| R. Lewis Dark:
Bringing You the REAL Story behind the Story!
HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST THE NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER MEDIA you read to give
you the right story, with the right analysis? If you are like me, you are regularly
disappointed that the nation’s journalists are too quick to report the
obvious—while often missing the important nuances that bring out the true
dimensions of the story being reported.
In recent months, The New York Times did a detailed story about the “failings”
of molecular test technology to provide reliable results to guide clinicians
at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as they worked to identify a
suspected outbreak of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough). As a result, the
reported outbreak of Bordetella pertussis wasn’t an outbreak at all, said The
New York Times.When we talked to the principals involved at Dartmouth’s
laboratory, we learned that the problem had nothing to do with placing too
much faith in molecular testing. (See pages 6-8 in this issue.)
The molecular tests for pertussis performed within specifications, a situation
understandable to any lab professional. Some test results appeared to
be positive, but many more were equivocal. Experts suggest retesting to confirm
equivocal results. But since the medical center believed it was dealing
with an outbreak, waiting for confirmatory testing was not the right clinical
strategy. That didn’t stop the newspaper from raising questions about the
entire field of molecular testing, a diagnostic technology that has produced
significant value for more than a decade.
I offer you this example of how the reporter for The New York Times did
a story that covered the obvious points, but missed the real story behind the
story. THE DARK REPORT’S coverage of this situation, published in this and a
previous issue, provides our clients and long-time readers with the analysis
of what really happened, and the important laboratory management lessons
learned during a suspected outbreak of pertussis that saw as many 1,000
healthcare workers tested and more than 4,500 employees of the medical
center given the acellular pertussis vaccine. (See TDR, February 19, 2007.)
The point is that news and trends are not always what they appear to be.
Therefore, pathologists and lab directors need a reliable and trusted source for
information.They need one that’s willing to go beyond the obvious headline and
report the story behind the story.We believe that’s why they rely on THE DARK
REPORT and consider it to be a reliable source of useful business intelligence.
Lots of IVD Acquisitions As Buyers Spend Money
Slew of deals and the variety of buyers reveal a strong demand for molecular diagnostics firms
CEO SUMMARY: Biggest deal in recent weeks was the
$1.55 billion Beckman Coulter paid to acquire BioSite and its
Triage BNP test. But the most interesting news may be the
entry of 3M Corporation into clinical diagnostics, based on its
acquisition of Acolyte Biomedica Ltd., a company which offers
a five-hour rapid culture-based MRSA test. Announced in
rapid-fire order, these deals demonstrate the hot interest in
molecular diagnostics.
Competitive Bid Update: Implementation Date Passes on
Medicare Competitive Bid Project
Newspaper Reports Miss On Molecular Technology
Reporting on outbreaks of Bordetella pertussis,
major newspaper criticizes molecular tests
CEO SUMMARY: In reporting on a suspected outbreak of
whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis), a national newspaper
suggested administrators at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical
Center had placed too much faith in molecular testing. In this
exclusive interview, Dartmouth’s Director of Molecular
Pathology comments on how the media misunderstood the
story, and why molecular testing remains the preferred method.
Compliance Update: Will OIG Reconsider Policy
On Discriminatory Pricing?
Anatomic Pathology’s Coming Revolution: Same Day Diagnoses
Microwave technology for real time processing
CEO SUMMARY: Anatomic pathology has been conducted the same
way for 100 years—but no longer at the University of Miami.
Pathologists there are using microwave technology to cut processing
speed by 90% and improve workflow. By producing faster diagnoses,
the lab can report results on 80% of samples the same day that specimens
are received. Seeing these improvements, the hospital has
added histology labs in other clinical areas to support the goal of pointof-
care anatomic pathology.
Labs Can Be Misguided By Pull-Through Test Myth
Popular wisdom of the 1990s caused a precipitous decline in reimbursement
CEO SUMMARY: For the first time in almost eight years,
there are major disruptions to the status quo in managed care
contracting for laboratory testing services. As was true in the
1990s, national lab companies are pursuing exclusive national
contracts with the nation’s largest health insurers. In the
1990s, a similar competitive battle triggered a price war with
disastrous consequences for the entire laboratory industry.
INTELLIGENCE: Late & Latent
NEW LEGAL BATTLE
OVER SELLING HEALTH
DATAADD TO: Medical Data | 
