Labce by MediaLab

03/20/2026

Thank you for participating in Under the Scope with Octavius, who celebrated histologists this week for Histotechnology Professionals Day (March 10)! This week's answer is...

Glomerular basement membrane stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and counterstained with hematoxylin.

PAS staining reacts with carbohydrate-rich structures, making components such as the basement membrane and mesangial matrix appear vivid magenta. The hematoxylin counterstain provides contrast by coloring cell nuclei deep blue to purple, helping distinguish cellular structures from the surrounding tissue.

03/17/2026

📊 CE Webinar Announcement

The QC Toolkit: Interpreting Results, Setting Ranges, and Applying Failure Rules

Quality control is the backbone of reliable laboratory results. Join Dr. Alec Saitman for an in-depth webinar covering essential QC concepts—from interpreting QC results to applying Westgard rules and adjusting means and standard deviations.

🗓 Date: March 19, 2026
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM EST
🔗Register here: https://medialab.zoom.us/webinar/register/6817574368092/WN_ESy2cof_T_enG9zVkcuNww

This webinar is the fourth session in the series: From CLIA to Competency: Raising the Standards of Excellence in Clinical Laboratory Practice.

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your QC knowledge and improve laboratory quality practices.

1.0 P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours
Level of Instruction: Basic
MediaLab by Vastian is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

03/17/2026

Last week was Histotechnology Professionals Day (March 10), and while we may be a little late, there’s never a bad time to celebrate histotechnology professionals and their incredible impact on patient care. Thank you for all you do!

This week’s Under the Scope is dedicated to our histologists. Can you name the finding at the arrow? Bonus points for naming the stain(s) used. Put your guess in the comments.

Check back in on Friday, March 20, at 5:00 PM ET for the answer!

03/14/2026

🥧 Happy Pi Day from the Lab!

Quick math lesson: pi is the ratio between a circle's diameter and its circumference. Measure across your pie, measure around the edge—pi is always 3.14159...

Sounds random, but this ratio shows up everywhere in the lab—calculating volumes, measuring concentrations, analyzing circular samples. Pi is the invisible ingredient that makes precision possible. 🧪

Think of it this way: just like you need the right ratio of ingredients for a good pie, you need pi for accurate lab results. So eat your pie while celebrating Pi! 🎉

03/08/2026

🔬 International Women's Day: Standing on Giants' Shoulders

The history of medical science is built on the brilliant work of women who refused to be sidelined (looking at you, Marie Curie). Think about it: the breakthroughs that save lives every single day? Many of them came from women scientists working in labs, analyzing samples, identifying diseases, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Women like Jennifer Doudna revolutionizing gene therapy, or the countless lab professionals running diagnostics that literally change patients' outcomes.

We're not just celebrating history. We're celebrating the amazing women scientists and lab professionals working right now. The ones proving every day that brilliance has no gender. Here's to breaking more barriers. 💪

03/06/2026

Join us on March 12th at 1:00 pm ET for a free CE webinar in collaboration with COLA. Featuring Dr. Lesley Northrop, a recognized industry advisor with vast experience in leadership.

Birth of a Leader in Laboratory Diagnostics: From Bench to Boardroom

Designed for laboratory professionals focused on leadership and career growth, this webinar will explore how to:
🔹 Identify the gap between scientific leadership and executive decision-making
🔹 Translate clinical data into valuation, margin growth, and strategic conversations
🔹 Lead diverse teams through restructuring and high-growth phases
🔹 Position laboratory expertise as a driver of business and clinical outcomes

Register here: https://medialab.zoom.us/webinar/register/3317718635242/WN_5V-4imQJSAeRzgv2Beefvg

🎓 This webinar is approved for 1.0 P.A.C.E. contact hours. Level of Instruction: Basic. MediaLab by Vastian is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ®

Dr. Lesley E. Northrop explores the evolution of scientific experts into influential organizational leaders. This session examines the critical gap that often exists between technical leadership and executive responsibilities. Attendees will learn practical approaches for translating clinical and la...

