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What Is a CLIA-Certified Lab?

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What Is a CLIA-Certified Lab?

If you’re like many people, you may not know what CLIA-certified Lab means.

CLIA stands for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, and it is a certification that is given to labs that meet specific requirements.

For our discussion today, we will take an in-depth look at what those requirements are and what being CLIA-certified means for you and your health. We’ll also discuss the different types of allergy tests available and how they work.

What Are Allergies and How Can They Be Treated?

Allergies are a common occurrence in the United States. It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans suffer from some form of allergy.

Allergies occur when your body mistakes a harmless substance for a dangerous invader.

When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system kicks into gear and releases chemicals, such as histamine, to protect your body.

This can cause symptoms like itching, swelling, and trouble breathing. Some people have mild allergies, while others have severe allergies that can be life-threatening.

What Are the Most Common Allergies in the United States?

There are many different types of allergies, and they can be triggered by a variety of things such as:

  • Seasonal allergies (hay fever): This is caused by pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds.
  • Dust mites: These tiny creatures live in dust and are found in almost every home.
  • Animal dander: This is the flakes of skin that animals shed.
  • Cockroaches: Cockroach allergies are more common in inner-city areas.
  • Food allergies: The most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.
  • Insect sting: These can cause a severe reaction, especially if you’re allergic to bee stings.
  • Drug allergies: Some people are allergic to certain medications, such as penicillin.
  • Mold: Mold spores are found in the air and can cause allergic reactions.

What Are the Symptoms of Allergies?

In some cases, an allergy can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

This is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

Symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, and dizziness. If you experience these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.

Other more common allergies can cause a range of symptoms from mild to severe. These ailments can include:

  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose
  • Itchy eyes
  • Nasal congestion
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Rash or hives
  • Itchy throat or mouth
  • Swollen tongue or lips
  • Stomach cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness

What Are My Treatment Options?

If you have allergies, there are several treatment options available.

For severe or life-threatening allergies you’ll be prescribed an EpiPen.

This is a device that injects a dose of epinephrine, which can help to reduce the symptoms of anaphylaxis.

If you have seasonal allergies, you may want to consider using an allergy shot (immunotherapy).

Immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that can help to reduce your symptoms and make them more manageable. You can also:

  • Avoiding trigger substances.
  • Taking over-the-counter or prescription medications.
  • Getting allergy shots.
  • Surgery.

The best treatment option for you will depend on the severity of your allergies and how well you tolerate different treatments.

What Is an At-Home Allergy Test?

An at-home allergy test is a test that you can take in the comfort of your own home to determine if you are allergic to certain substances.

At-home allergy tests are usually skin prick tests or blood tests.

  • With a skin prick test, a small amount of the allergen is placed on your skin. If you are allergic to the substance, you will develop a raised, itchy bump at the site of the prick.
  • With a blood test, a sample of your blood is taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Blood tests can be used to diagnose allergies to substances that are difficult to test with skin prick tests, such as food allergies.

What Is a CLIA-Certified Lab and What Does It Mean for You?

Now that we have discussed at-home allergy tests and the different types of allergies, you may be wondering what a CLIA-certified lab is.

CLIA stands for Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.

To be CLIA-certified Lab, a laboratory must meet specific requirements set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

These requirements ensure that laboratories are properly managed and that they provide accurate and reliable test results. To be certified, a lab must:

  • Be accredited by an organization that CMS has approved.
  • Have a written quality assurance plan that meets CMS standards.
  • Follow all federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Maintain proper personnel qualifications.
  • Use only approved methods of testing.
  • Ensure the accuracy and precision of test results.
  • Provide test results that are reported promptly.

What Does CLIA-Certification Mean for You?

Being CLIA-certified Lab is important because it means that a laboratory is held to high standards.

When you get your at-home allergy test from a CLIA-certified lab, you can be confident that the results are accurate and reliable.

In Closing:

If you are considering getting an at-home allergy test, be sure to choose a CLIA-certified lab.

Doing so will ensure that you get accurate and reliable results.

There are many different types of allergies, and the best treatment option for you will depend on the severity of your allergies and how well you tolerate different treatments.

However, if you’re concerned about allergies, we encourage you to talk to your doctor or take an at-home allergy test.

With the right treatment, you can manage your allergies and live a symptom-free life.

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Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

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Pfizer

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

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New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

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Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke
If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

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Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

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Breast Cancer

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP

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