To The Point™ - by Dennis Ernst, MT(ASCP), author/editor
The Center for Phlebotomy Education has created two booklets that contain articles on a wide variety of
specimen collection topics. Volume 1 contains seven articles on topics in collection protection, such as
lab coats, gloves, & handwashing, sharps containers, safety needles, hazardous practices and exposure
management; volume 2 includes three articles on legal issues, preanalytical errors and controlling blood
culture contamination rates. Each volume provides an option of earning 3 contact hours of P.A.C.E.® credit for an
additional $15 fee submitted with the completed answer form. Read at your own pace on timely topics to
enhance your knowledge of specimen collection.
Click here to order from the ASCLS online
store or here to view price and an order form.
Chemical Hygiene - by Terry Jo Gile, MAEd, MT(ASCP)
This program is designed to provide information needed to train employees on the OSHA Chemical Hygiene
Standard (CHS) of 1990 (29 CFR 1910.1450). In addition it meets the accreditation requirements of the
College of American Pathologists (CAP) Lab General Checklist question GEN.70450 that requires a Chemical
Hygiene Plan be in place and that it include training.
Disc #1 is a CD that includes a leader's guide that will assist with the training and examples of the
attendance sheet, quiz and evaluation form that can be printed. Disc #2 is a 35 minute DVD that addresses
training issues associated with the Chemical Hygiene Standard including the storage and labeling of
chemicals, safety work practices and spill cleanup. 2008; CD/DVD; free shippin
Click here to order from the ASCLS online
store or here to view price and an order form.
Direct Smear Atlas - manual or companion CD - by Linda Marler, Jean Siders and Stephen Allen
This atlas is a full-color, spiralbound manual of Gram-stained direct smears for CLS or CLT students and
practitioners, microbiologists, pathologists, infectious disease specialists, and anyone who interprets
Gram-stained specimens. Featuring over 250 clear photomicrographs taken from actual patient specimens,
the manual presents a simple, easy-to-use format; brief legends accompany each image. Three introductory
chapters cover Gram-stain procedures, quality control, evaluation, and more. An invaluable reference
and educational tool, this manual is effective both as a stand alone text and as an accompaniment to the
companion CD.
Direct Smear Atlas CD - The CD contains over 230 images taken from Gram-stained smear preparations of
actual patient specimens. This CD is designed to help the user achieve proficiency in reading gram
stains. It is designed for quick study, so you can choose images based on specimen site, morphology,
diagnosis, or alphabetically by species or genus. Also includes a randomized test for competency assessment.
Windows Compatible; 1998
Click here to order from the ASCLS online
store or here to view price and an order form.
Laboratory Education Webcasts - provided by Dane Garvin, Ltd.
Dane Garvin, Ltd provides educational webcasts designed for laboratory professionals. There is no registration
fee to participate. Archived webcasts are easily accessed via the internet. ASCLS is a webcast co-sponsor and
provides the P.A.C.E.® credit. Webcasts are supported by various companies. Current topics include "Rapid
Influenza Testing: What the Clinician Needs to Know" and "Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of eGFR in Detection,
Evaluation and Management."
Click here for more information.
Image Atlas: Hematology by Indiana Pathology Images™
The newest Image Atlas is available! There are over 1000 high-quality images including normal and
abnormal morphologies for RBCs, WBCs, and platelets as well as microrganisms. Images can be downloaded
for presentations, exams or lab manuals. Image retrieval is alphabetically or by cell type or
diagnosis/anomaly. Available as single user CD or site user. PC and Mac compatible.
Click here to order from the ASCLS online store
or here to view price and an order form
Directory of Graduate Programs for Clinical Laboratory Practitioners 5th edition
Newly Revised
This Directory is intended to help students, faculty and administrators identify institutions of higher
learning that offer advanced degrees for clinical laboratory personnel. It includes information on colleges
and universities that provide programs in CLS and specialty disciplines. Important information about entry
and degree requirements, tuition, fees, availability of online coursework and more. The directory was
completely updated in 2007 with newly added Programs plus two new categories -- universities that offer
either an Entry Level Practitioner Masters Level Program or Post Baccalaureate Certificate Programs.
The Directory is a must for every education program or laboratory bookshelf or library.
Available on CD; a user-friendly table of contents allows for easy navigation.
