Know Error Blog: DNA Confirmation of Positive Biopsy

Know Error is Participating in the Society of Breast Imaging's Breast MRI Course

2012-01-29T16:51:55Z

The know error® system for breast biopsies will be participating at the Society of Breast Imaging's (SBI) next course -- Practical Breast MRI: Case Based Review." The course takes place January 28 - 29, 2012 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Hotel in Orlando, FL. Look for our tabletop display in the registration area.

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system for breast biopsies which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Available for a diverse range of tissue types, including breast, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care. To learn more about the know error® system for breast biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

Woman Undergoes Unneccessary Radiation Treatment Due to Lab Error

2011-12-28T19:07:40Z

According to an article in the New York Post, a New York woman who was undergoing surgery for injuries caused in a car accident was misdiagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer based on a lab's mishandling of her biopsy tissue. During routine post surgical tests, the woman's biopsy was contaminated with tissue from the sample of a patient who did have cancer. Since the diagnosis was Stage 4 cancer, her doctors recommended radiation treatment as soon as possible. However, after doctors were unable to pinpoint her type of cancer, they asked for a second opinion from a different lab. The new test revealed the misdiagnosis but not before she had already undergone 6 radiation treatments.

This is different than the chain of events leading to a misdiagnosis that have occurred in most cases covered in this blog. Typically, a lab mix up occurs which results in a false diagnosis, ultimately leading to unnecessary surgery and/or treatment for cancer. It is not until after the surgery that the routine post surgical tests of the biopsied tissue reveal there was no cancer in the first place. In this case, the testing of the post surgical biopsy tissue (from an unrelated surgery) was where the mistake and resulting misdiagnosis occurred.

Regardless of where the error occurred in the complex biopsy evaluation process, it is possible to avoid adverse outcomes such as these. Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. In this case, DNA testing conducted prior to treatment would have revealed two tissue types and that the one with cancer did not match this patient's DNA.

Available for a diverse range of tissue types, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care.

To learn more about the know error® system, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

Know Error is Sponsoring the Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Summit

2011-11-11T16:04:00Z

Know Error is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Connecticut Challenge Survivorship Summit: "Bringing Together Leaders in Cancer Survivorship." This annual symposium will be held November 15, 2011 at the New Haven Lawn Club in New Haven, CT. The event is featuring speakers from world renowned cancer centers, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Kenneth Miller, MD, Director of the Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will wrap up the program with a presentation titled: "Buy-in and Pushback: How survivorship fits into the system." Click here to learn more about this meeting.

The mission of the Connecticut Challenge is "to empower cancer survivors to live healthier, happier and longer lives." According to its website, the Connecticut Challenge raised more than $1.4 million in 2010 with 86 cents of every dollar going towards program services and grants.

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Available for a diverse range of tissue types, including prostate and breast, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process.

Know Error Sponsored Key to the Cure Event at Saks Fifth Avenue

2011-11-08T16:26:44Z

Know Error was a proud sponsor of the 5th Annual "Key to the Cure" event hosted by the St. Vincent Foundation and Saks Fifth Avenue. The event was held October 15th, 2011 at Saks Fifth Avenue at Keystone at the Crossing and was part of a nationwide Saks fundraising initiative to raise funds for cancer treatment and research. The proceeds from the Indianapolis event will benefit St. Vincent Cancer Care.

The black-tie event included a cocktail reception, seated dinner, fashion show, live auction and dancing. According to the Indianapolis Star, the 2011 fundraiser raised close to $500,000 which will support important initiatives at St. Vincent Cancer Care. To date, the Saks Fifth Avenue and St. Vincent Foundation partnership has raised more than $2 million.

Know Error develops and markets the know error® system which utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. Since the company's launch in 2009, hundreds of physicians in a variety of specialties have incorporated the know error® system as a standard for their patient care.

To learn more about the know error® system, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

Know Error to Participate in Breast Cancer Symposium

2011-10-31T05:00:00Z

Know Error is proud to be a part of the 8th Annual Lee-Ann Riley Memorial Breast Symposium -- "Emerging Trends in Breast Cancer Management: From Diagnosis to Survivorship." The symposium is being hosted by the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center at Bridgeport Hospital and takes place on October 26, 2011 in Shelton, CT. Click here for more information on this meeting.

The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center is dedicated to providing a comprehensive network of services for complete breast health. Its multidisciplinary team of breast cancer specialists provides one-on-one care, with dignity, privacy, and warmth, in a serene, comfortable, thoroughly professional setting.

To learn more about the know error® system for breast biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

The know error® system Will Participate at Society of Breast Imaging's Breast MRI Course

2011-08-22T18:30:37Z

The know error® system for breast biopsies will be participating at the Society of Breast Imaging's (SBI) next course -- "Practical Breast MRI: Case Based Review." The course takes place September 17-18, 2011 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, CA. Look for our tabletop display in the registration area.

The know error® system for breast biopsies brings a new standard of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. By establishing specimen provenance as part of the biopsy evaluation process, the know error® system arms physicians with critical information to recommend the appropriate path for patient treatment. Since its launch in the spring of 2010, the system has identified DNA non-matches in more than 1% of the patient cases for whom testing has been performed.

To learn more about the know error® system for breast biopsies, visit our website www.knowerror.com.