Instrumentation Laboratory To Host Webinar On Laboratory And Clinical Aspects Of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)

A Common and Potentially Devastating Adverse Drug Event

Bedford, MA /PRNewswire/ - Instrumentation Laboratory (IL), today announced it will host an ILluminations webinar on HIT, to be held on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Central European Time). This web-based, Continuing Education seminar will feature Andreas Greinacher, M.D., presenting "Laboratory and Clinical Aspects of HIT." The essential components for successful implementation and management of a HIT testing program will be discussed.

HIT is a severe immune reaction to Heparin that can result in the paradoxical development of a thrombotic event. One of the most common of all adverse drug effects, due to the sheer volume of patients receiving Heparin therapy (over 12 million patients annually in the US alone), it has a significant impact on anticoagulant management in hospitals worldwide. If left untreated, patients with HIT may develop serious sequelae, including pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, or death.

Dr. Greinacher, from University Hospital of Ernst Moritz Arndt University, in Greifswald, Germany, will present valuable insights into the clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of HIT. He will also analyze current HIT testing methodologies and discuss the impact of implementing a laboratory testing program to optimize therapeutic decision-making in HIT-suspected patients. The program will qualify for continuing education credit in participating countries.

"We believe this upcoming webinar on HIT, featuring Dr. Greinacher, a world-renowned expert, will address the key issues facing clinicians today when they treat patients with Heparin," said Ramon Benet, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and US Sales and Service at IL. "Already considered an important diagnostic challenge in the US, we hope to bring awareness and knowledge of the pathology, and its management, to clinicians in other parts of the world."

Registering to Attend
Through October 4th, 2010, individuals can register to attend this webinar, online at: www.ilus.com/illuminations. French, German, Italian and Spanish language interpretation of the live presentation will also be available through a separate audio conference phone number, received upon registration.

Speaker Biography
Dr. Greinacher is the Department Head and Professor, Institute of Immunology and Tranfusion Medicine, and Head of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Service at the Medical School and University Hospital of Ernst Moritz Arndt University, in Greifswald, Germany. He is a specialist in HIT, platelet disorders, immunohematology, and thrombosis and hemostasis. For the past ten years, Dr. Greinacher has been at the forefront of research on the causes, treatment and diagnosis of HIT. His studies have been published in: The New England Journal of Medicine, Blood, Journal of Thrombosis & Haemostasis, Circulation, Nature Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Thrombosis Research, European Journal of Haematology and American Journal of Pathology. Dr. Greinacher also co-authored the book, Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia, with Dr. T.E. Warkentin.

Dr. Greinacher's expertise extends beyond the academic setting, encompassing practical clinical knowledge through his role as Head of the Transfusion Medicine Department and Head of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Service at the University Hospital in Greifswald. An active member of several thrombosis, immunology, and transfusion-related societies, including the ISTH, Dr. Greinacher is equipped with a rich knowledge-base to critically and effectively approach all clinical and laboratory aspects of HIT.

About the ILluminations Webinar Series
ILluminations Webinars are educational, web-based seminars led by industry experts and opinion leaders. The Series features timely topics and industry challenges that impact the effectiveness and success of healthcare. Started in 2009, ILluminations Webinar Series will include three online events focused on improving clinical outcomes through point-of-care testing. All past ILluminations Webinars can be downloaded or streamed at www.ilus.com in the eLearning Center.

Instrumentation Laboratory (www.ilus.com), founded in 1959, is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and distributor of in vitro diagnostic instruments, related reagents and controls for use primarily in hospitals and independent clinical laboratories. The company's product lines include critical care systems, hemostasis systems and information management systems. IL's GEM® product offerings, part of the critical care line, include the new GEM Premier 3500 with Intelligent Quality Management (iQM®), GEM Premier 4000 analyzer, GEMweb Plus Custom Connectivity, and the GEM PCL Plus, a portable coagulation analyzer. IL's hemostasis portfolio includes the ACL TOP Family of Hemostasis Testing Systems, fully automated, high-productivity analyzers, including the new ACL TOP 700, the new ACL TOP 700 LAS and the ACL TOP 500 CTS. IL also offers the new ACL AcuStar™, ACL ELITE® and ELITE PRO, other hemostasis analyzers and the HemosIL® line of reagents, including HIT-Ab(PF4-H). IL is based in Bedford, Massachusetts.

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SOURCE Instrumentation Laboratory