state between December 1, 2018 and February 17, 2022. Chart review was performed for all patients meeting at least one of the following criteria: differences between legal sex, sex assigned at birth, and gender identity (excluding blank fields) in the EHR SOGI fields; ICD-10 codes related to gender dysphoria or unspecified endocrine disorder; prescription for estradiol or testosterone suggesting use of gender-affirming hormones. Results Out of 123 441 total unique patients with in-person encounters, we identified a total of 2236 patients identifying as gender-expansive, with 1506 taking gender-affirming hormones. SOGI field differences or ICD-10 codes related to gender dysphoria or both were found in 2219 of 2236 (99.2%) patients who identify as gender-expansive, and 1500 of 1506 (99.6%) taking gender-affirming hormones. For the gender-expansive population, assigned female at birth was more common in the 12-29 year age range, while assigned male at birth was more common for those 40 years and older. Conclusions SOGI fields and ICD-10 codes identify a high percentage of gender-expansive patients at an academic medical center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G Hines
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, California, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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11
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Pierre CC, Marzinke MA, Ahmed SB, Collister D, Colón-Franco JM, Hoenig MP, Lorey T, Palevsky PM, Palmer OP, Rosas SE, Vassalotti J, Whitley CT, Greene DN. AACC/NKF Guidance Document on Improving Equity in Chronic Kidney Disease Care. J Appl Lab Med 2023:jfad022. [PMID: 37379065 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney disease (KD) is an important health equity issue with Black, Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals experiencing a disproportionate disease burden. Prior to 2021, the commonly used estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations incorporated coefficients for Black race that conferred higher GFR estimates for Black individuals compared to non-Black individuals of the same sex, age, and blood creatinine concentration. With a recognition that race does not delineate distinct biological categories, a joint task force of the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology recommended the adoption of the CKD-EPI 2021 race-agnostic equations. CONTENT This document provides guidance on implementation of the CKD-EPI 2021 equations. It describes recommendations for KD biomarker testing, and opportunities for collaboration between clinical laboratories and providers to improve KD detection in high-risk populations. Further, the document provides guidance on the use of cystatin C, and eGFR reporting and interpretation in gender-diverse populations. SUMMARY Implementation of the CKD-EPI 2021 eGFR equations represents progress toward health equity in the management of KD. Ongoing efforts by multidisciplinary teams, including clinical laboratorians, should focus on improved disease detection in clinically and socially high-risk populations. Routine use of cystatin C is recommended to improve the accuracy of eGFR, particularly in patients whose blood creatinine concentrations are confounded by processes other than glomerular filtration. When managing gender-diverse individuals, eGFR should be calculated and reported with both male and female coefficients. Gender-diverse individuals can benefit from a more holistic management approach, particularly at important clinical decision points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina C Pierre
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark A Marzinke
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David Collister
- Division of Nephrology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Melanie P Hoenig
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Thomas Lorey
- Kaiser Permanante, The Permanante Medical Group Regional Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Paul M Palevsky
- Renal-Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Kidney Medicine Program and Kidney Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
| | - Octavia Peck Palmer
- Departments of Pathology, Critical Care Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sylvia E Rosas
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
- Kidney and Hypertension Unit, Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph Vassalotti
- The National Kidney Foundation, Inc., New York, NY, United States
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, United States
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12
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Madison BM, Lazaro GR, Scott MS, Greene DN, Lorey TS, De Jesús VR. Effective Access to Laboratory Test Results: A Health Equity Issue that Enhances Diagnostic Excellence. J Appl Lab Med 2023; 8:635-644. [PMID: 36722002 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfac128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Access to laboratory test results through patient portals is a health equity issue for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), particularly for Spanish-speaking patients, the largest minority group in the USA. Gaps ranging from linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic disparities to lack of systematic approaches (e.g., implementation of specific support protocols, policies) are among the identified factors that limit LEP patients' access to patient portals. This paper summarizes initiatives healthcare providers, laboratory professionals, and portal developers can use to address disparities that affect >26 million LEPs while improving their health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bereneice M Madison
- Division of Laboratory Systems, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Gerardo R Lazaro
- Division of Laboratory Systems, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Marranda S Scott
- Division of Laboratory Systems, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Víctor R De Jesús
- Division of Laboratory Systems, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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13
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Greene DN, Schmidt RL, Christenson RH, Rongitsch J, Imborek KL, Rebuck H, Lorey TS, Saenger AK, Krasowski MD. Distribution of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Healthy Transgender People. JAMA Cardiol 2022; 7:1170-1174. [PMID: 36197689 PMCID: PMC9535541 DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2022.3299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Importance Sex-specific differences in the commonly used cardiac biomarkers high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are apparent. There is an absence of medical literature delineating the concentration differences for these biomarkers in transgender individuals without cardiac disease. Objective To determine the distribution of hs-cTn and NT-proBNP in healthy transgender people. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional prospective study, healthy transgender individuals prescribed testosterone or estradiol for 12 months or more were recruited from internal medicine and primary care clinics that specialize in transgender medical care between November 1, 2017, and July 1, 2018. Exposures Testosterone or estradiol for 12 months. Main Outcomes and Measures Concentrations for hs-cTnI (troponin I), hs-cTnT (troponin T), and NT-proBNP were measured. Results Transgender people prescribed testosterone (n = 79; mean [SD] age, 28.8 [7.8] years) or estrogen (n = 93; mean [SD] age, 35.1 [11.7] years) were recruited. The concentration of hs-cTn was significantly higher in transgender men relative to transgender women. For Abbott hs-cTnI levels, the median (IQR) concentration observed in transgender men and women was 0.9 (0.6-1.7) ng/L and 0.6 (0.3-1.0) ng/L, respectively. Results were similar across 2 additional hs-cTn assays. In contrast, NT-proBNP level was higher in transgender women. The median (IQR) NT-proBNP concentration was significantly higher in transgender women ( 49 [32-86] ng/L) than in transgender men (17 [13-27] ng/L). Conclusions and Relevance Findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that the differences in concentration for hs-cTn and NT-proBNP between transgender men and women were similar to what is observed between cisgender men and women. Sex hormones, rather than sex assigned at birth, may be a stronger driver of the observed concentration differences between healthy men and women for biomarkers of cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N. Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | | | | | | | - Katherine L. Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
| | - Heather Rebuck
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
| | - Thomas S. Lorey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, California
| | - Amy K. Saenger
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Hennepin Healthcare/Hennepin County Medical Center and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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14
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Winer RL, Lin J, Anderson ML, Tiro JA, Meenan RT, Hansen K, Gao H, Sparks A, Greene DN, Kilgore-Martin S, Green BB, Buist DSM. Design of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of home-based human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling for increasing cervical cancer screening uptake in a U.S. healthcare system: The STEP trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2022; 122:106960. [PMID: 36241145 PMCID: PMC10164445 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mailing HPV self-sampling kits to overdue individuals increases cervical cancer screening adherence; offering self-sampling to previously adherent individuals has not been evaluated in the U.S. Given heterogeneity of the U.S. health system and population, data are needed to optimize how HPV self-sampling is offered to individuals who are overdue, due after successful past screening, or have an unknown screening history. METHODS STEP is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial set within a U.S. integrated healthcare delivery system, designed to compare different outreach approaches for offering HPV self-sampling in populations defined by prior screening behavior (previously-adherent, overdue, or unknown screening history). Over 14 months, eligible individuals were identified through electronic medical record (EMR) data and randomized to Usual Care (UC), Education (UC + educational materials about cervical cancer screening), Direct-Mail (UC + Education + a mailed self-sampling kit) or Opt-In (UC + Education + option to request a kit), depending on screening history. The primary objective is to compare screening completion by outreach approach and screening history. Secondary objectives include evaluating incremental cost-effectiveness of outreach approaches, and identifying patient preference for, and satisfaction with, HPV self-screening, and barriers to abnormal results follow-up (measured through interviews and focus groups). CONCLUSIONS The trial was designed to generate data that U.S. health systems can use to inform primary HPV screening implementation strategies that incorporate HPV self-sampling options to improve screening access, adherence, and patient satisfaction. The objective of this report is to describe the rationale and design of this pragmatic trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Winer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - John Lin
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Melissa L Anderson
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Jasmin A Tiro
- Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Richard T Meenan
- Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N. Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA.