Click here to order from the ASCLS online store
or here to view price and an order form
Clinical Hematology Atlas 3rd edition
New Revised
by Jacqueline Carr, MS, CLSpH(NCA), CLDir(NCA) & Bernadette Rodak, MS, CLSpH(NCA)
This atlas is ideal for identifying cells at the microscope; it includes the basics of hematologic
morphology, including examination of the peripheral blood smear, basic maturation of the blood cell
lines, and discussions of a variety of clinical disorders. Over 400 photographs, schematic diagrams,
and electron micrographs illustrate hematology from normal cell maturation to the development of
various pathologies. New in this edition is a chapter that covers normal newborn peripheral blood
morphology; expanded resources with case studies, study questions and links to websites. Ideal
for classroom/student lab teaching, retraining or review!
Click here to order from the ASCLS online store
or here to view price and an order form
Laboratory Quality & Patient Safety: Reducing Lab-Associated Medical Errors
by Larry Broussard, PhD, DABCC, FACB
Following the 1999 IOM report on medical errors and patient safety there has been a growing need to
educate laboratorians on the types of errors, frequency of errors and strategies to minimize errors.
In particular, emphasis needs to be on what direct or indirect errors are the result of the laboratory
and what the laboratory can do to minimize these errors. The presentation includes background information
from national reports and initiatives (IOM, AHRQ, IQLM), management tools, monitors of lab quality
(studies to use), regulatory/legislative responses and presentation of publicized cases (ie-Maryland
General). This is a 2-part presentation; the first covers the history and recommendations for patient
safety and addresses patient safety indicators and pre-analytical errors; the second part covers
analytical & post-analytical errors and tools for detection & prevention. Case studies are included to
provide laboratory examples of how attention to errors can improve lab quality and affect patient
safety. The instructional CD is P.A.C.E.®-approved
Click here to order from the ASCLS online store
or here to view price and an order form
Clinical Chemistry Reviews
by Larry Kaplan, PhD and Amadeo Pesce, PhD
A comprehensive review of clinical chemistry, available on CD or online, provides concise
information for the most common chemical analyses and disease correlation. Each topic is
presented via PowerPoint slides with synchronized audio. Interactive case histories are included
with most topics to assist the learner in applying important pieces of information. Each unit
is ideal for use in reviewing, retraining, for in-house continuing education needs, or to assist
with regulatory training or competency requirements. Click here
for more information or to order 2006
Web Courses
Online Courses Subscription, MediaLab, Inc.
MediaLab offers individual and institutional subscriptions to over 40 online courses for laboratory
professionals. Earn over 80 hours of P.A.C.E. credit for only $95 per year (individual subscription price)!
Online courses include Hematology, Urinalysis, Microbiology, Body Fluids, HIPAA, Medicare, Medical Errors,
DOT Compliance, OSHA Safety and more! See all available courses for laboratory continuing education at
http://www.labce.com/Default.aspx?ref=ascls.
Individual subscriptions include over 40 online courses for a full year. Complete courses at your own pace using
any internet-connected computer. Learn more and subscribe online for immediate access at
http://www.labce.com/Default.aspx?ref=ascls.
Laboratory subscriptions for 5-1000+ users include OSHA safety and compliance courses, as well as over 80 hours of P.A.C.E.
credits. Track and document your employee training with a powerful laboratory learning management system and build
your own custom online courses for your laboratory. Learn more at
http://www.medialabinc.net/Default.aspx?ref=ascls
or call 678-226-2505 - be sure to mention you are an ASCLS member.
DNA MedEd Café - Educational Webcasts
Provided by Dane Garvin, Ltd
DNAMedEdCafé provides educational webcasts designed for laboratory professionals and other healthcare
professionals. There is no registration fee to participate. A phone line and/or an Internet connection
are all that are required to attend live webcasts. Past educational webcast presentations are available
as archived programs. CE/CME webcast sponsors are ASCLS and Medical Education Collaborative (MEC).
Webcast co-sponsors are ASCLS, AMP and Dane Garvin Ltd. Webcasts are supported by an educational grant
from Abbott Molecular. Click here for dates and topics.
Laboratory Education Webcasts - Provided by Dane Garvin, Ltd
Dane Garvin, Ltd provides educational webcasts designed for laboratory professionals. There is no registration fee
to participate. Archived webcasts are easily accessed via the internet. ASCLS is a webcast co-sponsor and provides
the P.A.C.E.® credit. Webcasts are supported by various companies.
Click here for topics.
Westgard Quality Corporation Courses

"Introduction to Quality Planning"
This minicourse introduces
the latest theories and models for Quality Control. QC has been
performed in the healthcare laboratory for over 50 years, yet
many QC practices remain rooted in the 1950s. New technologies,
new approaches, and new techniques for QC have evolved in the
last few decades. This course introduces the latest developments
in QC. Earn 8 P.A.C.E.® contact hours for successfully
completing the final exam.
