New Webinar: “Standardization of Creatinine: Reporting eGFR”

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a growing, worldwide disease which, over time, impairs kidney function. Over a period of years CKD may give rise to complications as diverse as anemia, cardiovascular disease, malnutrition and others. Eventually, CKD can progress to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), defined as requiring radical treatment such as dialysis or transplantation. Thus, early detection is necessary.

Is your lab ready for creatinine standardization?

In order to comply with the new standards, recommended by the National Kidney Disease Education Program’s (NKDEP’s) Laboratory Working Group, your lab will need to begin using the MDRD equation as the preferred method for estimating GFR. However, there are two different MDRD equations: the “conventional calibration MDRD equation” and the MDRD equation that is traceable to isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). Of these, the IDMS-traceable method is the preferred because it is more specific.

This means that labs will need to transfer to this method if they are not already using it. For labs using a different method, this could mean a great deal of change, requiring much communication with physicians, pharmacists and other stakeholders.

Beckman Coulter now offers a new online course, titled “Standardization of Creatinine: Reporting eGFR.” The webinar aims to help participants understand this important new standardized method of measuring creatinine in serum.

This webinar is presented by Peter Heseltine, MC., vice president-medical director, Global Businesses for Beckman Coulter. Dr. Heseltine received his medical training at Trinity College Dublin University and postgraduate training at Yale University; University of California, Los Angeles; and the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC). He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Heseltine was an academic tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Southern California, where he taught medicine and conducted research on surgical infections, vaccines, HIV/AIDS, stroke and neurocognitive disorders. He has published more than 95 peer-reviewed papers, presented more than 100 papers at medical meetings and maintains a position as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine.

Like all Beckman Coulter webinars, the new “Standardization of Creatinine: Reporting eGFR,” which is part of the company’s “Chronic Kidney Disease Series,” is accredited by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) Professional Acknowledgement for Continuing Education (P.A.C.E.) program, which enables participants to receive continuing education credits for viewing the course. Continuing education credits are offered at US$20 per unit. Individual course viewing is free.

To take advantage of this free learning opportunity, visit www.beckmancoulter.com/labquality and select “Personnel,” then “Webinars.”