| | - Kristina Hansen
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Hongyuan Gao
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Angela Sparks
- Washington Permanente Medical Group, 320 Westlake Ave N #100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357110, 1959 NE Pacific St, NW120, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Laboratory, Box 34944, Seattle, WA 98124, USA.
| | - Sony Kilgore-Martin
- Washington Permanente Medical Group, 320 Westlake Ave N #100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Beverly B Green
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Washington Permanente Medical Group, 320 Westlake Ave N #100, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J Tyson School of Medicine, 98 S Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA.
| | - Diana S M Buist
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
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15
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Greene DN, Marzinke MA, Carter C, Chen J, Hoenig MP, Rummel M. Decreasing the Lower Limit of Quantitation for Urine Albumin Improves Clinical Utility. J Appl Lab Med 2022; 7:1145-1150. [DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) is a screening assay for chronic kidney disease (CKD). A value of >30 mg/g is flagged abnormal, but lower ratios have prognostic implications. Thus, to maximize diagnostic utility, urine albumin (uAlb) should be measurable to 3 mg/L to match the lowest creatinine concentration generally utilized (10 mg/dL). Most uAlb assays have lower limits of quantitation (LLOQs) 2- to 4-fold higher. We sought to determine the performance characteristics of a commonly used uAlb assay at 3 mg/L and to evaluate the clinical screening impact of reducing the LLOQ.
Methods
Urine was serially diluted to assess uAlb linearity and precision for concentrations near the claimed LLOQ (12 mg/L). Samples (n = 30) with uAlb <12 mg/L were compared between laboratories. Sequential samples (n = 1239) were evaluated for clinical impact of reducing the measuring range to 3 mg/L.
Results
The assay was linear to 1.6 mg/L. Interday precision at 3.7 mg/L and 4.3 mg/L was 7.7% and 8.6%, respectively. Minimal bias was observed between labs (y = 1.091x − 0.75; average bias = −0.13 mg/L). Clinical validation demonstrated 501 of 1239 samples (40.4%) had uAlb <12 mg/L. Using 11.9 mg/L as the numerator for samples with uAlb <12 mg/dL and urine creatinine >10 mg/L, 107 of 499 (21.4%) would have a ratio flagged abnormal at >30 mg/g. Using the numeric value for these samples to 3 mg/L reduced alarm to <1%.
Conclusions
A uAlb LLOQ of 3 mg/L improves screening utility of uACR by simplifying reporting and clinical interpretation when uAlb is low and provides clinical information for prognostic tools developed for people at risk of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories , Monrovia, CA , USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington , Seattle, WA , USA
| | - Mark A Marzinke
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD , USA
| | | | - Joyce Chen
- LetsGetChecked Laboratories , Monrovia, CA , USA
| | - Melanie P Hoenig
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess , Boston, MA , USA
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16
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Stoffel M, Greene DN, Beal SG, Foley P, Killeen AA, Shafi H, Terrazas E. Direct-to-Consumer Testing for Routine Purposes. Clin Chem 2022; 68:1121-1127. [PMID: 35971633 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvac106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Stoffel
- Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Associate CMIO for Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, MHealth Fairview, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, UW Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.,Associate Laboratory Director, LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Monrovia, CA, USA
| | - Stacy G Beal
- Laboratory Director, LetsGetChecked, Monrovia, CA, USA.,Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Peter Foley
- Founder and Chief Executive Officer, LetsGetChecked Laboratories, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anthony A Killeen
- Ellis S. Benson Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Hedyeh Shafi
- Medical Director, Clinical Laboratory, Kaiser-Permanente, Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Enrique Terrazas
- Senior Medical Director, Medical Quality, Quest Diagnostics, West Hills, CA, USA
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17
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Fadich SK, Kalayjian A, Greene DN, Cirrincione LR. A Retrospective Analysis of Creatinine-Based Kidney Function With and Without Sex Assigned at Birth Among Transgender Adults. Ann Pharmacother 2022; 56:791-799. [PMID: 34668423 PMCID: PMC9018869 DOI: 10.1177/10600280211050120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinicians use sex-based kidney function estimating equations, but the appropriate sex modifier for transgender adults undergoing hormone therapy (HT) is undetermined. OBJECTIVES Compare median estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCL; Cockcroft-Gault) and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs; Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD] and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Study [CKD-EPI]) before and during HT when estimated with and without sex assigned at birth. METHODS Single-system retrospective cohort study of transgender adults (2007-2017) prescribed ≥90 days HT (index date = first order) and measured serum creatinine ≤6 months pre-index date (baseline) and ≤12 months post-index date. We grouped patients based on testosterone or estrogen treatment and compared eCrCL and eGFRs at baseline up to 6-12 months post-index date using equations based on sex assigned at birth (female or male modifier in testosterone or estrogen groups, respectively) or gender identity (male or female modifier in testosterone or estrogen groups, respectively). We used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (Bonferroni correction) for all comparisons. RESULTS In total, 29 (median age 26 years, follow-up 259 days) and 41 patients (29 years, 250 days) were prescribed testosterone or estrogen, respectively. In the testosterone group, the maximum eCrCL and eGFR changes based on sex assigned at birth were -14%, P = 0.0181; -18%; P = 0.0009, respectively, and based on gender identity were +5%, P > 0.025 and +11%, P = 0.0094, respectively. In the estrogen group, eCrCL or eGFRs based on sex assigned at birth did not change from baseline but based on gender identity were -17%, P < 0.0001 and -26%, P < 0.0001, respectively. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Female-based equations may underestimate kidney function in transgender adults undergoing testosterone or estrogen treatment. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Fadich
- Department of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alin Kalayjian
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Washington Kaiser Permanente Laboratories, Renton, WA, USA
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18
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Kakadekar A, Greene DN, Schmidt RL, Khalifa MA, Andrews AR. Nonhormone-Related Histologic Findings in Postsurgical Pathology Specimens From Transgender Persons. Am J Clin Pathol 2022; 157:337-344. [PMID: 34596219 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqab143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to characterize the literature addressing postprocedural complications in persons undergoing gender-affirming surgeries. METHODS A literature search using the OVID MEDLINE and PubMed databases was performed to identify all studies describing histologic findings in surgical pathology specimens from transgender persons from 1946 to April 2021. The studies describing postsurgical complications were categorized based on anatomic site, type of complication, study design, publication region, and date. RESULTS Thirty-nine studies describing postsurgical complications in transgender women were identified. The most common sites of postprocedural pathology included the breasts and neovagina, with additional studies including buttocks and thighs, cutaneous sites, and the pulmonary system. Most of the literature comprised case reports, followed by case series and comparative studies. The search did not identify any studies of complications secondary to masculinizing surgeries. CONCLUSIONS This body of literature is small but growing. Most studies are case reports. There are significant gaps in the literature. The literature in this area is not yet mature enough to support a meta-analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archan Kakadekar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA,USA
| | - Robert L Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT,USA
| | - Mahmoud A Khalifa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alicia R Andrews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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19
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Cirrincione LR, Crews BO, Dickerson JA, Krasowski MD, Rongitsch J, Imborek KL, Goldstein Z, Greene DN. Oral estrogen leads to falsely low concentrations of estradiol in a common immunoassay. Endocr Connect 2022; 11:e210550. [PMID: 35015702 PMCID: PMC8859944 DOI: 10.1530/ec-21-0550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recently, an estradiol immunoassay manufacturer (Beckman Coulter, USA) issued an 'important product notice' alerting clinical laboratories that their assay (Access Sensitive Estradiol) was not indicated for patients undergoing exogenous estradiol treatment. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate immunoassay bias relative to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in transgender women and to examine the influence of unconjugated estrone on measurements. DESIGN Cross-sectional secondary analysis. METHODS Estradiol concentrations from 89 transgender women were determined by 3 immunoassays (Access Sensitive Estradiol ('New BC') and Access Estradiol assays ('Old BC'), Beckman Coulter; Estradiol III assay ('Roche'), Roche Diagnostics) and LC-MS/MS. Bias was evaluated with and without adjustment for estrone concentrations. The number of participants who shifted between three estradiol concentration ranges for each immunoassay vs LC-MS/MS (>300 pg/mL, 70-300 pg/mL, and <70 pg/mL) was calculated. RESULTS The New BC assay had the largest magnitude overall bias (median: -34%) and was -40%, -22%, and -10%, among participants receiving tablet, patch, or injection preparations, respectively. Overall bias was -12% and +17% for the Roche and Old BC assays, respectively. When measured with the New BC assay, 18 participants shifted to a lower estradiol concentration range (vs 9 and 10 participants based on Roche or Old BC assays, respectively). Adjustment for estrone did not minimize bias. CONCLUSIONS Immunoassay measurement of estradiol in transgender women may lead to falsely decreased concentrations that have the potential to affect management. A multidisciplinary health care approach is needed to ensure if appropriate analytical methods are available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bridgit O Crews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA
| | - Jane A Dickerson
- Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Katherine L Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Zil Goldstein
- Department of Medicine, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York, New York, USA
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Washington Kaiser Permanente, Renton, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to D N Greene:
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20
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Peck Palmer OM, Greene DN. Global Partnerships Ensure Quality Clinical Laboratory Operations. J Appl Lab Med 2022; 7:406-408. [DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfab178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Octavia M Peck Palmer
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Washington Kaiser Permanente Laboratories, Renton, WA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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21
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Phipps WS, Greene DN, Pflaum H, Laha TJ, Dickerson JA, Irvine J, Merrill AE, Ranjitkar P, Henderson CM, Hoofnagle AN. Small volume retinol binding protein measurement by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Biochem 2022; 99:111-117. [PMID: 34678307 PMCID: PMC8671195 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The measurement of plasma concentrations of retinol binding protein is a component of nutritional assessment in neonatal intensive care. However, serial testing in newborns is hampered by the limited amount of blood that can be sampled. Limitations are most severe with preterm infants, for whom close monitoring may be most important. METHODS We developed an assay to quantify retinol binding protein using trypsin digestion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, which requires a serum or plasma volume of 5 µl. Additionally, we validated the method according to current recommendations and performed comparison with a standard nephelometry platform in clinical use. RESULTS The assay demonstrated linearity from below 1 mg/dL (0.48 µM) to more than 20 mg/dL (9.7 µM), and an imprecision of 11.8% at 0.43 mg/dL (0.21 µM). The distribution of results observed with the new method was different when compared with nephelometry. CONCLUSION Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry facilitated testing a smaller sample volume, thereby increasing the ability to monitor key nutritional markers in premature infants. The differences in results compared with a commercially-available nephelometric assay revealed questionable results for lower concentrations by immunoassay.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S. Phipps
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Dina N. Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Hannah Pflaum
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Thomas J. Laha
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Jane A. Dickerson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA,Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
| | - Jill Irvine
- University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Anna E. Merrill
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Pratistha Ranjitkar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Clark M. Henderson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Andrew N. Hoofnagle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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22
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Marzinke MA, Greene DN, Bossuyt PM, Chambliss AB, Cirrincione LR, McCudden CR, Melanson SEF, Noguez JH, Patel K, Radix AE, Takwoingi Y, Winston-McPherson G, Young BA, Hoenig MP. Limited Evidence for Use of a Black Race Modifier in eGFR Calculations: A Systematic Review. Clin Chem 2021; 68:521-533. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvab279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Commonly used estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations include a Black race modifier (BRM) that was incorporated during equation derivation. Race is a social construct, and a poorly characterized variable that is applied inconsistently in clinical settings. The BRM results in higher eGFR for any creatinine concentration, implying fundamental differences in creatinine production or excretion in Black individuals compared to other populations. Equations without inclusion of the BRM have the potential to detect kidney disease earlier in patients at the greatest risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but also has the potential to over-diagnose CKD or impact downstream clinical interventions. The purpose of this study was to use an evidence- based approach to systematically evaluate the literature relevant to the performance of the eGFR equations with and without the BRM and to examine the clinical impact of the use or removal.
Content
PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies comparing measured GFR to eGFR in racially diverse adult populations using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease or the 2009-Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration-creatinine equations based on standardized creatinine measurements. Additionally, we searched for studies comparing clinical use of eGFR calculated with and without the BRM. 8,632 unique publications were identified; an additional 3 studies were added post-hoc. In total, 96 studies were subjected to further analysis and 44 studies were used to make a final assessment.
