Dr. Kristina J Behan

On completion of this exercise, the participant should be able to
-classify the presentation of cold agglutinin disease as primary or secondary based on patient history and laboratory findings;
-analyze discrepancies in complete blood cell count results that occur in cases of cold agglutinin disease;
-justify the need for a manual platelet estimate in low platelet counts by automated analyzers;
-use the correct calculation to perform platelet estimates in samples with low red blood cell counts; and
-discuss 3 mechanisms that can be used to correct complete blood cell count results altered by cold agglutinins.

On completion of this exercise, the participant should be able to
- define sepsis and septic shock;
- explain the rationale for collecting blood cultures STAT in patients with sepsis;
- evaluate lactic acid levels in sepsis therapy;
- interpret abnormal laboratory results to help identify intravenous (IV)-fluid contamination of specimens; and
- describe the recommended method to collect blood when IV lines are present.

On completion of this exercise, the participant should be able to
- List 4 red blood cell inclusion bodies that may interfere with reticulocyte testing and the methods used to distinguish them;
- identify the distinguishing characteristics of Heinz bodies;
- describe the inheritance pattern of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and congenital Heinz body anemia;
- list 5 stressors known to cause hemolytic anemia in G6PD deficiency and congenital Heinz body anemia; and
- list 3 stains that can be used to evaluate Heinz bodies.

On completion of this exercise, the participant should be able to
- classify errors in diabetes management as pre-analytic, analytic, or pos-tanalytic.
- state the recommended frequency for testing HbA1c levels in patients taking a new medication regimen.
- compare and contrast the values of self-monitoring blood glucose and HbA1c testing.
- list 5 reasons why a patient may have good intentions yet poor outcome in diabetes management.
- explain the contribution of health literacy to pre-analytic and post-analytic errors.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
On completion of this exercise, the participant should be able to
 compare the information provided by the 4 common laboratory tests that detect sickle cell disease (SCD);
 explain the target value for hemoglobin after transfusion for patients with SCD;
 evaluate the appropriateness of donor blood selection for treatment in SCD;
 describe the role of serial hemoglobin electrophoresis in exchange transfusion; and
 identify factors that can lead to priapism in patients with SCD.