02/26/2026

What does it take to move from scientific expert to organizational leader?

We’re excited to spotlight Dr. Lesley E. Northrop, PhD, FACMG, featured speaker for our upcoming webinar: Birth of a Leader in Laboratory Diagnostics: From Bench to Boardroom

🗓️ March 12, 2026 | 🕐 1:00 PM ET | 🔗https://medialab.zoom.us/webinar/register/3317718635242/WN_5V-4imQJSAeRzgv2Beefvg

As the founder of Laboratory Diagnostics & Genomics Innovation, LLC and host of the Diagnostic Guru podcast, Dr. Northrop has helped organizations turn diagnostic innovation into real-world impact.

In this session, she’ll explore:
✔️ Bridging the gap between laboratory expertise and executive leadership
✔️ Translating clinical data into language that resonates with C-suite leaders and investors
✔️ Leading teams through innovation, restructuring, and growth

If you’re a laboratory professional thinking about leadership, strategy, or career advancement, this session is designed for you.

Presented in collaboration with COLA.

This webinar is approved for 1.0 P.A.C.E. contact hours.
Level of Instruction: Basic.
MediaLab by Vastian is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ®through MediaLab by Vastian.

02/17/2026

Join us for the next webinar in our series "From CLIA to Competency: Raising the Standards of Excellence in Clinical Laboratory Practice."

Webinar: Keeping It Clear: Best Practices for Laboratory Policies and Procedures

📅 Webinar Date: February 19th, 2026
🕐 Time: 1 PM ET

Clear, effective policies and procedures are the backbone of lab quality and safety. In this webinar, we’ll explore how to write, review, and implement policies that actually work.

Topics include:
Distinguishing between policies, procedures, and work instructions
Leveraging document management systems for efficiency
Drafting clear, compliant documents that elevate laboratory operations
This is a must-attend for clinical lab professionals committed to strengthening compliance and operational excellence.

🔗 Register Here: https://medialab.zoom.us/webinar/register/7917574366216/WN_nG7wWgVIRGCgu0QjvUH60Q

1.0 P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours
Level of Instruction: Basic
MediaLab by Vastian is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

02/14/2026

02/13/2026

🐙The LabCE MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package now features microlearning with the addition of mini courses!

📖Mini courses are short, focused learning modules designed to deliver efficient, high-value instruction that reinforces key concepts or introduces new topics during training or coursework. Although they do not offer CE credit, mini courses provide a convenient way to maintain knowledge and support ongoing professional development.

✅Over 200 P.A.C.E.®-approved CE courses for certification and licensure maintenance
✅Over 45 mini courses with new courses added every month

🔗For more information, visit https://labce.com/mls_mt_mlt_lab_continuing_education.aspx

02/06/2026

Thank you for participating in Under the Scope with Octavius! 🔬🐙 This week's answer is...
Red blood cell cast!

Red blood cell (RBC) casts form when intact RBCs become trapped within a protein (Tamm-Horsfall/uromodulin) matrix in the renal tubules. Their presence is highly specific for bleeding within the kidney, particularly at the glomerular level, and is always considered pathologic.

Under the scope, RBC casts appear as cylindrical casts containing numerous intact RBCs embedded within the cast matrix. RBCs may be well preserved or partially degenerated, depending on the urine concentration and the age of the cast. The cast outline may be smooth or slightly granular, but the key feature is the organized alignment of RBCs within the cast, distinguishing them from free RBCs.

RBC casts are mostly seen in glomerulonephritis (acute or chronic), vasculitic renal diseases, malignant hypertension causing glomerular injury, renal trauma, and renal infarction.

02/02/2026

Welcome to Under the Scope with Octavius! 🔬🐙

Can you name the urine finding at the arrow? Put your guess in the comments.

Check back in on Friday, February 6, at 5:00 PM ET for the answer!