Summary
There is limited published evidence to support the use of a BRM in eGFR equations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Marzinke
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Kaiser Permanente, Renton, WA
| | - Patrick M Bossuyt
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Christopher R McCudden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital; University of Ottawa; Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stacy E F Melanson
- Department of Pathology; Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jaime H Noguez
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | - Khushbu Patel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Asa E Radix
- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York, NY
| | - Yemisi Takwoingi
- Institute of Applied Health Research,University of Birmingham and NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bessie A Young
- Office of Healthcare Equity, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Melanie P Hoenig
- Renal Division, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
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Okoye NC, Greene DN, Johnson-Davis KL. Is the Confirmatory Test Always Right? Sometimes Immunoassays Know What They Are Talking About. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 7:607-612. [PMID: 34568949 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfab097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nkemakonam C Okoye
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratories, Renton, WA, USA
| | - Kamisha L Johnson-Davis
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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24
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Andrews AR, Kakadekar A, Greene DN, Khalifa MA, Santiago V, Schmidt RL. Histologic Findings in Surgical Pathology Specimens From Individuals Taking Masculinizing Hormone Therapy for the Purpose of Gender Transition: A Systematic Scoping Review. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 146:766-779. [PMID: 34559874 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0774-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Transgender men and transmasculine persons experience a discordance between the female sex they were assigned at birth and their gender. They may choose to take hormone therapy and/or undergo surgery to masculinize the body. Understanding the common (and less common) histologic changes present in patients taking masculinizing hormones will empower pathologists to better serve this unique patient population. OBJECTIVE.— To summarize histologic findings in surgical pathology specimens from persons taking masculinizing hormones as a part of gender transition. DATA SOURCES.— A systematic review of the OVID Medline and PubMed databases was performed to identify all studies describing histologic findings in surgical pathology specimens from transgender men from January 1946 to January 2021. CONCLUSIONS.— Publication in this area has markedly increased in the last 2 decades. However, most of the studies identified were descriptive and case reports describing changes seen in specimens removed as a part of masculinizing surgical procedures. Benign histologic findings include stromal hyalinization and epithelial atrophy in the breast, polycystic ovarian syndrome-like changes in the ovary, and transitional cell metaplasia in the cervix. The most commonly reported neoplastic finding was adenocarcinoma of the breast, with rare cases of ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vaginal, pituitary, pancreatic, and cardiovascular neoplasia also reported. Ongoing research in this area is needed to better characterize the histologic findings in persons taking masculinizing hormones to provide a deeper understanding of the effect of these treatments on different tissues and facilitate better patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia R Andrews
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada (Andrews, Kakadekar)
| | - Archan Kakadekar
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK Canada (Andrews, Kakadekar)
| | - Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratories, Seattle, Washington (Greene)
| | - Mahmoud A Khalifa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Khalifa, Santiago)
| | - Victor Santiago
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Khalifa, Santiago)
| | - Robert L Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Schmidt)
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25
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Hsiao CJ, Patel AGM, Fasanya HO, Stoffel MR, Beal SG, Winston-McPherson GN, Campbell ST, Cotten SW, Crews BO, Kuan K, Lapedis CJ, Mathias PC, Peck Palmer OM, Greene DN. The Lines That Held Us: Assessing Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in SARS-CoV-2 Testing. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:1143-1154. [PMID: 34240171 PMCID: PMC8344674 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial disparities in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence are apparent. Race is a sociocultural construct, necessitating investigation into how sociocultural factors contribute. METHODS This cross-sectional study linked laboratory data of adult patients between February 29 and May 15, 2020 with socio-demographics variables from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). Medical sites included healthcare organizations in Michigan, New York, North Carolina, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Race was treated as a proxy for racism and not biological essentialism. Laboratory data included patient age, sex, race, ethnicity, test result, test location, and residential ZIP code. ACS data included economic and educational variables contributing to an SES Index, population density, proportion Medicaid, and racial composition for corresponding ZIP code. Associations between race/socioeconomic variables and test results were examined using odds ratios (OR). RESULTS Of 126 452 patients [mean (SD) age 51.9 (18.4) years; 52 747 (41.7%) men; 68 856 (54.5%) White and 27 805 (22.0%) Black], 18 905 (15.0%) tested positive. Of positive tests, 5238 (SD 27.7%) were White and 7223 (SD 38.2%) were Black. Black race increased the odds of a positive test; this finding was consistent across sites [OR 2.11 (95% CI 1.95-2.29)]. When subset by race, higher SES increased the odds of a positive test for White patients [OR 1.10 (95% CI 1.05-1.16)] but decreased the odds for Black patients [OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.86-0.99)]. Black patients, but not White patients, who tested positive overwhelmingly resided in more densely populated areas. CONCLUSIONS Black race was associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity and the relationship between SES and test positivity differed by race, suggesting the impact of socioeconomic status on test positivity is race-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu J Hsiao
- Department of Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- MD-PhD Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Aditi G M Patel
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | | | - Michelle R Stoffel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Stacy G Beal
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | | | - Sean T Campbell
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
| | - Steven W Cotten
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Bridgit O Crews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA
| | - Kevin Kuan
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
| | | | - Patrick C Mathias
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Octavia M Peck Palmer
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Washington Kaiser Permanente, Seattle, WA
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26
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Sharma A, Greene DN, Chambliss AB, Farnsworth CW, French D, Herman DS, Kavsak PA, Merrill AE, Margaret Lo SY, Lyon ME, Winston-McPherson G, Pearson LN, SoRelle JA, Waring AC, Schmidt RL. The effect of the Covid-19 shutdown on glycemic testing and control. Clin Chim Acta 2021; 519:148-152. [PMID: 33932408 PMCID: PMC8080532 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a halt to in-person ambulatory care. We evaluated how the reduction in access to care affected HbA1c testing and patient HbA1c levels. METHODS HbA1c data from 11 institutions were extracted to compare testing volume and the percentage of abnormal results between a pre-pandemic period (January-June 2019, period 1) and a portion of the COVID-19 pandemic period (Jan-June 2020, period 2). HbA1c results greater than 6.4% were categorized as abnormal. RESULTS HbA1C testing volumes decreased in March, April and May by 23, 61 and 40% relative to the corresponding months in 2019. The percentage of abnormal results increased in April, May and June (25, 23, 9%). On average, we found that the frequency of abnormal results increased by 0.31% for every 1% decrease in testing volume (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION HbA1c testing volume for outpatients decreased by up to 70% during the early months of the pandemic. The decrease in testing was associated with an increase in abnormal HbA1c results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Sharma
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington, Renton, WA, United States
| | - Allison B Chambliss
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christopher W Farnsworth
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Deborah French
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Daniel S Herman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Anna E Merrill
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | | | - Martha E Lyon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Lauren N Pearson
- Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | | | - Robert L Schmidt
- Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
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27
