LGH Patient Safety Fair 2025

InFocus  •  Spring 2025 Issue  •  May 27, 2025

LGH Patient Safety Fair 2025 - Movie Theme "Blockbuster Safety: Starring High Reliability"

In response to rising rates of congenital syphilis in the US, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends screening all pregnant individuals for syphilis at their first prenatal care visit, during the third trimester, and at birth, rather than a risk-based testing approach. To support these guideline changes, the LGH Laboratory brought syphilis serology testing in-house in January 2025. We utilize the reverse sequence algorithm that begins with an antibody test specific to Treponema pallidum (the causative agent of syphilis) that, if reactive, reflexes to a non-treponemal test (RPR) for confirmation. Since going live with syphilis testing, the Core Lab performs about 1,000 of these tests per month, of which only a small subset continues on to reflex testing performed in the Microbiology Lab.

The LGH Core Laboratory and Microbiology Departments presented this data in a joint display at the 2025 Patient Safety Fair to coincide with this year's theme, "Blockbuster Safety: Starring High Reliability." The Core and Micro teams shared information about the importance of algorithmic-based testing and how early detection and treatment of syphilis can mitigate the risk of congenital syphilis. The presentation was very well received - the Laboratory received a certificate for “Most Demonstrated Outcomes.”