 Behind every great hospital is a great laboratory. Working behind the scenes, these labs provide the results that allow doctors to identify diseases and make important clinical decisions. Without diagnostics, modern-day physicians would be lost. But new technologies are constantly changing the lab medicine world. To stay up to date, attend Lab Roots' 7th Annual Clinical Diagnostics and Research Virtual Conference. In November, leading experts will discuss the latest advances, not only for infectious diseases and oncology, but also in nutrition and personalized healthcare. Cynthia Bowman, the medical director of the clinical labs at Bay State Wing and Noble Hospitals in Springfield, Massachusetts, will discuss the point-of-care, or bedside, diagnostics that are replacing slower, lab-only testing. As technology advances, more of these simple tests are becoming possible, eliminating long waits for results and improving patient care. Johns Hopkins pathology professor William Clark will explain how to precisely determine the concentration of drugs circulating in patient's blood using mass spectrometry. Such methods ensure patients are getting the most effective doses. He'll also discuss how to identify and validate biomarkers that are useful in telling whether a particular drug is working. Stephen Cotton, a pathology professor at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, will talk about lab accreditation and new quality control approaches, especially the Individualized Quality Control Plan, or IQCP. Finally, Jennifer Colby of Vanderbilt University Medical Center will discuss how physicians can incorporate urine toxicology testing into their pain management programs. With opioid abuse on the rise, one way to tell if your patients are doing well and using their medications as prescribed is to periodically check their urine. Colby will cover the metabolite patterns to look for and how to best interpret your data. Other special topics include FDA regulation of clinical labs, informatics opportunities with electronic medical records, and an update on precision medicine and pharmacogenetics. Free continuing education credits will be available. Don't miss the chance to hear from physicians, researchers, and medical experts about all of these issues and take part in the discussion online. On November 2nd and 3rd, tune in to Labroot's Virtual Diagnostics Conference.