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Pearson LN, Johnson SA, Greene DN, Chambliss AB, Farnsworth CW, French D, Herman DS, Kavsak PA, Merrill AE, Lo SYM, Lyon ME, SoRelle JA, Schmidt RL. Side-Effects of COVID-19 on Patient Care: An INR Story. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:953-961. [PMID: 33760097 PMCID: PMC8083676 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfab025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Numerous studies have documented reduced access to patient care due to the COVID-19 pandemic including access to a diagnostic or screening tests, prescription medications, and treatment for an ongoing condition. In the context of clinical management for venous thromboembolism, this could result in suboptimal therapy with warfarin. We aimed to determine the impact of the pandemic on utilization of International normalized ratio (INR) testing and the percentage of high and low results. Methods INR data from 11 institutions were extracted to compare testing volume and the percentage of INR results ≥3.5 and ≤1.5 between a pre-pandemic period (January-June 2019, period 1) and a portion of the COVID-19 pandemic period (January-June 2020, period 2). The analysis was performed for inpatient and outpatient cohorts. Results Testing volumes showed relatively little change in January and February, followed by a significant decrease in March, April and May, and then returned to baseline in June. Outpatient testing showed a larger percentage decrease in testing volume compared to inpatient testing. At 10 of the 11 study sites we observed an increase in the percentage of abnormal high INR results as test volumes decreased, primarily among outpatients. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic impacted INR testing among outpatients which may be attributable to several factors. Increased supratherapeutic INR results during the pandemic period when there was reduced laboratory utilization and access to care is concerning because of the risk of adverse bleeding events in this group of patients. This could be mitigated in the future by offering drive through testing and/or widespread implementation of home INR monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Pearson
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Stacy A Johnson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington, Washington, Renton, WA, USA
| | - Allison B Chambliss
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher W Farnsworth
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Deborah French
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel S Herman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter A Kavsak
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anna E Merrill
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Martha E Lyon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A SoRelle
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Robert L Schmidt
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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28
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Wheeler SE, Peck Palmer OM, Greene DN, Park JY, Winston-McPherson G, Amukele TK, Pérez-Stable EJ. Examining Laboratory Medicine's Role in Eliminating Health Disparities. Clin Chem 2021; 66:1266-1271. [PMID: 32888006 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvaa174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wheeler
- Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.,Medical Director of UPMC Mercy and UPMC Children's Hospital Automated Testing Laboratories, Associate Director of UPMC Presbyterian Clinical Immunopathology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Octavia M Peck Palmer
- Associate Professor of Pathology, Critical Care Medicine and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.,Medical Director, UPMC Presbyterian and Shadyside Automated Testing Laboratories, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Technical Director, Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratories, Portland, OR.,Clinical Associate Professor University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Jason Y Park
- Associate Professor of Pathology and the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX
| | | | - Timothy K Amukele
- Associate Professor of Pathology Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Chief of Pathology Clinical Laboratories, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Eliseo J Pérez-Stable
- Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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29
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Andrews AR, Kakadekar A, Schmidt RL, Murugan P, Greene DN. Histologic Findings in Surgical Pathology Specimens From Individuals Taking Feminizing Hormone Therapy for the Purpose of Gender Transition: A Systematic Scoping Review. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 146:252-261. [PMID: 33983412 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0704-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Transgender women experience health disparities in all areas of medicine. Within surgical pathology, knowledge gaps relating to the concepts of transgender care exist. Medical transition for transgender women and transfeminine persons may involve hormone therapy and/or surgery to feminize the body. Understanding the common histologic changes in specimens from feminizing surgeries, as well as other specimens from patients on feminizing hormone therapy, will aid surgical pathologists in providing better care to this unique patient population. OBJECTIVE.— To summarize histologic findings in surgical pathology specimens from transgender women taking feminizing hormones. DATA SOURCES.— A systematic review of the OVID Medline and PubMed databases was performed to identify all studies describing histologic findings in surgical pathology specimens from transgender women from 1946 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS.— Much of the literature to date describing histologic findings in transgender women comes from the examination of genitourinary specimens removed during feminizing surgeries. Common benign changes associated with feminizing hormone therapy include the development of acini and lobules in the breast, testicular tubular changes, and squamous metaplasia of the prostate and urethra. Neoplastic cases include breast adenocarcinoma and fibroepithelial lesions, testicular germ cell tumors, prostatic adenocarcinoma, anal squamous cell carcinoma, pituitary adenomas, and meningiomas. Additional studies assessing the findings in other organ systems as well as population-based studies assessing rates of neoplasia are needed. However, future research relies on engagement within the surgical pathology community as well as collaboration with clinicians and patients to achieve optimal results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia R Andrews
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada (Andrews, Kakadekar)
| | - Archan Kakadekar
- From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada (Andrews, Kakadekar)
| | - Robert L Schmidt
- the Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Schmidt)
| | - Paari Murugan
- the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Murugan)
| | - Dina N Greene
- the Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle (Greene)
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30
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Greene DN, Matthys T, Lockwood CM. Swab-Free Transport as an Optimized Preanalytical Workflow for SARS-CoV-2 Amplification. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:606-613. [PMID: 33119112 PMCID: PMC7665556 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Efficient detection of SARS-CoV-2 will continue to be an invaluable tool for pandemic control. Current instructions specify that the collection swab should be transported within its collection media to the laboratory. Developing a process whereby this swab is removed before transport to the lab would allow for improved automation and decreased manual manipulation of samples. Methods A proof of principle approach was taken by eluting viral particles from flocked swabs into collection buffer with and without a mucus background. Paired swab-free and swab-containing samples were transported to the laboratory and evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 (n = 28) or RNaseP (n = 6). SARS-CoV-2 amplification was performed using the Hologic Panther Fusion Aptima and RT-PCR assays. Results SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all proof of principle samples with Ct values indicative of dilution. The rare exception was for a few samples where the dilution pushed the viral load below the LOD. Paired samples were 100% concordant for SARS-CoV-2 and RNaseP detection. Conclusion Discarding the swab after inoculating the transport buffer is an appropriate pre-analytical modification. Adopting this approach can save up to 1 minute/sample. For labs processing more than 500 samples/day this equates to one full time equivalent shift/day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington, Regional Laboratory, Renton, WA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Tawna Matthys
- Kaiser Permanente Washington, Regional Laboratory, Renton, WA
| | - Christina M Lockwood
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.,Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA
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31
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan H B Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Allan S Jaffe
- Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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32
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratories, Renton, WA
| | | | - Thomas J S Durant
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, New Haven, CT
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33
