Additional Information
Level of instruction: Intermediate
Intended Audience: Clinical laboratory professionals including medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science and MLT students, pathologists, clinicians, and rheumatologists.
Author Information: Robert R. Boyes was the former Sr. Vice President and General Manager for Immuno Concepts located in Sacramento, California. His degree is in Medical Technology. In his career as a clinical laboratory professional, he has worked in hospital laboratories, specialty clinics, and in the corporate setting. Mr. Boyes has conducted numerous research presentations and has authored or co-authored several publications related to antinuclear antibodies.
Author Information: David J. Moffa, PhD, BCLD, has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry as an executive manager, clinical laboratory director, and medical laboratory scientist. He is currently a technical consultant for Kentmere Healthcare, Wilmington, DE, and until his retirement, was the Regional Director for LabCorp, Inc. He holds a PhD in medical biochemistry from the School of Medicine, West Virginia University.
Reviewer Information: Nadine Lerret, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM is an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois. She is currently the Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Immunology Course Director and performs research focused on the interplay between hyperglycemia and the immune system. She received a PhD in immunology from Rush University and then was a Postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Course Description: This course concentrates and expands upon both the diagnosis and laboratory testing for autoimmune diseases, as well as on the interpretation of antinuclear antibody (ANA) staining patterns. Laboratory methods for detection and identification of ANAs are complex. Proper training is required to correctly interpret results at both the laboratory and clinical level. This educational program provides a comprehensive review of the methods, interpretation, and clinical significance of ANA testing.