Several University of Nebraska researchers have created a system for transmitting digital images that will help remote hospitals and labs deal with questionable culture samples more quickly. The Secure Telecommunications Application Terminal Package (STATPack), which was originally designed to combat bio-terrorism, lets public health experts help lab technicians identify unknown organisms. Using the system, public health staffers control a camera connected to the lab tech's microscope, look at the culture, and give their feedback on what they see. If officials feel that the organism poses a public health threat, the system makes it easy to alert all participants in the STATPack network. Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas public health laboratories are rolling out STATPack systems over the next several months.
To learn more about STATPack:
- read this article in Medical News Today