Quintiles Transnational (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) said it plans to expand and consolidate its Global Central Laboratories in Smyrna, Georgia and its Clinical Development Services (CDS) office in Atlanta within a single structure in nearby Marietta, Georgia.

The 201,366-square-foot, three-story structure in Marietta will more than double the combined space now occupied by Global Central Laboratories in Smyrna and CDS in Atlanta, allowing for the addition of about 400 jobs through 2011. Renovation of the structure is expected to begin the third quarter of 2007, with the first groups of employees scheduled to move during the second quarter of 2008.

InSight to emerge from Chapter 11

InSight Health Services Holdings (Lake Forest, California) reported that the joint prepackaged plan of reorganization of it and its wholly owned subsidiary InSight Health Services, has been confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the district of Delaware, clearing the way for InSight's and IHSC's emergence from Chapter 11. InSight also reported that Bank of America has committed to provide financing in the form of a $30 million revolving credit facility that will be used to provide working capital for ongoing operations.

InSight said it expects the plan to become effective on or about August 1, once all the conditions of the plan have been satisfied and the $30 million revolving credit facility has closed.

InSight makes diagnostic imaging services.

New guide focuses on coagulometers

Coagulometers are used in clinical laboratories for the common screening tests including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin clotting time, and Clauss fibrinogen assay.

Some analyzers may also have the capability to perform chemiluminescent assays. With newer trends in hemostasis testing and tailored reagent/instrument manufacturing, there is a need for a more holistic outlook to instrument evaluation prior to use for patient testing samples.

In response to this need, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; Wayne, Pennsylvania) has published a new document, "Protocol for the Evaluation, Validation, and Implementation of Coagulometers; Proposed Guideline (H57-P)," which specifies recommendations on how to plan and execute the selection, evaluation, validation, and implementation of a laboratory coagulometer.

It includes assessment of safety, carryover, precision, bias, linearity, and comparability for coagulometers that perform clotting, chromogenic and/or immunoturbidometric and/or chemiluminescent testing.

MedQuist hires Bear, Stearns & Co.

MedQuist (Mt. Laurel, New Jersey) reported that, at the direction of the company's board, the company has engaged Bear, Stearns & Co. to advise the company and the board on strategic alternatives for the company.

MedQuist is a provider of medical transcription technology and services, which are integral to the clinical documentation workflow. MedQuist is a member of the Philips Group and collaborates with Philips Medical Systems in marketing and product development to leverage Philips' technology and professional expertise to deliver industry-leading solutions for its customers.

Georgia newborn screening reveals disorders

As a result of the newborn screening expansion in Georgia, all babies born since January 1, 2007 have been screened for a uniform 28 disorders. Sixty-one of these babies have been identified as having one of the genetic or functional disorders included in the screening and nineteen of these babies were identified because of the expanded screenings that began on January 1. Twelve of the 19 babies identified through the newly expanded screening have been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and seven have been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder.

"Without the expansion of the screening panel from 12 to 28 this year, many of these babies' disorders would not be identified until 2 or 3 years of age," said Tricia Page, genetics counselor and NBS program manager at the department of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta). "Now that this early diagnosis is possible, parents have the opportunity to become knowledgeable about their child's disorder before he or she becomes ill, has to receive treatment or endure time in the hospital. Six months ago many of these children may have died or been permanently disabled as a result of their unidentified genetic or metabolic disorders."