"Basic
QC Practices"
This intensive Web course, developed by Dr. James O. Westgard,
is intended to provide education and training in quality control
(QC) to a broad audience of healthcare practitioners who perform
laboratory tests in central laboratories, clinic or outpatient
laboratories, and point-of-care settings. Earn 15 P.A.C.E.®
contact hours for successfully completing the final exam.
"Basic
Method Validation"
Also developed by Dr. Westgard. Basic Method Validation
focuses on the essentials for validating the performance of laboratory
methods for moderate or high complexity tests. These methods comprise
the majority of tests performed in most healthcare laboratories.
The knowledge and skills required for basic method validation
are the minimum training and education needed to validate method
performance in any healthcare laboratory. Earn 15 P.A.C.E.®
contact hours for successfully completing the final exam.
"Multirule
MiniCourse"
Multirule QC - often called the "Westgard rules" - is
a commonly used QC procedure in many laboratories. But many laboratorians
are confused about its use and interpretation. This course gives
the definitive explanation of the multirule QC as well as how
it should be properly interpreted. This should help healthcare
practictioners operate valid statistical QC procedures. This course
is approved at the Basic Level of Instruction for 5 hours of P.A.C.E.®
credit.
"Levey-Jennings
MiniCourse"
It is essential that laboratorians understand the use of the Levey-Jennings
control chart to assure the quality of test results. Control results
must be plotted and interpreted and critical decisions about in-control
and out-of-control results are made using these charts. Still,
many laboratorians are confused about the use and interpretation
of control results. In this course, Dr. James O. Westgard gives
a definitive explanation of the LJ chart, as well as practical
advice on how to use and properly interpret control results. Earn
5 P.A.C.E.® contact hours for successfully completing the
final exam.
Chronolab
The Quality of Diagnostic Samples --
This online program consists of two chapters:
1) Introduction with detailed information on choice of diagnostic sample, its collection,
transport, storage and optimal volume and 2) Samples and Stability of Analytes elaborating
the stability of 386 analytes in blood (serum, plasma or whole blood), 65 analytes in urine
and 9 analytes in cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, biological half-life of an analyte; its
stability at different temperatures; stabilizer and the list of referent literature are
elaborated. Based on Recommendations of the Working Group on Preanalytical Variables of
the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and the German Society for Laboratory Medicine.
Ideal for educating non-laboratory personnel about specimen types & uses, for managers
of specimen collection areas, or for laboratorian review/continuing education needs.
Registration is free. To sign up, click here.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Earn an advanced degree over the
Internet! ASCLS and UMDNJ -the nation’s largest health science university -
offer ASCLS members a unique on-line learning experience. Coursework for a Master of Science in Health
Systems or a Certificate in Clinical Systems Management is available at
in-state tuition costs, even if you do not live in New Jersey, and taken
conveniently at your home. Click here for details
Home Study Opportunities for P.A.C.E.® Credit
"FOCUS" Articles in CLS
Do you need CE credit for recertification, licensure renewal or in your workplace?
A convenient mail-in examination is published in every issue (4 times/year) of the ASCLS journal,
Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS). Subscribers can read and study articles on selected topics, correctly
answer follow-up questions, and earn 1.5 to 5 contact hours per FOCUS section.
Three easy ways to obtain the FOCUS articles
- Subscription to CLS is a benefit of ASCLS Professional I membership (visit the Membership section). A separate fee is charged for each exam returned to receive continuing education credit; $18/exam for ASCLS member, $28/exam for non-member.
- Purchase an individual subscription to the journal for $50/year (institutional and international subscriptions slightly higher). Contact the ASCLS Education Department at 301-657-2768 to subscribe to the CLS journal. A separate fee is charged for each exam returned to receive continuing education credit; $18/exam for ASCLS member, $28/exam for non-member.
- Click here for a form to order individual FOCUS article series. Articles and the answer sheet will be emailed in pdf file format. You must have Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher to view and print each article and the answer sheet. $22/FOCUS series - ASCLS member, $32/FOCUS series non-member; price includes articles, mail-in answer sheet, and payment for P.A.C.E.® credit.
A P.A.C.E.® certificate and credit will be awarded to participants who achieve a passing score of 70% or better. Please allow 8 weeks for certificate receipt. Instructions are included on the mail-in exam with each FOCUS section articles. Note that FOCUS exam answer sheets expire one year after the original publication date.
