Originally Published MPMN January 2004

E-News

My Favorite Bookmarks

Mike Thomas,
Product Manager
LW Scientific Inc.

CLIA (www.fda.gov/cdrh/clia/index.html)is the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment program. It sets 
quality, accuracy, and reliability standards for laboratory tests, including waived tests, in vitro tests, and moderately to highly complex lab tests.

FDA (www.fda.gov/search/databases.html)has databases of medical devices, drugs, and 510(k) clearances. On this site you can search by keywords to find product codes, device classes, and 510(k) exemption status. You can see if your equipment has been registered, or search the Warning Letters database to learn from the mistakes of others. You don't want to be out of compliance!

Since manufacturing microscopes is our business, the Microscopy Primer from Florida State University(www.micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/index.html)is my favorite Web site. After five years in the business, I still go there every few weeks to learn new microscopy techniques, or when someone stumps me with a tough question. You can work a virtual microscope on your computer screen with the hundreds of Java interactive links to polish your microscopy techniques on-line. It's fun!

Another site I would recommend is the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)/ U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes(www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html). Every manufacturer should be familiar with its own product codes, especially if it does business internationally. Go to the Ask Dr. NAICS link for answers to many common questions about why the classification is important and how to use it for your advantage.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (www.osha.gov) has important regulations regarding safety in the manufacturing and use of medical products. Find out if your equipment is compliant, or whether you need an exposure-control plan. There are also many helpful procedures listed to make sure you are safe. Here's a funny one: "1910.1030(d)(2)(xii) Mouth pipetting or suctioning of blood or other potentially infectious materials is prohibited." Don't get caught with a fine, or worse, death!

Many of you lead meetings...some long and boring. Why not energize your meetings with some fun games and stories from www.businessballs.com that will promote teamwork? Bring some Legos, spaghetti, Play-doh, marshmallows, and blindfolds to your next meeting. Play the "Hidden Agenda" game, or read a funny and relevant story like the "Beans up the Nose" story.

LW Scientific Inc. (Tucker, GA; www.lwscientific.com) is an American-owned, ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of laboratory microscopes, centrifuges, and other small lab equipment, selling through a worldwide network of distributors. 

MelodyLee

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