In this paper we report the development of two attachments to a commercial cell phone that transform the phone's integrated lens and image sensor into a 350× microscope and visible-light spectrometer. The microscope is capable of transmission and polarized microscopy modes and is shown to have 1.5 micron resolution and a usable field-of-view of 150×150 with no image processing, and approximately 350×350 when post-processing is applied. The spectrometer has a 300 nm bandwidth with a limiting spectral resolution of close to 5 nm. We show applications of the devices to medically relevant problems. In the case of the microscope, we image both stained and unstained blood-smears showing the ability to acquire images of similar quality to commercial microscope platforms, thus allowing diagnosis of clinical pathologies. With the spectrometer we demonstrate acquisition of a white-light transmission spectrum through diffuse tissue as well as the acquisition of a fluorescence spectrum. We also envision the devices to have immediate relevance in the educational field.

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A 46-year-old previously healthy female developed flu-like symptoms several days prior to presenting to a local hospital. The patient did not note a recent travel history, specifically denying travel to China. Sick contact exposure was not known. Chest X-ray and computed tomography of the chest showed findings concerning for lobar pneumonia.Subsequent radiology studies showed worsening lung findings along I M A G E 1 Review of the peripheral smear at ×100 magnification shows a nucleated erythroid, A, rare blast, with prominent nucleoli and immature chromatin pattern, B, a left shifted myeloid series with immature promyelocytes and metamyelocyte, C, and occasional monocytes noted, D

Dabigatran etexilate is a new oral anticoagulant that functions as a direct thrombin inhibitor. An inhibitor of thrombin has the potential to interfere with essentially all clot-based coagulation assays and select chromogenic assays, whereas the drug would not be expected to interfere in antigen-based assays. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dabigatran on various specialized coagulation assays using normal plasma specimens with varying concentrations of dabigatran (the active form of dabigatran etexilate). We have demonstrated that samples containing therapeutic levels of dabigatran may lead to underestimation of intrinsic factor activities with abnormal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) mixing study results and a false-positive factor VIII Bethesda titer; overestimation of protein C and protein S activity and activated protein C resistance ratio when determined using aPTT-based methods; and overestimation of results based on chromogenic anti-IIa assays but no effect on antigen assays and select chromogenic assays.

The INR, aPTT, and TT rise as dabigatran concentrations increase. Both the INR and aPTT increase in a linear pattern with marginal slopes, creating challenges in using these assays as reliable means for assessing the amount of dabigatran present. The commercial TT assay is very sensitive at low concentrations of dabigatran. Fibrinogen test results may be either unaffected or lower in the presence of dabigatran.

In the past, transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) infections were not uncommon. In recent years with advanced technologies and improved donor screening, the risk of viral transfusion transmission has been markedly reduced. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have all shown marked reduction in transmission rates. However, the newer technologies, including nucleic acid technology (NAT) testing, have affected the residual rates differently for these virally transmitted diseases. Zero risk, which has been the goal, has yet to be achieved. False negatives still persist, and transmissions of these viruses still occur, although rarely. It is known that HBV serological testing misses some infected units; likewise, HBV NAT-negative units have also been known to transmit the virus. Similarly, HIV minipool NAT-negative units have transmitted HIV, as recently as 2007; likely, these transmissions would have been prevented with single-unit NAT testing. Newer technologies, such as pathogen inactivation (PI), will (ideally) eliminate these falsely test negative components, regardless of the original testing method used for detecting the viruses.

Transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease (TA‐GvHD) is a rare complication of transfusion of cellular blood components producing a graft‐versus‐host clinical picture with concomitant bone marrow aplasia. The disease is fulminant and rapidly fatal in the majority of patients. TA‐GvHD is caused by transfused blood‐derived, alloreactive T lymphocytes that attack host tissue, including bone marrow with resultant bone marrow failure. Human leucocyte antigen similarity between the transfused lymphocytes and the host, often in conjunction with host immunosuppression, allows tolerance of the grafted lymphocytes to survive the host immunological response. Any blood component containing viable T lymphocytes can cause TA‐GvHD, with fresher components more likely to have intact cells and, thus, able to cause disease. Treatment is generally not helpful, while prevention, usually via irradiation of blood components given to susceptible recipients, is the key to obviating TA‐GvHD. Newer methods, such as pathogen inactivation, may play an important role in the future.

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