The Clinical Laboratory and the

Hematologist

Barbara A. Konkle, M.D.

Medical Director, Hemostasis Reference Laboratory
Puget Sound Blood Center
Professor of Medicine/Hematology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
 Disclosures
• Nothing to disclose
 Potential Role of Hematologist
• Board Certification in Hematology or Heme/Onc
– Direct a Hematology and/or Hemostasis Laboratory
• Hematology subspecialty certification requires a year of training
in hematology and an ABP approved year
– Eligible for one year Transfusion Medicine fellowship
and subsequent certification
– Direct services such as apheresis/stem cell collection
• CLIA Laboratory Director
• 1 year of laboratory training during fellowship or 2
years of supervisory experience in laboratory
 Advantages of Lab Role

• Better understanding of laboratory

evaluation and interpretation
• Better understanding of transfusion issues
• Salary support
• Avenues for clinical/translational research
Challenges in Lab Role
• Training
• Relationship to Pathology
• Hospital Structure
 Current Training
Results of Survey (26/40 responses)

• 26/40 responses to survey

• 25/26 combined heme/onc training
• Percent of fellows who take Heme
Boards:
 Laboratory Training
Lab Elective Mandatory
Hematology/Hematopathology 52.2% 47.8%
Molecular Diagnostics 63.2% 36.8%
Hemostasis 63.6% 36.4%
Transfusion Medicine 48.9% 52.0%

Lab 0% 1-10% 11-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-100% Total #

Heme/Hematopathology 3 1 4 3 1 14 26
Molecular Diagnostics 6 6 1 1 2 7 23
Hemostasis 4 1 5 5 2 9 26
Transfusion Medicine 1 2 3 5 2 13 26
 Lectures in Core Curriculum

Lecture Topic Percent Response

Peripheral Blood Smear Interpretation 88%
Bone Marrow Interpretation 92%
Hemostasis Testing 92%
Hemoglobin Analysis 72%
 Discussion

• Role of clinical laboratory

positions for hematologists
• Training avenues