Ascendant Offers PSA Testing to Detect Prostate Cancer
August 31, 2007
One in six men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. While only one in 34 will die of the disease, prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. To bring attention to this disease and ways to prevent it, September is recognized as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

“The earlier prostate cancer is detected the better,” said Stephanie Dolsen, administrative director of Ascendant Medical Laboratory. “If prostate cancer is detected early, physicians can provide treatment at a stage when the disease is easier to treat and increase overall survival rate for the patient.”

Although the specific cause of prostate cancer is unknown, several factors can increase a man’s risk of getting the disease, such as age, race, family history and diet. In its early stages, it usually has no symptoms and is detected through a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

Ascendant Medical Laboratory offers PSA tests to physicians and their patients. Results are available in less than 24 hours in most cases. PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or tumor marker.  

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screenings beginning at age 50 for men who have no major medical problems and can be expected to live at least 10 more years. Individuals who may be at high risk, including African-American men and those with close relatives who had prostate cancer before age 65 should be tested at age 45.

Ascendant Offers Cholesterol Screenings to Detect Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
August 31, 2007
Elevated cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. To raise awareness for regular health screenings, September is recognized as National Cholesterol Education Month.

Cholesterol, which is made up of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), should be routinely tested to detect potential risk for cardiovascular disease. Too much LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol can circulate in the blood, collecting in the inner walls of the arteries that pump to the heart and brain. If high LDL is left untreated, atherosclerosis, narrowing of arteries due to plaque build-up, can occur and may result in coronary heart disease which leads to heart attack.

HDL, or “good” cholesterol, carries cholesterol in the blood from other parts of the body back to the liver which leads to its removal. It helps keep cholesterol from building up on the walls of the arteries. The liver and other cells make up 75 percent of the body’s cholesterol, while the other 25 percent come from food.  

To detect elevated cholesterol levels, Ascendant Medical Laboratory offers complete lipid panels to physicians and their patients, which includes a total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels.

“Regular screening of cholesterol is important to maintain heart health. If elevated levels are detected, the patient can make lifestyle changes to help decrease high cholesterol before damaging the heart. These changes include diet modification and regular exercise. In some cases, medication to lower the cholesterol level is also needed.” said Stephanie Dolsen, administrative director of Ascendant Medical Laboratory.

The American Heart Association recommends screening every five years for everyone age 20 years or older. Overall risk factors, including diabetes, obesity, family history and high blood pressure, should be taken into account and require more frequent screening. The National Cholesterol Education Program also suggests everyone over 65 receive regular screenings.

Other cholesterol-related tests offered by Ascendant Medical Laboratory include HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, Cholesterol/HDL ratio and LDL/HDL ratio.

Bill Introduced to Repeal Competitive Bidding Demonstration for Laboratory Services
August 9, 2007
On August 4, 2007, just before Congress recessed for the month of August, Representative Nydia Velazquez (NY), Chair of the Committee on Small Business, introduced "The Community Clinical Laboratory Fairness in Competition Act (HR 3453)". This legislation would repeal the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Competitive Bidding Demonstration Project.

Representative Velazquez introduced HR 3453 as a direct result of a July 25, 2007 hearing held by the House Committee on Small Business to assess the impact of the demonstration project on small business. CLMA testified at the hearing.

To read more about this bill and the statement by Representative Velazquez, please visit the Policy section at www.clma.org. In addition, "The Community Clinical Laboratory Fairness in Competition Act (HR 3453)" will soon be posted at http://thomas.loc.gov/. Search by using HR 3453.

CAP Inspection Results in High Praises, No Deficiencies for MPLN
August 7, 2007
Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN), Ascendant’s parent company, received high praises and no deficiencies during an on-site re-accreditation inspection by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program on August 1.

The CAP inspection program is an internationally recognized program and the only one of its kind that utilizes teams of practicing laboratory professionals as inspectors. Designed to go well beyond regulatory compliance, the program helps laboratories achieve the highest standards of excellence to positively impact patient care.

“MPLN is a high-class laboratory,” said CAP Inspector Stephen Peiper, MD, as he addressed MPLN employees during the inspection summation. “You do a very nice job maintaining very demanding technologies ranging from cytogenetics, FISH, flow and IHC.”

The CAP program is based on rigorous accreditation standards translated into a detailed and focused checklist that provides a quality practice blueprint for laboratories to follow. The inspection team used the checklist to assess the overall quality, management and operation of MPLN.

