PLENARY SESSION
Co-Organized with AMP
Wednesday, August 25 | 11:45 AM-12:45 PM
11:45 am Plenary Keynote Introduction
12:00 pm PANEL DISCUSSION: Lessons Learned About COVID-19 TESTING and Recommendations for Future Emerging Outbreaks: Advocacy, Education and Clinical Practice
Co-Organized with the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP)
Moderator:
Antonia R. Sepulveda, PhD, Ralph E. Lowey Professor of Oncology, Pathology, George Washington University; Current President, AMP
Since the beginning of the pandemic, AMP has monitored and assessed the impacts to clinical practice, regulation, and reimbursement on molecular laboratories and worked to support the needs of the laboratory community in navigating the challenges.
Despite the ramping up of vaccinations, the spread of variants is of concern and testing remains a key aspect of the pandemic. Continued adjustments by clinical laboratories are needed to meet ever-evolving challenges. Clinical laboratories continue
their work on the front lines to monitor and respond to changing testing needs, highlighting their importance in supporting the worldwide pandemic response. Looking to the future, addressing shortfalls within testing supply chains and staffing will
help to ensure all clinical laboratory testing can be performed in a timely manner in future pandemics. During this session, the AMP leaders will discuss:
- An overview of the COVID-19 pandemic to date: A laboratory perspective
- Evolving utility of testing: PCR vs. antigen vs. serology vs. whole genome sequencing
- Variant identification and reporting
- Recommendations for future pandemics
Panelists:
Jordan S. Laser, MD, Medical Director, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; LIJMC; Associate Medical Director, Core Laboratories; Director, Division of Near Patient Testing, Northwell Health; Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Donna M. Wolk, MHA, PhD, D(ABMM), Division Director, Molecular and Microbial Diagnostics and Development, Diagnostic Medicine Institute, Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger
Erin H. Graf, PhD, D(ABMM), Director, Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic