Insulin regulates blood glucose by facilitating the movement of glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells. MPL recently reviewed over 700 results from cases in which insulin levels were obtained. As a result of this review, effective June 21, 2004, MPL will adjust the normal ranges for the lower end to 4.2 uU/ML to 15uU/ML for pediatrics and 4.2uU/ML to 27.9 uU/ML for adults and prepubertal children .
Effective January 15, 2003
Nucleic acid amplification testing for
Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae
CDC recommends NAAT's as tests-of-choice due to increased sensitivity by 15-20% over NAP's. Effective January 15, 2003, MPL began using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) as an alternate to the non-amplified nucleic acid probe (NAP) test previously offered. During the transition, MPL will maintain both non-amplified and amplified test formats, but we recommend that clients consider a transition as soon as possible to conform with CDC guidelines and enhance patient care. We plan to stop using the non-amplified test format at a future date. The test method we have selected is the Gen-probe TMA format. Gen-probe has proven reliability and utility for its NAP format, and we anticipate the same for the NAAT format.
Effective April 1, 2003
Lipoprint® cholesterol test
for LDL subfractions
New FDA-approved LDL subfractions test helps identify those at risk for coronary heart disease Effective April 1, 2003, MPL will begin offering the Lipoprint® test for LDL subfractions. This new test gives physicians more specific data about a patient?s cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CAD). Small dense LDL particles (subfractions) more easily bind to the coronary artery wall and increase the risk of CAD threefold, even at normal cholesterol levels. The Lipoprint® test measures seven subfractions of LDL?from large and less dense to small dense?and identifies at-risk patients. The test provides an LDL fingerprint.
Technical info, literature and FAQs on the test available at: www.lipoprint.com