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Cirrincione LR, Winston McPherson G, Rongitsch J, Sadilkova K, Drees JC, Krasowski MD, Dickerson JA, Greene DN. Sublingual Estradiol Is Associated with Higher Estrone Concentrations than Transdermal or Injectable Preparations in Transgender Women and Gender Nonbinary Adults. LGBT Health 2021; 8:125-132. [PMID: 33439749 DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2020.0249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Serum hormone profiles among different feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapies (GAHT) are poorly characterized. To address this gap, we described the serum estrogen profiles of three 17β-estradiol preparations, taken with or without an antiandrogen, using a novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay in adults taking feminizing GAHT. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 93 healthy transgender women and gender nonbinary adults taking feminizing GAHT in a prospective cross-sectional study. Eligible participants took 17β-estradiol (sublingual tablet, transdermal patch, or intramuscular/subcutaneous injection) with or without oral spironolactone for ≥12 months before study entry. We determined serum estrone and estradiol concentrations for each hormone preparation and described the association between estrone and (1) clinically relevant estradiol concentration ranges (≤200 and >200 pg/mL) and (2) antiandrogen use. To achieve our objectives, we described our protocol for developing an LC-MS/MS assay to measure estrone and estradiol concentrations. Results: Estrone concentrations were higher among participants taking sublingual 17β-estradiol tablets compared with transdermal or injectable preparations (p < 0.0001). Estradiol concentrations were higher for injectable versus transdermal preparations (p = 0.0201), but both were similar to sublingual tablet concentrations (p > 0.05). Estradiol >200 pg/mL (vs. ≤200 pg/mL) was associated with higher estrone concentrations among participants taking sublingual 17β-estradiol, but not transdermal or injectable 17β-estradiol. We observed no association between spironolactone and estrone concentrations (p > 0.5). Conclusion: Estrone concentrations were higher among transgender women and gender nonbinary adults taking sublingual 17β-estradiol compared with transdermal or injectable preparations. The role of estrone in clinical monitoring and the influence of other antiandrogens (e.g., cyproterone acetate) on the estrogen profile remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Katerina Sadilkova
- Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Julia C Drees
- The Permanente Medical Group Regional Laboratories, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Jane A Dickerson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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34
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Winston-McPherson GN, Mathias PC, Lockwood CM, Greene DN. Evaluation of Patient Demographics in Clinical Cancer Genomic Testing. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:119-124. [PMID: 33398333 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inequitable use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing for cancer risk and treatment can contribute to heath disparity. Consequently, it is important to assess the population receiving this testing. In this article, we characterize the population receiving both germline and somatic NGS testing for cancer predisposition and precision oncology at the Genetics and Solid Tumors Laboratory of the University of Washington Medical Center. METHODS The general demographics, including ancestry, of patients receiving somatic testing to identify genes related to cancer treatment or prognosis, diagnosis, or germline testing for heritable cancer risk from January 2015 to July 2017 were characterized. Ancestry was determined using single nucleotide variant data and documented pedigree. The demographics of the patient population receiving testing were compared with a reference population comprising patients receiving care from the University of Washington Medical Center with a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of breast, ovary, colon, rectum, or prostate between January 2015 and May 2018. RESULTS A total of 2210 unique patients were included in this study. Women composed 66% of our total tested population. Patients of European ancestry composed 78% of the tested cohort. The percentages of American Indian/Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander in the cohort receiving NGS testing were significantly different than their respective distributions in the reference cohort. CONCLUSIONS Characterizing the demographics of patients receiving NGS testing for cancer predisposition and precision oncology using single nucleotide variant data and documented pedigree may help identify potential health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick C Mathias
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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35
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Greene DN, Marzinke MA, Winston-McPherson GN, Goldstein Z. The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine Special Issue on Health Disparities. J Appl Lab Med 2020; 6:1-2. [PMID: 33438737 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Seattle WA Washington Kaiser Permanente, Renton, WA
| | - Mark A Marzinke
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Baltimore, MD
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36
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Greene DN, Dy GW, Osbun N, Whitley CT. Reply to "Kidney transplantation and donation in the transgender population: A single-institution case series". Am J Transplant 2020; 20:3693-3694. [PMID: 32476237 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratory Services, Renton, Washington, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Geolani W Dy
- Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nathan Osbun
- Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cameron T Whitley
- Department of Sociology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA
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37
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Greene DN, Schmidt RL, Winston-McPherson G, Rongitsch J, Imborek KL, Dickerson JA, Drees JC, Humble RM, Nisly N, Dole NJ, Dane SK, Frerichs J, Krasowski MD. Reproductive Endocrinology Reference Intervals for Transgender Men on Stable Hormone Therapy. J Appl Lab Med 2020; 6:41-50. [PMID: 33241847 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender-affirming therapy with testosterone is commonly prescribed to aid in the masculinization of transgender men. Sex-hormone concentrations are routinely measured, but interpretation of results can be difficult due to the lack of published reference intervals. METHODS Healthy transgender individuals who had been prescribed testosterone (n = 82) for at least a year were recruited from internal medicine and primary care clinics that specialize in transgender medical care. Total testosterone and estradiol were measured using immunoassay and mass spectrometry; LH, FSH, SHBG, prolactin, progesterone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured using immunoassay; free testosterone was calculated. Reference intervals (central 95%) were calculated according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. RESULTS When evaluating general endocrine laboratory tests in people using masculinizing hormones, reference intervals for cisgender men can be applied for total and free testosterone and SHBG and reference intervals for cisgender women can be applied for prolactin. Reference intervals for estradiol, LH, FSH, AMH, and DHEAS differ from those used for cisgender men and cisgender women, and therefore should be interpreted using intervals specific to the transmasculine population. For testosterone and estradiol, results from immunoassays were clinically equivalent to mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION Masculinizing hormones will alter the concentrations of commonly evaluated endocrine hormones. Providers and laboratories should use appropriate reference intervals to interpret the results of these tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | | | | | - Katherine L Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | | | - Julia C Drees
- The Permanente Medical Group Regional Laboratories, Richmond, CA
| | - Robert M Humble
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nicole Nisly
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nancy J Dole
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Susan K Dane
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Janice Frerichs
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Washington Kaiser Permanente Laboratories, Renton, Washington, USA
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jane A Dickerson
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert L Schmidt
- University of Utah, Department of Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Wu AHB, Kavsak PA, Aakre KM, Christenson RH, Greene DN, Apple FS, Peacock WF, Hollander JE, de Lemos JA, Morrow D, Januzzi J, Jaffe AS. Lot-to-Lot Variation for Commercial High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin: Can We Realistically Report Down to the Assay’s Limit of Detection? Clin Chem 2020; 66:1146-1149. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvaa160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Abstract
In early March 2020 it became apparent that clinical laboratories would need to quickly develop strategies for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 testing. For most, the initial approach was to send out testing to a reference laboratory. As the pandemic has progressed, the food and drug administration (FDA) has allowed for several manufacturers to make testing reagents commercially available. Concurrently, the demand for rapid accessibility of results persists, leading many laboratories to evaluate options for “in house” testing. This reflection highlights some of the considerations when selecting the best method for your laboratory, with specific examples highlighted from a medium volume laboratory’s experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Washington Kaiser Permanente Laboratories, Renton, WA
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41
