Explain This Test; Does it prove a thing??

Discussion in 'Know Error' started by Anonymous, Feb 24, 2012 at 9:15 AM.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I actually noticed several of their collection kits at a Pathology Lab the other day. Even the pathologist really had no idea what its for.

    Can somebody please tell me....I am so confused...:(
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    This is a prostate biopsy kit with a DNA swab. It's only as good as the office using it.
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    So plus is trying to tell the Dr and his staff they are a bunch of incompetent people that can mix up peoples biopsies from time to time. Shouldn’t know error fall on the lab processing the biopsy and not the office?
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The office takes a swab in the mouth for DNA and if one (or more) of the biopsies come back positive for cancer then they compare to make sure it's the correct patient. PLUS is trying to market this because offices mix up labeling the specimens. It's pretty much BS
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Why is it that the main users of Know Error are those Urology groups that do their own pathology???

    These groups have COMPLETE control of the specimen from the time it leaves the patient until the time the pathology report is issued. If they can get a patient to sign the envelope containing the swab, do you think maybe they can get the patient to sign the sealed container enclosing their specimens?

    Could it be that the Urologists don't know much about Pathology processes and that their hired Pathologists can't take responsibility for designing a process that is not really theirs in the first place? Why don't the companies that offer lab-in-the-box solutions offer quality process specimen identification procedures as well?

    Maybe its just too much to ask for conscientious professional dedication when the activity is done for profit rather than for the benefit of the patient?
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Ouch!
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest



    Perfectly put. I wish the urologists were on the up and up but we all know there's no way. I am sure there is some extra $ incentive for them to utilize this. So sad....



    Perfectly put. I'm sure there is some kind of extra $ to be made by doing this. It's really sad.....
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Sorry, my reply came thru twice!
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Let me see if I understand this business model. These kits (or at least pamphlets announcing their availability) hang out in waiting rooms. They emphasize the probability of a mistake being made somewhere along the way in mislabeling/misidentifying the specimen and the frequency is common enough to warrant the additional protection of the procedure. Assumed in the literature is the mistake so commonly occurring in the office-mislabeling/misidentification-has been completely eliminated in the "Know Error" procedure. There must be some mighty generous "commissions/finder's fees/kickbacks" to the providers. As a professional, I would be profoundly embarassed to have literature in my office that highlighted the probability of a mistake being made-1 to 3%!.
    Strikes me as something just short of allowing a malpractice lawyer to place his business card in the waiting room below a sign announcing, "Call me when this guy screws up"
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    You're giving them too much credit. The real reason the urologists use KnowError is the same reason they opened an IOL: $$ greed $$.

    On top 12, 16, 36 biopsies, and special stains they can bill another $400-500 for this. And I'll bet the ones doing it in office probably are doing it on all patients and not just the positive cases. I'm sure they don't want a mix up on a false negative, after all.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I know a histotech that worked for a urology lab in Indiana that does this test. She said they run it on the positive cases only. I believe the lab she worked at had a urologist that actually developed the test and founded Strand Diagnostics.

    Look at the new Medicare website that shows what Medicare paid out to Strand Diagnostics in 2012. It was over 4 million dollars I believe for this test.

    I'd be curious to see data from the labs that are using the test. Are they actually finding any errors? If so I wouldnt want my biopsy going to them. How can I trust that the DNA test was labeled properly? Does the lab do anything to figure out what happened? It seems like a waste of money to spend 450 bucks just because the lab and physician offices are too stupid to properly label specimens.

    A lab in New York called Manahattan labs started doing Know Error on positive pap tests last year. Can you believe that? This country is sure wasting our health care dollars.
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Manhattan Labs, they are the same people from Know Error.