Clinical Lab Investigations: Case Studies for the Laboratory Professional
Each case study is designed to take you beyond the laboratory test and investigate the causes
for abnormal laboratory results. Earn 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® - approved continuing education
credit conveniently at your own pace by downloading the cases and successfully completing a quiz.
Case studies may be downloaded for free; cost for P.A.C.E.® - approved credit is $15 for ASCLS
members; $25 for nonmembers. Click here
for more information.
The "LEARNING SCOPE" in ADVANCE
ASCLS & ADVANCE for Medical Laboratory Professionals
produce a joint educational program through which ASCLS offers
continuing education credits to ADVANCE readers. Similar
to the FOCUS program described above, readers read a "Learning
Scope" article in ADVANCE, complete a post-test and
return it to ASCLS for grading. If you are not already
receiving ADVANCE, call 1-800-355- 1088 (610-278-1400).
Meetings, Seminars and Conferences
Click Here to view a complete listing of our State Society
and Regional Meetings and Conferences.
P.A.C.E.® Program
(Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education)
*** Search for P.A.C.E.® Approved Continuing Education Programs
*** Provider Application and Manual
*** P.A.C.E.® Providers - Add your educational program to the P.A.C.E. database
P.A.C.E.® is an administrative system serving as the quality assurance mechanism for
continuing education programs offered to clinical laboratory professionals. P.A.C.E.® is
of benefit to both continuing education providers and the laboratory professionals who
participate in the programs they provide.
Participants in P.A.C.E.® approved educational sessions have confidence in the quality
of the program. P.A.C.E.® continuing education contact hours satisfy continuing education
requirements for federal regulations, state licensure, certification agencies and employers.
Educational programs may be in a number of different formats, from large multiple day annual
meetings to self-instructional material on audio/visual cassettes, CDs, journal articles, or on
Internet websites. For a complete description of P.A.C.E.®, to learn how to become a
provider, associated fees, and more, click below to access the P.A.C.E.® application
packet. P.A.C.E.® questions may also be directed to
sherrym@ascls.org or phone
301-657-2768.
Publications
"Education
Connections"Books,
CD-Roms, video tapes and other publications designed to enhance
your professional education.
"
Clinical
Laboratory Science
(
CLS
)"
The quarterly journal of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory
Science. CLS includes FOCUS continuing education
articles. Readers can earn 2-5 P.A.C.E.®
continuing education contact hours for taking and passing the
FOCUS examination at the end of the article.
Educational Scholarship Information
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics/Coordinating Council on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce Scholarship
Assistance for students in the second year of a Clinical
Laboratory Technician (CLT/MLT) program
ASCLS
Student Award CLS//CLT student research paper and case
study award competition.
Alpha
Mu Tau Fraternity ScholarshipsUndergraduate and Graduate Scholarship information.
Forum
for Concerns of Minorities ScholarshipAssistance for minority students in clinical
laboratory scientist or clinical laboratory technician programs
who can demonstrate evidence of financial need.
Cardinal
Healthcare Graduate Research AwardAwards are limited to Clinical Laboratory
Scientists or Clinical Laboratory Technicians pursuing graduate
research in the field.
Quest
Student Forum Leadership Award
Recognizes a student member of the American Society for Clinical
Laboratory Science who has demonstrated outstanding leadership
and contributed to the growth and development of the ASCLS Student
Forum.
Additional
ASCLS Scholarship and Awards Information
Education Links
Certification Information The National Credentialing Agency
for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) provides examinations for certification of Clinical
Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy, Cytogenetics,
Molecular Biology, Categorical, Clinical Laboratory Director and Clinical Laboratory
Supervisor. Visit the NCA website for qualifications needed and more information about
each examination. Are you looking for a review book for the CLS or CLT exam?
Click here for more information.
Find a Laboratory Science Program
Search for a Clinical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy,
Histotechnician, Histotechnologist, Cytogenetic and other Programs by state at the
National Accrediting Agency for Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) website.
Questions about Phlebotomy Licensure in California?
Find out about qualifications and education needed for licensure plus continuing
education requirements for relicensure.
Clinical Laboratory Education Online Directory
A listing of Clinical Laboratory Education Programs that have either select courses or complete programs offered in an online format.
Web
Path "The Internet Pathology Laboratory
for Medical Education." Features the "case of
the week."
National Tuberculosis Curriculum Consortium
The NTCC has developed curricular materials that are now available
to educators and healthcare professionals worldwide.
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