Lab Matters Summer 2018 | Page 78

APHL 2018 Annual Meeting Poster Abstracts

Infectious Disease / Informatics

Presenter : Erik Reisdorf , MPH , Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , Madison , WI , Phone : 608.224.4261 , Email : erik . reisdorf @ slh . wisc . edu

Reduced Viability of Candida auris and Other Candida Species from MALDI-TOF Extractions

A . Sterkel , A . Bateman , A . Valley , D . Warshauer , Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , Madison , WI

Candida auris is emerging as a health care associated and often multidrug-resistant , global public health threat . The ability of this yeast to persist in the environmental and colonize skin has made it challenging to eradicate and complicated efforts to prevent transmission in health care settings . C . auris is capable of causing invasive infections and is associated with increased mortality . There continue to be reports of laboratory misidentifications of this previously rare organism . Matrix-assisted , laser desorption / ionization time-of-flight ( MALDI-TOF ) mass spectrometry is an accurate and relatively cost effective method for identifying this emerging species of Candida . However , there is a lack of data about C . auris viability after the various preparation protocols for MALDI-TOF testing . In an effort to evaluate and improve biosafety for laboratorians we investigated the viability of Candida after different MALDI-TOF extraction methods . We tested 10 isolates of C . auris and 15 isolates of other Candida species with three different MALDI-TOF extraction methods : on-plate extraction with formic acid ; 50 % ethanol in a tube ; and tube extraction with formic acid and acetonitrile . After spotting the Bruker MALDI-TOF target with each preparation , overlaying with matrix and allowing to dry , a flocked swab dampened with RPMI broth was used to remove the dried preparation . Swabs were inoculated into RPMI broth and onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and observed for growth after 24 and 48 hours of incubation at 37 C . No growth was observed with any species after treatment with 50 % ethanol or after any step in the tube extraction with formic acid and acetonitrile . On-plate extraction with formic acid greatly decreased the viability ( average : 99 % decrease in colony counts ). And , colonies were only observed with C . albicans . These data indicate that the ethanol treatment and tube extraction methods are sufficient to kill C . auris and other Candida species prior to MALDI-TOF analysis .

Presenter : Alana Sterkel , PhD , SM ( ASCP ), Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , Madison , WI , Phone : 608.224.4253 , Email : alana . sterkel @ slh . wisc . edu

Informatics

Electronic Test Order and Result

K . Higginbotham 1 , M . Meigs 2 , D . Shirazi 2 , S . Crowe 3 , G . Click 4 ;

1

Alabama Department of Public Health , Montgomery , AL ,

2

Association of Public Health Laboratories , Silver Spring , MD ,

3

Florida Department Of Public Health , Tallahassee , FL , 4 J Michael Consulting , Atlanta , GA

With a surge in Zika testing in 2016 and typical laboratory workflows resulting in over 60 steps to test a single specimen , the need became clear for a new approach . APHL has been funded by ONC to enhance existing Electronic Test Order and Result capabilities and functionalities across laboratories with the advent of a Lab

Web Portal . Designed to streamline testing and accommodate high-volume requests in testing with emerging infectious disease threats , the portal allows epidemiologists to prioritize testing within laboratories , grant approval and communicate with the submitter as needed . This poster will feature some of the unique capabilities of the Lab Web Portal and will demonstrate how its use can improve laboratory testing processes .

Presenter : Keith Higginbotham , Alabama Department of Public Health , Bureau of Information Technology , Montgomery , AL , Phone : 334.206.7040 , Email : keith . higginbotham @ adph . state . al . us

Evolution of APHL ’ s Informatics Technical Assistance Program

V . Holley , L . Carlton , R . Hamilton , D . Sanderson and R . Merrick , Association of Public Health Laboratories , Silver Spring , MD

An increasing number of public health agencies and organizations are attempting to build networks to share data that are pertinent to public health decision making across federal and state systems and between public and private partners . However , the challenges of implementing such a data exchange in terms of planning an approach , reaching consensus among stakeholders , coordinating activities , tracking and resolving issues and working against an agreed-upon project schedule often inhibit the successful implementation of data exchange projects . APHL has offered informatics virtual and in-person technical assistance for the past ten years to help public health meet these needs . This poster will examine the evolution of technical assistance over the years and how APHL has helped public health laboratories and agencies understand , navigate and implement electronic data exchange that uses simple , effective standards based methods .

Presenter : Vanessa Holley , MPH , Association of Public Health Laboratories , Silver Spring , MD , Phone : 240.485.2755 , Email : vanessa . holley @ aphl . org

Using APHL Tools to Inform Informatics Strategy

V . Holley 1 , R . Shepherd 1 , M . Kourbage 2 , M . K . Yost-Daljev 2 ;

1

Association of Public Health Laboratories , Silver Spring , MD , 2 J Michael Consulting , Atlanta , GA

As public health laboratories are required to meet increasing informatics requirements , they face crucial decisions about their overall informatics strategy . Decisions regarding LIMS upgrades or replacements , system interoperability and defining functional requirements are often times difficult and require laboratories to have a comprehensive understanding and assessment of their current informatics capabilities . To help in these efforts , the Informatics Self-Assessment tool was designed to help laboratories assess strengths and gaps in their informatics capacity by addressing 19 critical lab operational areas . A laboratory can also measure the ability of its laboratory information management system ( LIMS ) or other software to meet basic requirements against APHL ’ s “ Requirements for a Public Health Laboratory Information Management System .” This poster will examine the practical informatics tools APHL offers to its members to help them make informed decisions on their informatics activities and projects .

Presenter : Vanessa Holley , MPH , Association of Public Health Laboratories , Silver Spring , MD , Phone : 240.485.2755 , Email : vanessa . holley @ aphl . org