Avoiding Canceled Tests in Pediatric Samples

In this episode, Charlie Fix, Global Director of Scientific Harmonization for Q Squared Solutions describes the challenges of safety testing for drugs in pediatric patients where sample volumes may be limited. Clinical analyzers are set up to maximize throughput and minimize turnaround time. When a panel of multiple tests is ordered and a sample doesn't have a sufficient volume of blood to run all the tests in the panel, the test is canceled, resulting in no data for the sponsor and unnecessary stress for young patients and their families. Q Squared Solutions has developed a protocol prioritizing a subset of tests for short samples. The decision to run the alternate panel is made by licensed medical technologists. Combined with specific sample collection kits for pediatric patients, this protocol minimizes the number of canceled tests.