Preanalytical Phase Conference
Providence Marriott Downtown | October 23 – 24, 2025
Sponsored by
This activity is made possible by the sponsorship from BD.
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Providence Marriott Downtown
1 Orms St, Providence, RI 02904
Thursday, October 23 – Friday, October 24, 2025
*Please note that this program schedule is subject to change.
This keynote explores the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the preanalytical phase of laboratory diagnostics. It highlights opportunities for AI to improve sample collection, handling, and preparation. Outcomes include reducing errors and enhancing efficiency through forecasting and predictive modeling. Join the keynote to learn how the future of preanalytical phase may be impacted by AI and explore its potential to reduce costs and improve patient care.
Moderator: Darci Block, PhD, DABCC | Mayo Clinic
The future of artificial intelligence in the preanalytical phase
Mark A. Zaydman, MD, PhD | Washington University
This session explores innovations in self-collection devices transforming infectious disease, blood collection, and enabling hospital-level care at home. Attendees will learn about culture-based methods using urine, blood, and rectal swabs samples. Experts will share practical strategies for effectively integrating self-collection devices into laboratory workflows, improving diagnostic accuracy and patient convenience, and expanding healthcare accessibility in both clinical laboratories and home-care settings.
Moderator: Raffick Bowen, PhD, MHA, MLT(CSMLS) | Stanford University
Advances in self-collection for infectious disease testing
Melanie Yarbrough, PhD, DABMM, DABCC | Washington University
Applying the latest approaches and technologies in blood collection
Ria Fyffe-Freil, PhD | University of Nebraska Medical Center
Preanalytical considerations to delivering hospital care at home
Nicole Tolan, PhD, DABCC | Washington University
Panel discussion
Take a break and check out the posters on various phases of the preanalytical phase cycle.
Devising strategies for clinician communication around coag testing | Sean Campbell, PhD, DABCC, FADLM | Sinai Health System
Sample routing: Sharing, splitting, and saving | Tina Lockwood, PhD, DABMGG, DABCC | University of Washington
Phlebotomy Jeopardy | Stacy Melanson, MD, PhD | Brigham and Womens Hospital & Anna Merrill, PhD, DABCC | University of Iowa
Reimagining capillary blood collection with the BD® MiniDraw™ capillary blood collection system
Nasrin Al Thubian, MBChB, MBA | BD
Join us for a dynamic session showcasing the BD® MiniDraw™ Capillary Blood Collection System—an innovative solution expanding access to lab-quality diagnostics beyond traditional settings. We’ll explore how BD is addressing challenges with capillary sample quality by enabling standardized collections – no phlebotomy experience required.* We’ll review key clinical data—including clinical equivalence, hemolysis reduction, patient preference—and learn how BD® MiniDraw™ supports decentralized care without compromising lab quality. The session concludes with a product demo, offering a firsthand look at BD’s approach to preanalytical innovation. Join us to learn, connect, and lead with BD.
* in accordance with state laws
Measuring and ensuring fairness in the preanalytical phase of testing | Mark A. Zaydman, MD, PhD | Washington University
Bringing the lab home: Exploring the promises and pitfalls of POC and laboratory testing in the home hospital care model | Nicole Tolan, PhD, DABCC | Washington University
Practical handling of remotely-collected blood samples | Ria Fyffe-Freil, PhD | University of Nebraska Medical Center
This session will discuss common preanalytical challenges that are seen in hematology, coagulation, microbiology and molecular laboratories. Attendees will learn how to identify preanalytical errors, improve specimen transportation and preanalytical workflows, and reduce laboratory specimen contamination. Experts will share best practices to enhance the accuracy and reliability of test results across diverse clinical laboratory environments.
Moderator: Stacy Melanson, MD, PhD | Brigham and Womens Hospital
Reducing preanalytical errors in hematology and coagulation testing
Sean Campbell, PhD, DABCC, FADLM | Sinai Health System
Preanalytical issues in molecular testing
Tina Lockwood, PhD, DABMGG, DABCC | University of Washington
CLSI updates in urine collection and tools to reduce urine contamination
Mark Kellogg, PhD, MT(ASCP), DABCC | Boston Children's Hospital
Panel discussion
User-tested, lab-approved: A hands-on session for building a self collection strategy for infectious disease testing | Melanie Yarbrough, PhD, DABMM, DABCC | Washington University
Serum vs Plasma showdown | Claire Knezevic, PhD, DABCC, NRCC, FADLM | Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago & Darci Block, PhD, DABCC | Mayo Clinic
Ways to leverage your expertise to help guide vendors with product development | Frederick Strathmann, PhD, MBA, DABCC (CC, TC) | MOBILion Systems
Finish day one of the conference by networking with your colleagues and exploring posters on various phases of the preanalytical phase cycle.
Enhancing blood culture collection volumes with ultra-thin wall cannula devices to support data-driven performance monitoring and improvement
Grant Johnson, BSc, MLT, ART | Lakeridge Health
Laboratories face challenges in achieving optimal blood culture collection volumes of 8–10 mL per bottle due to factors like multiple staff, hospital sites, and time constraints. Lakeridge Health encountered these same issues. The solution involved transitioning to the BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Push Button Blood Collection Set, featuring an ultra-thin wall design, and launching a quality improvement initiative to sustain change at the individual collector level. By leveraging BD Synapsys™ middleware, performance awareness was enhanced. Attendees will learn how mechanical design improvements and real-time collection data can be used to drive sustainable quality improvement.
This session is designed to address common preanalytical challenges clinical laboratories face. Attendees will discover new strategies and practical solutions for everyday problems in the preanalytical phase, including minimizing blood draw volumes, mitigating hemolysis errors, and standardizing preanalytical data for process improvement. This session will equip attendees with knowledge and skills to revamp preanalytical workflows in their own laboratories.
Moderator: Anna Merrill, PhD, DABCC | University of Iowa
Doing more with less: Strategies to minimize blood draw volumes and reduce risks
Emily Ryan, PhD, DABCC | Atrium Health
When values don’t make sense: Investigating and reducing hemolysis errors – blood gases, interferences, pseudohyperkalemia, and beyond
Claire Knezevic, PhD, DABCC, NRCC, FADLM | Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Standardization of preanalytical data in EMR
Sarah Wheeler, PhD, FADLM, NRCC | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Panel discussion
Debating best practices in urine specimen collection—Sharing insights and solving challenges | Mark Kellogg, PhD, MT(ASCP), DABCC | Boston Children's Hospital
How much is enough? | Emily Ryan, PhD, DABCC | Atrium Health
Design a dashboard: What would you track? | Sarah Wheeler, PhD, FADLM, NRCC | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Our closing keynote explores the importance of clear and collaborative communication across diverse teams. Learn about communication styles and strategies to maximize effectiveness when engaging with different members of the healthcare team to drive innovation and excellence.
Moderator: Darci Block, PhD, DABCC | Mayo Clinic
Effective communication in a multidisciplinary laboratory field
Frederick Strathmann, PhD, MBA, DABCC (CC, TC) | MOBILion Systems
This activity is made possible by the sponsorship from BD.