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Greene DN, Schmidt RL, Winston McPherson G, Rongitsch J, Imborek KL, Dickerson JA, Drees JC, Humble RM, Nisly N, Dole NJ, Dane SK, Frerichs J, Krasowski MD. Reproductive Endocrinology Reference Intervals for Transgender Women on Stable Hormone Therapy. J Appl Lab Med 2020; 6:15-26. [PMID: 32674116 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transgender women and nonbinary people seeking feminizing therapy are often prescribed estrogen as a gender-affirming hormone, which will alter their reproductive hormone axis. Testosterone, estradiol, and other reproductive hormones are commonly evaluated to assess therapy, but reference intervals specific to transgender women have not been established. The objective of this study was to derive reference intervals for commonly measured analytes related to reproductive endocrinology in a cohort of healthy gender nonconforming individuals on stable feminizing hormone therapy. METHODS Healthy transgender individuals who had been prescribed estrogen (n = 93) for at least a year were recruited from internal medicine and primary care clinics that specialize in transgender medical care. Total testosterone and estradiol were measured using immunoassay and mass spectrometry; LH, FSH, sex hormone binding globulin, prolactin, progesterone, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured using immunoassay; free testosterone was calculated. Reference intervals (central 95%) were calculated according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. RESULTS The distribution of results for transgender women was different than what would be expected from cisgender men or women across all measurements. Use of spironolactone was associated with changes in the result distribution of AMH, FSH, LH, and progesterone. Compared to liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), immunoassay was sufficient for the majority of estradiol and total testosterone measurements; free testosterone added little clinical value beyond total testosterone. CONCLUSION Reference intervals specific to transgender women should be applied when evaluating reproductive endocrine analytes. Spironolactone is a significant variable for result interpretation of some tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | | | | | - Katherine L Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | | | - Julia C Drees
- The Permanente Medical Group Regional Laboratories, Berkeley, CA
| | - Robert M Humble
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nicole Nisly
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nancy J Dole
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Susan K Dane
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Janice Frerichs
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
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42
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Cheeney G, Pac LJ, Gopal P, Landis CS, Konnick EQ, Swanson PE, Greene DN, Lockwood CM, Westerhoff M. Increased Frequency of Heterozygous Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency in Liver Explants From Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Patients. Liver Transpl 2020; 26:17-24. [PMID: 31597010 DOI: 10.1002/lt.25652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cirrhotic explanted livers occasionally have unexpected periodic acid-Schiff-diastase (PASD)-positive globules within the hepatocyte cytoplasm. It is often unclear whether this finding is a nonspecific consequence of cirrhosis or is indicative of an underlying alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD) contributing to the cirrhosis. In this study, explanted livers were retrospectively evaluated for histopathology (including PASD status with confirmatory alpha-1-antitrypsin [A1AT] immunohistochemistry [IHC]), and chart review provided etiology of liver failure and general clinical parameters. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect A1AT genotype (SERPINA1 S and Z alleles) by melting curve analysis on liver explant tissue from selected cases. Of 196 explanted livers, 21 (11%) had PASD+ globules, which were significantly enriched in patients with a clinical diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; 47%) compared with other causes (P < 0.001). IHC confirmed all PASD+ globules were A1AT+, with 20 of 21 cases demonstrating diffuse A1AT staining. In an expanded NASH cohort, 42% (14/33) of explants had PASD+ globules, 92% of which were homozygous (n = 1) or heterozygous (n = 11) for the SERPINA1 Z allele, corresponding to nearly 40% of all NASH patients. Overall, the Z allele was present in 10% of all tested liver explants, with 85% of PASD+ cases genotyping homozygous (n = 2) or heterozygous (n = 20), which is far in excess of the estimated 2% in the general population. These results indicate PASD+ A1AT globules (with confirmatory genotyping showing at least 1 Z allele) are commonly observed in NASH, suggesting a synergistic relationship toward liver fibrosis. In addition, the high frequency of SERPINA1 Z alleles in liver transplantation patients supports the utility of pretransplant genotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Cheeney
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Lincoln J Pac
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Charles S Landis
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Eric Q Konnick
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Paul E Swanson
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Christina M Lockwood
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Maria Westerhoff
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI
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43
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Johnson LM, White SK, Greene DN, Schmidt RL. Bad Tests Die Slowly: The Myelin Basic Protein Example. J Appl Lab Med 2020; 5:136-141. [PMID: 31811070 DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2019.030635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our national reference laboratory sought to improve stewardship for multiple sclerosis (MS) testing, which included orders for myelin basic protein (MBP) and oligoclonal bands (OCB). From 2011 to 2012, we performed 2 interventions for MS testing: one gentle-strength intervention of a publication designed to educate others about the lack of utility for MBP results and a second medium-strength intervention that included removal of MBP from the panel of MS tests. The ordering trends and practice variation were examined for OCB and MBP to retrospectively observe the effect of the interventions. METHODS Data from clients within academic and community hospitals were examined (n = 1710 clients). Ordering patterns for OCB and MBP were investigated from 2008 to 2018 by calculating the %OCB: %OCB = (OCB)/(OCB + MBP). Practice variation was examined by comparing the distribution of clients with different %OCB statistics before and after the interventions in 5-year blocks (2008-2012 vs 2014-2018). RESULTS From 2000 to 2011, the %OCB was approximately 50%, but gradually increased to 67% in 2018. For practice variation, analysis of the distribution of clients by %OCB also demonstrated a shift toward clients favoring OCB alone vs OCB + MBP for MS testing for the later time period of 2014-2018. CONCLUSION Our 2 interventions had a measurable, beneficial effect on ordering trends for MS testing over a 10-year period at a single reference laboratory. However, given that MBP has questionable clinical utility, stronger interventions are likely needed to bring about larger changes in ordering behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Johnson
- Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Sandra K White
- Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - Robert L Schmidt
- Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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44
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Crews BO, Drees JC, Greene DN. Data-driven quality assurance to prevent erroneous test results. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2019:1-15. [PMID: 31680585 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2019.1678567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Increasing laboratory automation and efficiency requires quality assurance (QA) approaches to ensure that reported results are precise and accurate. Prerequisites for designing optimal QA strategies include an in-depth understanding of the laboratory processes, the expected results, and of the mechanisms that can cause erroneous results. Oftentimes, a laboratory's own data, extracted from the laboratory information system, electronic medical record, and/or clinical data warehouse are necessary to master the aforementioned requirements. Data-driven QA utilizes retrospective and/or prospective laboratory results to minimize errors in the clinical laboratory due to pre-analytical or analytical vulnerabilities. Additionally, exploitation of this data may improve result interpretation. The objective of this review is to illustrate specific examples of data-driven QA approaches for several areas of the clinical laboratory and for different phases of the testing cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridgit O Crews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Julia C Drees
- The Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Laboratories, Berkeley, CA, USA
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45
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Bosch DE, Winston-McPherson GN, Greene DN. Ovarian and Adrenal Venous Catheterization for Hyperandrogenism. J Appl Lab Med 2019; 4:439-445. [PMID: 31659083 DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2018.027490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin E Bosch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chemistry Division, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
| | | | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chemistry Division, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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46