“We strive to get better with every inspection, and always learn something valuable to enhance our level of services,” said Roger Hubbard, PhD, MPLN founder, president and CEO. “Receiving no deficiencies validates what we do, which is delivering high-quality laboratory services.”

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program meets the needs of a variety of laboratory settings from complex university medical centers to physician office laboratories. The program also covers a complete array of disciplines and testing procedures.

Rosalynn Miltenberger, PhD, is credited with coordinating the quality checklist and action team at MPLN. During the process, four CAP inspectors examined MPLN’s records and quality control of procedures. They also examined staff qualifications, the laboratory’s equipment, facilities and safety program as well as the overall management of MPLN. 

GENETIC NONDISCRIMINATION ACT PASSES IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 31, 2007
The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (GINA) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 420-3. The act will protect individuals against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment. These protections are intended to encourage Americans to take advantage of genetic testing as part of their medical care. GINA has not been voted on in the Senate. The progress of GINA's passage through the legislative process can be tracked online at www.genome.gov/24519851.

ASCENDANT PARTICIPATES IN EFFORT TO REPEAL CMS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
July 25, 2007
The House Small Business Committee held a hearing on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clinical laboratory demonstration project Wednesday, July 25. As concerned small to medium sized businesses in Tennessee and Virginia, Ascendant Medical Laboratory and its parent company, Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN), joined grassroots efforts to repeal the proposed CMS demonstration.

“This proposed plan by CMS has huge potential to harm small businesses if carried out – even in the limited application of the demonstration project,” said Steve Olsen, chief operating officer of Ascendant Medical Laboratory. “We encouraged our congressmen to take time to attend this session and listen intently to the discussion. It is important for them to know the proposed $100,000 business exemption from the plan is not viable.”

For more information about the CMS demonstration project visit www.mplnet.com/news.  

ASCENDANT MEDICAL LABORATORY RECEIVES CAP ACCREDITATION
July 19, 2007
Ascendant Medical Laboratory recently earned accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of an on-site inspection. During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examined Ascendant’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examined the entire staff’s qualifications, the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the patients Ascendant serves.

ASCENDANT PARENT COMPANY CELEBRATES 18 YEARS
July 2, 2007
Ascendant Medical Laboratory's parent company, Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Inc. (MPLN), celebrated 18 years of service to the medical community on July 1, 2007. Since its inception in 1989, MPLN has been a leader in laboratory medicine continuously expanding its selection of molecular and cytogenetic testing and services. MPLN also boasts an advanced clinical research services division that conducts specialty test research and development and FDA-approved clinical trials.

Earlier this year, MPLN received a Business Excellence Award from the Knoxville Chamber for remarkable profitability, growth and stability. The laboratory also received two awards this year from the Diagnostic Marketing Association for website design and a direct mail piece.

In 2006, MPLN was named the anchor tenant for the new research and development park in Blount County, Pellissippi Research Centre on the Oak Ridge Corridor. To meet MPLN’s expected growth the future laboratory needs approximately 65-75,000 square feet in the new development and looks to double its employee base within the next three to five years.

GALLOWAY NAMED NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR
June 2, 2007
Alan Keith Galloway, MD, was named the new medical director for Ascendant Medical Laboratory.
Galloway, a pathologist with Knoxville Associated Pathologists, has more than 20 years of medical experience and is certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and clinical pathology with added qualification in cytopathology. In addition, he is the director of cytology at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee and medical director of Baptist Hospital West and Baptist Hospital for Women.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Galloway completed his medical residency at the University of Tennessee and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He is a fellow of the College of American Pathologists, the American Society of Cytopathology and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

ASCENDANT OPENS NEW LAB IN KNOXVILLE
May 3, 2006
Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN) recently opened Ascendant Medical Laboratory, a regional clinical reference laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ascendant Medical Laboratory focuses on routine clinical laboratory testing to support MPLN’s extensive molecular testing menu, thus offering a comprehensive and integrated approach to medical laboratory diagnostics.

ASCENDANT OFFERS NEW ALLERGY TEST
May 3, 2006
There is no need for painful skin pricks anymore. Ascendant Medical Laboratory offers 3gAllergy™, a third generation of allergy blood testing for the quantitative determination of allergen-specific IgE at very low levels with excellent precision, accuracy and reproducibility.

ASCENDANT NAMES NEW DIRECTOR
May 3, 2006
Stephanie Dolsen, MPH, MT (ASCP), SC, DLM is the administrative director of Ascendant Medical Laboratory.
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