Hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia/turbidity (HIL) are commonly encountered endogenous interferents in the clinical laboratory. These sub-par specimens may adversely affect laboratory results from a variety of mechanisms including spectral interference, chemical interference, and plasma/serum contamination from intracellular content. Therefore, recognition of these interferences is important to ensure specimen integrity. Detection is frequently accomplished via an automated serum index (SI) for clinical chemistry platforms. When an SI threshold is reached, laboratory actions may include releasing, commenting, or cancelling the impacted result. To determine when these actions are necessary, SI rules may be built in the laboratory information system (LIS) or middleware that interfaces the instrument to the LIS. This session will highlight the impact of HIL interference to common laboratory tests, methods for SI laboratory evaluation, implementation of SI middleware-based rules, and HIL laboratory-based mitigation strategies.
This session offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit.
Faculty/Authors
McShane Adam
Physician Competencies: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge
CME/CMLE Credit: 1.0
Estimated Completion Time: 1 hour
Format: Online Educational Activity
Accreditation Statement: The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
Credit Designation Statement: The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Instructions
To claim CME/CMLE credit for the exercise, do the following:
- Review the Technical Considerations.
- Review the Faculty Disclosures.
- Click Go to Course to view an overview of the modules in this course.
- Click Access to begin the course.
- Submit the course Evaluation.
- Enter the maximum number of credits offered and click Claim CME to register credit.
Faculty Disclosure
Technical Considerations
Release Date: 11/19/2025
Review Date:
Expiration Date: