Professional Overview
Honors and Awards
- Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Chemistry (2008)
- Outstanding Speaker Award, American Association of Clinical Chemistry (2010)
- Fellow, National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (2012)
- Resident Teaching Award, Faculty of Pathology (2011)
- Distinguished Abstract, National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (2009)
- Fellowship in Clinical Chemistry, Ontario Ministry of Health (2001-2003)
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
Blood collection tubes are much more complex devices than is commonly appreciated by clinical laboratorians. Commercial tubes have multiple components that contribute to the optimal formation of serum or plasma for laboratory analysis.
My research has shown that the silicone surfactant, Silwet L-720, used in blood collection tubes from a major manufacturer interferes with some immunoassays. This surfactant causes desorption of capture antibodies from the solid-phase in some immunoassay reagents.
Since the quality of patient care depends on the quality of all the information that a physician uses in making treatment decisions, blood collection tubes should be manufactured to an extremely high standard like other medical devices.
I am currently testing different types of surfactants on immunoassays. This work will hopefully lead to blood collection tubes with minimum assay interferences and a better understanding of the effects of blood collection tube surfactant on assays, particularly, immunoassays.
Publications
- Identification and Resolution of Immunoassay Interferences Handbook of Diagnostic Endocrinology.
- Discordant aPTT and anti-Xa values and outcomes in hospitalized patients treated with intravenous unfractionated heparin. Ann Pharmacother. 2013; (2): 151-8
- Metabolomic-derived novel cyst fluid biomarkers for pancreatic cysts: glucose and kynurenine. Gastrointest Endosc. 2013
- Preanalytical quality improvement: in quality we trust. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2013; (1): 229-41
- Elevated vitamin B₁₂ levels in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome attributable to elevated haptocorrin in lymphocytes. Clin Biochem. 2012; (6): 490-2
- Serum testosterone quantitation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: interference from blood collection tubes. Clin Biochem. 2012; (18): 1706-9
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