December 16, 1998 - Use of ASRs (In-House Tests) to Monitor HIV/AIDS Drug Therapy ASM sent a letter to the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) requesting FDA's assistance in assuring that clinical laboratories will be able to continue using ASRs (in-house tests) to monitor the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS drug therapy in HIV/AIDS patients.
December 7, 1998 - CLIA Quality Control Provisions The ASM submitted a statement to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding quality control provisions in the Clinical Microbiology Improvement Amendments of 1988.
September 1, 1998 - OSHA Post-hearing Comments The ASM submitted additional information as post-hearing comments as requested during ASM's oral testimony on the proposed rule published by the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on October 17, 1997 in the Federal Register entitled "Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis."
May 7, 1998 - FDA Microbial Reagent and Medical Devices Exemptions The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration in response to the Federal Register Notice asking for comments on the proposal to exempt certain Class I medical devices and microbiological reagents from pre-market notification. ASM objected to a number of serological reagents and microbiology devices proposed for exemption based on public health concerns.
May 7, 1998 - Department of Defense Appropriations The ASM submitted a letter to both the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittees to recommend increased funding for the Department of Defense's (DoD) Military Infectious Diseases Research Program in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999.
May 6, 1998 - National Science Policy Study The ASM submitted comments to the House Science Committee's National Science Policy Study. The Science Policy Study, Chaired by Science Committee Vice Chairman Vernon Ehlers is conducting a review of national science policy and is developing a new long-range science and technology statement.
April 30, 1998 - FDA Microbial Reagent Exemption The ASM submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration in response to the Federal Register Notice asking for comments on the proposal to exempt certain Class II medical devices and microbiological reagents from pre-market notification. ASM objected to a number of reagents proposed for exemption based on public health concerns.
April 28, 1998 - Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act The ASM, along with the Coalition to Preserve Safe Patient Testing, wrote to Congress in support of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988. The Coalition is concerned that H.R.2250 as proposed, would exempt physician office laboratories from any federal oversight.
March 9, 1998 - Proposed Bill to Restrict Access to Databases The ASM sent a letter to The Honorable Howard Coble, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives commenting on H.R. 2652. The ASM is concerned that the proposed bill will interfere with the availability and use of information essential for the nation's scientific community to maintain its current high standard of education and exceptional progress in research.
March 9, 1998 - Global Infectious Diseases The ASM submitted a statement for the hearing record to Senator William H. Frist, Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee regarding global infectious diseases. In the statement ASM emphasized the critical role the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) play in the fight against infectious diseases in the United States and in the world.
February 17, 1998 - Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis The ASM submitted comments to the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the proposed rule to protect workers exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ASM's comments focused on individuals working in clinical or research laboratories and recommended specific revisions to the proposed rule.
February 9, 1998 - Cloning Ban The ASM sent a letter to all members of the Senate urging them as they consider legislation that would ban the cloning of human beings to be prudent and not restrict or impair critical biomedical research involving human cells, genes, tissues and organs.
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