Annual Risk Assessment Laboratory Statistics

In order to provide clients with the most current information in risk assessment, ExamOne has compiled statistics from a large sample of individuals applying for life insurance.

As with previous years, these figures show a continuing pattern in which positive rates for HIV, cocaine and cotinine increase as insurance amounts decrease. Categorized by age, geographic region and amount of insurance, these statistics strongly support the value of testing at lower face-amount policies.

There are two patterns for ordering HCV Ab antibody tests. Large numbers of tests are ordered on an age and amount basis (not reflexed). Other HCV Ab testing is done on the basis of elevated liver enzymes or medical history (reflexed). The tables contain the appropriate headings that indicate the reason the HCV Ab test was ordered. In those HCV Ab antibody tests performed by age and amount criteria, the percent found to have normal ALT, AST and GGT was 55.64% in 2008.

Don't miss these valuable statistics. Download the entire report here: Insight 2009.

Laboratory System Upgrade

As our business continues to evolve, so does the level of sophistication and security required to deliver high quality laboratory results. In the near future, we will begin an upgrade of our insurance laboratory testing platform.

This transition will not impact your laboratory results or transmissions and should be nearly invisible to you. The new platform will allow us to enhance the Hepatitis C and Serum Protein reports in the near future. This upgrade is also an additional investment in our disaster recovery and business continuity efforts.

We are pleased to provide industry leading system reliability and security for our insurance customers. If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Vice President or Technical Account Manager.

Quest Diagnostics Discovers New Genetic Mutations Affecting Cystic Fibrosis Screening

April 28, 2009 (Vol. 12, No. 49) - Quest Diagnostics scientists provide new insights into genetic factors affecting the accuracy and quality of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carrier and newborn screening in three separate articles published in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

The research may enhance the accuracy of carrier and newborn screening for CF, a genetically inherited disease that damages the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. One in 29 Americans of Northern European Caucasian or Ashkenazi Jewish descent are symptomless carriers of the defective, or mutated, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. A child whose parents are both carriers has a one in four chance of developing the disease.

"Taken together, these three papers demonstrate how the widespread and thoughtful experience with [cystic fibrosis] mutation testing and screening continues to reveal new insights about the mutational alleles of the CFTR gene and further refinements in how best to detect them and assure appropriate quality control while doing so," said Wayne W. Grody, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Grody, who wrote the commentary "Cystic Fibrosis Testing Comes of Age" in the journal’s May issue, is not affiliated with the studies.

"Since the CFTR gene was discovered two decades ago this year, scientists have acquired significant insights into the genetics of CF, one of the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorders," said Charles (Buck) Strom, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of the genetic testing center of Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, the esoteric research, development and testing services operation of Quest Diagnostics. "As the world’s leading provider of genetic testing for cystic fibrosis, Quest Diagnostics has been at the forefront of efforts to advance scientific understanding of the disease and promote testing quality across the laboratory industry. These efforts are noteworthy because insights into the more than 1,500 mutations affecting the CFTR gene are enhancing the medical understanding of cystic fibrosis as well as the mechanisms of other genetic diseases."

Annual AHOU Conference

The annual AHOU Conference was held April 18-22, at the Hilton New York. ExamOne was proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor for this important meeting.

On Tuesday evening, ExamOne hosted a customer appreciation dinner at Lucky Stike and treated clients to dinner, dancing, bowling and street entertainment by breakdancers, grafitti artists and bucket drummers.

ExamOne extends a sincere thank you to all who attended. We enjoyed the evening and look forward to next year's conference in San Antonio!

Industry News

ExamOne is attending several industry meetings in the coming months. Please stop by and see us at these shows!

National Association of Insurance Women
May 27 - 31
Hilton New Orleans

Agency Management Institute (Formerly NAILBA Focus)
May 28 - 29
Chicago, Illinois

Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)
June 6 - 10
Indianapolis, IN
Booth 211

Circle of Champions
June 25 - 28
Loews Philadelphia

For more information on how ExamOne's integrated solutions may help your workflow, please visit www.ExamOne.com or call 800.873.8845 ext. 1470.