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Winston McPherson G, Long T, Salipante SJ, Rongitsch JA, Hoffman NG, Stephens K, Penewit K, Greene DN. The Vaginal Microbiome of Transgender Men. Clin Chem 2019; 65:199-207. [PMID: 30602481 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2018.293654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hormonal changes influence the composition of vaginal flora, which is directly related to the health of an individual. Transgender men prescribed testosterone experience a vaginal hormone composition that differs from cisgender women. To the author's knowledge, there are no clinical studies evaluating the influence that testosterone administration has on the vaginal microbiome. METHODS Vaginal swabs were self-collected by a cohort of self-identified healthy transgender men prescribed testosterone for at least 1 year (n = 28) and from cisgender women who were used as the comparator (n = 8). Participants completed a questionnaire to indicate the mode and dose of testosterone administration, sexual history, and vaginal health. Serum was collected for hormone analysis. Bacterial community profiles were assessed with broad-range PCR primers targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S bacterial rRNA, next-generation sequencing, and analysis by phylogenetic placement. RESULTS Compared to cisgender women, the vaginal floras of transgender men were less likely to have Lactobacillus as their primary genus. Intravaginal estrogen administration was positively associated with the presence of Lactobacillus in transgender men (P = 0.045). Transgender men had a significantly increased relative abundance of >30 species and a significantly higher α diversity (P = 0.0003). The presence of Lactobacillus was significantly associated with a lower α diversity index (P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS The vaginal microbiome of transgender men who were assigned a female sex at birth and use testosterone may differ from that of cisgender women. Intravaginal estrogen administration may reduce these differences by promoting colonization with Lactobacillus species and decreasing α diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Long
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | | | | | - Noah G Hoffman
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Karen Stephens
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Kelsi Penewit
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Dina N Greene
- University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seattle, WA;
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47
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Greene DN, Collinson PO. A Few Steps Closer to Optimizing Pseudohyperkalemia Detection. J Appl Lab Med 2019; 3:919-921. [PMID: 31639682 DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2018.028886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dina N Greene
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Laboratories, Renton, WA;
| | - Paul O Collinson
- Department of Clinical Blood Sciences and Cardiology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St. George's University of London, London, UK
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48
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Humble RM, Imborek KL, Nisly N, Greene DN, Krasowski MD. Common Hormone Therapies Used to Care for Transgender Patients Influence Laboratory Results. J Appl Lab Med 2019; 3:799-814. [DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2018.027078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Many laboratory tests are reported and interpreted with sex-specific reference intervals. However, transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy experience physiological changes predisposing some laboratory tests to shift outside of existing reference intervals. In this study, we review laboratory testing of a large cohort of transgender individuals who were prescribed hormone therapy for at least 6 months at an academic medical center.
Methods
Transgender patients were identified using a search function within the electronic health record with gender identity status verified by chart review. Patients were grouped based on type of hormone therapy administered. All laboratory studies were ordered for medical purposes as part of clinical care; as a result, the exact laboratory tests differed among the patients. Some of the patients had sufficient data for both 6- and 12-month comparisons with baseline laboratory values.
Results
Statistically significant changes were observed at 6- and 12-month comparisons in basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters for transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormones. Chart review demonstrated variation in route of administration of hormone therapy and frequency of gender-affirming surgery within the study population.
Conclusions
Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy experienced significant changes in components of basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters following administration of hormone therapy. Variability in hormone dosing and route of administration for gender-affirming treatment warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Humble
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Katherine L Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nicole Nisly
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
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49
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Humble RM, Imborek KL, Nisly N, Greene DN, Krasowski MD. Common Hormone Therapies Used to Care for Transgender Patients Influence Laboratory Results. J Appl Lab Med 2019. [PMID: 31639755 DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2018.027078.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many laboratory tests are reported and interpreted with sex-specific reference intervals. However, transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormone therapy experience physiological changes predisposing some laboratory tests to shift outside of existing reference intervals. In this study, we review laboratory testing of a large cohort of transgender individuals who were prescribed hormone therapy for at least 6 months at an academic medical center. METHODS Transgender patients were identified using a search function within the electronic health record with gender identity status verified by chart review. Patients were grouped based on type of hormone therapy administered. All laboratory studies were ordered for medical purposes as part of clinical care; as a result, the exact laboratory tests differed among the patients. Some of the patients had sufficient data for both 6- and 12-month comparisons with baseline laboratory values. RESULTS Statistically significant changes were observed at 6- and 12-month comparisons in basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters for transgender individuals receiving masculinizing or feminizing hormones. Chart review demonstrated variation in route of administration of hormone therapy and frequency of gender-affirming surgery within the study population. CONCLUSIONS Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy experienced significant changes in components of basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic parameters following administration of hormone therapy. Variability in hormone dosing and route of administration for gender-affirming treatment warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Humble
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Katherine L Imborek
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nicole Nisly
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
| | - Dina N Greene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Matthew D Krasowski
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA; .,Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
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50
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Winter WE, Greene DN, Beal SG, Isom JA, Manning H, Wilkerson G, Harris N. Clotting factors: Clinical biochemistry and their roles as plasma enzymes. Adv Clin Chem 2019; 94:31-84. [PMID: 31952574 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to describe structure and function of the multiple proteins of the coagulation system and their subcomponent domains. Coagulation is the process by which flowing liquid blood plasma is converted to a soft, viscous gel entrapping the cellular components of blood including red cells and platelets and thereby preventing extravasation of blood. This process is triggered by the minimal proteolysis of plasma fibrinogen. This transforms the latter to sticky fibrin monomers which polymerize into a network. The proteolysis of fibrinogen is a function of the trypsin-like enzyme termed thrombin. Thrombin in turn is activated by a cascade of trypsin-like enzymes that we term coagulation factors. In this review we examine the mechanics of the coagulation cascade with a view to the structure-function relationships of the proteins. We also note that two of the factors have no trypsin like protease domain but are essential cofactors or catalysts for the proteases. This review does not discuss the major role of platelets except to highlight their membrane function with respect to the factors. Coagulation testing is a major part of routine diagnostic clinical pathology. Testing is performed on specimens from individuals either with bleeding or with thrombotic disorders and those on anticoagulant medications. We examine the basic in-vitro laboratory coagulation tests and review the literature comparing the in vitro and in vivo processes. In vitro clinical testing typically utilizes plasma specimens and non-physiological or supraphysiological activators. Because the review focuses on coagulation factor structure, a brief overview of the evolutionary origins of the coagulation system is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Winter
- University of Florida, Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Dina N Greene
- Laboratory Services, Kaiser Permanente, Renton, WA, United States
| | - Stacy G Beal
- University of Florida, Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - James A Isom
- University of Florida, Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | | | | | - Neil Harris
- University of Florida, Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States.
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