Opening Sessions and Keynote
The opening session features a keynote address by Dr. David Dowdy on the role of diagnostic testing in both low- and high-burden settings, including the potential impact of diagnostic strategies on the epidemiology and economics of TB control in 2015.
Welcome to the 9th National Conference on Laboratory Aspects of TB
Marie-Claire Rowlinson, PhD, D(ABMM), Florida Bureau of Public Health Laboratories
Labs, Ledgers and Lives Saved: The Impact of Diagnostic Strategies on the Epidemiology and Economics of Tuberculosis
David Dowdy, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Next Generation Sequencing and Applications for TB
The potential of next generation sequencing (NGS) in public health laboratories is beginning to be realized and now includes applications for TB. This session will provide an overview of NGS technology and considerations for successful implementation in a TB laboratory, as well as possible future directions.
Moderator: Anne Gaynor, PhD, Association of Public Health Laboratories
Overview of Next Generation Sequencing
David Engelthaler, PhD, The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)
CDC’s Use of Whole Genome Sequencing for Genotyping
James E. Posey, PhD, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Perspectives From a Public Health Laboratory
Kimberlee A. Musser, PhD, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health
Navigating the World of Drug Susceptibility Testing
Drug resistance continues to be a major public health concern threatening progress made in TB care and control globally. Issues with culture-based methods and the introduction of advanced molecular methods for identifying drug resistance have added more complexity to our understanding of drug resistance. This session will address the ongoing questions with test methodology and results of drug susceptibility tests.
Moderator: Angela Starks, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Evaluation of Phenotypic Drug Susceptibility Test Methods Project (Expanded MPEP Study)
Beverly Metchock, DrPH, D(ABMM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Expected Discrepancies Between Molecular and Growth-based DST: Which Technology Is Giving the Right Answer?
Edward P. Desmond, PhD, D(ABMM), California Department of Public Health, Microbial Diseases Laboratory
Issues in Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing: TB Subcommittee White Papers
David Warshauer, PhD, D(ABMM), Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Practical Approaches to Success in the TB Laboratory
With advances in methodologies come opportunities to improve the way classical TB diagnostic methods are delivered. This session will examine various approaches to improving the quality, efficiency and safety of your TB Laboratory.
Moderator: Roy Tu’ua, M(ASCP), Missouri State Public Health Laboratory
Specimen Collection, Packaging and Shipping
William Slanta, M(ASCP), Arizona Department of Health Services
Biosafety and Risk Assessment for New Molecular Methods
Michael Pentella, PhD, D(ABMM), William S. Hinton State Laboratory Institute (MA)
Quality Assurance Issues in the TB Lab
Mike Loeffelholz, PhD, D(ABMM), University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Implementing MALDI-TOF MS
Julie Tans-Kersten, MS, MT (ASCP), Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
Special Session
APHL in collaboration with CDC established a quality-assured Drug Susceptibility Testing Reference Center at the California Department of Public Health, Microbial Diseases Laboratory. This session will be an opportunity to learn about enrollment, the role of the reference center, the services provided and its relationship with the Molecular Detection of Drug Resistance (MDDR) testing service provided at CDC.
Moderator: Angela Starks, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Public Health Laboratory Drug Susceptibility Testing Reference Center for Mycobacterium tuberculosis
California Department of Public Health, Microbial Diseases Laboratory
Tuesday, June 9
Perspectives on TB Molecular Diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics such as nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) have become standard for rapid detection of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and more frequently for detection of drug resistance. This session will examine how clinical and public health laboratories have integrated rapid molecular diagnostics into their TB testing algorithms and assessed their impact in various settings.
Moderator: Marie-Claire Rowlinson, PhD, D(ABMM), Florida Bureau of Public Health Laboratories
NAAT in the Clinical Laboratory and Impact on Infection Control
Susan Novak, PhD, D(ABMM), Southern California Permanente Medical Group
Xpert MTB/RIF Performance Characteristics in a State Public Health Laboratory Context
Ken Jost, MT(ASCP), Texas Department of State Health Services
Experience With Xpert MTB/RIF in a Low Incidence State
Nancy Robinson, MPH, M(ASCP), Alabama Bureau of Clinical Laboratories
Setting the Standard: The TB Laboratory System in the US
This session will explore data from two evaluations from the CDC TB Cooperative Agreement grantees. Presenters will discuss trends in testing volumes, turnaround times and methodologies over the last 5 years, as well as discuss the use of appropriate, realistic and evidence-based recommendations to monitor performance.
Moderator: Stephanie Johnston, MS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It’s All About That Data: Five-Year Laboratory Trends From TB Elimination Cooperative Agreements
Frances Tyrrell, M(ASCP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Evaluation of TB Laboratory Performance Indicators
Tracy Dalton, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Highlighting the Work of Our Laboratories
There is much to be learned from work done in the field. This session will highlight the findings of three outstanding abstracts that have broad applications to TB laboratories.
Moderator: William Murtaugh, MPH, Association of Public Health Laboratories
Development of an Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP) for MGIT Pyrazinamide (PZA) Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST)
Denise Hartline, MT(ASCP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Species Identified Using rpoB/hsp65 Gene Sequencing and erm(41) Gene Analysis
Max Salfinger, MD, FIDSA, FAAM, National Jewish Health
Improvements in Efficiency and Safety: Phenol/Alcohol Fixing of AFB Smears
Jessica Gentry, Indiana State Department of Health
Developments in TB Research
The session will provide three cutting-edge projects in TB research, including innovative diagnostics, treatment regimens and the new science of understanding drug resistance.
Moderator: Jafar Razeq, PhD, Dr. Katherine A. Kelley Public Health Laboratory, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Development and Evaluation of New Diagnostic Tests for TB
Susan Dorman, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine
Pharmacokinetics in Pulmonary Lesions/MALDI-MS Imaging Studies of Drug Distributions
Brendan Prideaux, PhD, Rutgers University, Public Health Research Institute
Shortening Drug Regimens: New Agents for Combination Therapy
Eric Nuermberger, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine
TB Case Studies: Lessons From the Field
In practice, there are situations in which the laboratory test results are not clear cut or are difficult to interpret, requiring persistence, good communication and investigative decision making. This session will present four examples of these challenging cases in an interactive format.
Moderators: Marie-Claire Rowlinson, PhD, D(ABMM), Florida Bureau of Public Health Laboratories
Beverly Metchock, DrPH, D(ABMM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Discordance and Low-Level Resistance
Megan Ninneman, MMS, PA-C, Jackson Memorial Hospital
Beverly Metchock, DrPH, D(ABMM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mixed Infections
Paula M. Vagnone, MT(ASCP), Minnesota Department of Public Health
Use of Whole Genome Sequencing for Outbreak Investigation and Control
Edward P. Desmond, PhD, D(ABMM), California Department of Public Health, Microbial Diseases Laboratory
Martin Cilnis, MPH, MS, Outbreak Prevention and Control Section, Tuberculosis Control Branch, California Department of Public Health
Diagnosis of TB from Pathology Tissue Specimens
Julu Bhatnagar, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Infectious Disease Pathology Branch
For more information contact, William Murtaugh, MPH (CPH)Specialist, Infectious Disease, TB Programs, 240.485.2764,
william.murtaugh@aphl.org