Program Goals
The purpose of this activity is to educate participants on the need for a viral load test that offers low-end precision which enhances accuracy at the limit of detection and its implications for patient monitoring and clinical care.
Target Audience
Infectious disease physicians, providers, virologists, HIV specialists, clinical laboratory and other healthcare professionals interested in the management and testing of HIV.
Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Review the current methodologies for the quantitation of HIV-1 RNA.
- Summarize the performance characteristics of each HIV-1 RNA methodology.
- Discuss advantages, disadvantages and differences between systems utilizing real-time PCR methodology for viral load quantification.
- Discuss the appropriate use of next-generation viral load methodologies as they relate to patient management.
- Clarify the possible clinical advantages/disadvantages of next-generation viral load methodologies in a case study.
Faculty
Christine C. Ginocchio, Ph.D., MT (ASCP)
Director of Microbiology, Virology and Molecular Diagnostics
North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System Laboratories
Lake Success, NY
Department of Microbiology and Genetics
State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
W. David Hardy, M.D.
Director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Associate Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Credit Designation - Lab Professional, P.A.C.E.®
The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science's Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education (P.A.C.E.®) Program will provide 1.0 contact hour of credit.
Commercial Support Statement
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Abbott Molecular.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interests
Dane Garvin Ltd. (DGL) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity.
Faculty Disclosure
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
| Name | Type | Commercial Supporter |
| Christine C. Ginocchio, PhD | None | None |
| W. David Hardy, MD |
Consultant Independent Contractor |
GSK, Pfizer, Tibotec, Monogram, Merck, Gilead |
| Grant/Research Support | Pfizer, Tibotec, Bionor, Roche | |
| Honoraria |
GSK, Pfizer, Tibotec, Gilead, Monogram |
|
| Speaker’s Bureau |
Pfizer, Merck, Tibotec, Monogram, Gilead |
Dane Garvin Ltd. Disclosure
Employees of Dane Garvin Ltd. (DGL), a joint sponsor for this activity, do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interests related to the content of this educational activity for any amount during the past 12 months. DGL further discloses that a spouse is employed in an administrative capacity with the educational grantor and is not in a position to affect or have input into the content of this educational activity.
How to Obtain P.A.C.E.® Credit
Viewers are expected to complete the presentation before attempting to submit contact information and the session evaluation. Successful completion will lead to the issuance of a certificate for 1.0 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® approved continuing education. To receive credit, the course must be completed before June 17, 2010.
Participation in this activity should be completed in approximately 1 hours. Please follow these steps in order to receive P.A.C.E.® credit for viewing the webcast:
- Read all of the information above.
- View the complete webcast program.
- Click on the "Lab Professional" link to apply for P.A.C.E.® credit.
- Complete the online registration (registration is free).
- Complete the online test and/or evaluation. Participants must receive a test score of at least 75% and answer all evaluation questions to receive P.A.C.E.® credit.
- After successful completion of this process, you will be redirected to the ASCLS CE Organizer where you may create and print an official ASCLS P.A.C.E.® certificate based on your attendance and completion of this ASCLS-sponsored P.A.C.E.® approved learning activity.
Should you have any P.A.C.E.® questions regarding this activity, please contact:
ASCLS P.A.C.E.®
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20817-1574
Ph: 301-657-2768
Fx: 301-657-2909
http://www.ascls.org/
For technical difficulties, please consult our Technical Instructions.
Program Release Date: June 17, 2009 Program Expiration Date: June 17, 2010
Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality
Dane Garvin Ltd. (DGL) protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational partners, and joint sponsors. DGL and our educational joint sponsors will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual’s consent, except such information as is required for reporting purposes to the appropriate accrediting agency.
Dane Garvin Ltd. and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.
Legal Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not reflect the views of Dane Garvin Ltd. and/or the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. This educational activity may discuss off-label and/or investigational uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dane Garvin Ltd. and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science do not recommend the use of any product/procedure outside of the labeled indications. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product/procedure discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product/procedures for approved indication, contraindications, and warnings.
Medium Used
This program has been made available online.
“Viral Load Testing and Its Impact on HIV Patient Management”
Cosponsor
Educational Grantor
This activity supported by an educational grant from Abbott Molecular.
Copyright
Copyright © June 17, 2009 - June 17, 2010 by Dane Garvin, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Permission for accreditation is granted to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
