• Georgia: Last week, CDC warned that vials used for blood culture samples are in critically low supply, which could delay diagnoses or lead to misdiagnoses, among other challenges. Currently, there is a shortage of blood culture bottles made by Becton Dickinson (BD), and patients could be negatively affected if current supplies are not properly managed. According to CDC, around half of all U.S. laboratories use a blood culture monitoring system that is only compatible with BD bottles. An executive at BD said the shortage is due to supply chain disruptions and that more bottles should be available in September. In the meantime, CDC has advised health facilities to improve their blood culture collection practices to avoid straining bottle supply. (Goldman, Axios, 7/25)
• New York: A Lyme disease vaccine developed by Pfizer and its French partner Valneva SE recently passed a key milestone, which could allow the drug to enter the market by 2026 if results are favorable. The protein-based vaccine, called VLA15, targets the outer surface of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria so that it cannot leave ticks and infect humans. According to the companies, participants in a late-stage trial have completed the primary three-dose vaccination series and are being monitored until the end of Lyme disease season in 2025. The companies are also conducting a second late-stage trial in children ages 5 to 17. So far, there have been no safety concerns with the vaccine. According to Axios, if results from the trials are favorable, VLA15 could be the first new Lyme disease vaccine in over 20 years. Meanwhile, Moderna is also working on two mRNA-based vaccines for the disease. (Bettelheim, Axios, 7/23)
• New York: According to a recent study published in BMJ, the number of older people living with Type 1 diabetes worldwide has increased by 180% over the last 30 years. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Global Health Data Exchange, which includes information on the global burden of 369 diseases and injuries, as well as 87 risk factors, across 21 regions and 204 countries and territories. Overall, researchers found that the number of people with Type 1 diabetes worldwide increased from 1.3 million in 1990 to 3.7 million in 2019. After age standardization, the increase in Type 1 diabetes among adults ages 65 and older worldwide was 28% over the last 30 years. In the United States, the age-standardized prevalence had an average annual increase of 0.51%, growing from 956 to 1,488 per 100,000 population during the study period. According to the researchers, the findings likely reflect the growing number of people with Type 1 diabetes who are now living to an older age since the disease "is no longer a contributory factor in decreased life expectancy owing to improvements in medical care over the three decades." Overall, the researchers said that the study is "important for health practice and future research, and provide optimistic evidence for all people with T1DM [type 1 diabetes mellitus], especially those with a diagnosis at a young age." (Monaco, MedPage Today, 6/13)

The lab market landscape in 2024 is one of uncertainty and change. A post COVID pendulum swing in investment and a changing regulatory landscape has providers and lab leaders wondering what to do next. In this webinar, we add clarity by breaking down the top trends in the lab and diagnostic landscape and detailing the complex road ahead. Experts from Mayo Clinic Laboratories will join to discuss the latest innovations in diagnostics and opportunities for growth.