The Abstract and Proposal Review Committee (APRC) is soliciting quality abstract submissions for poster presentations at the 2021 Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY (all posters will be presented in a digital format). Poster authors will have the opportunity to present their posters in-person or virtually. Select accepted submissions may also be asked to make oral presentations. Please review the following information and guidelines carefully.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Presenter Categories

1. Professionals
2. Graduate students
   1. At the time the research was conducted, must have been enrolled as a graduate student
3. Undergraduate Students
   1. Must be a current ASCLS Developing Professional and at the time the research was conducted, must have been enrolled in a NAACLS-accredited undergraduate program. 

Content Categories - Professional and Graduate Students

Abstracts are evaluated based on their content and categorized into the following content areas. No literature reviews will be accepted. Professional and Graduate Student submitters will be asked to identify their submissions as one of the following three categories:

1. Clinical Case Study
   1. A clinical case study describes a clinical problem and the means used to resolve it. The case may involve a patient or patients with unusual clinical disease presentations, complications or outcomes. The clinical diagnosis requires a battery of relevant laboratory tests to confirm.  
   2. Abstracts for a clinical case study should include:
      1. A short description of the patient history/presentation/problem
      2. Significant diagnostic laboratory tests results
      3. Patient outcome
      4. Brief description of the disease/condition
2. Management or Education Case Study
   1. A management case study could involve an ethical dilemma, patient safety, improved patient outcome, creative scheduling, compliance or personnel issues. An education case study could involve academic issues such as student admission/dismissal policy, competency testing, recruitment and retention, or a description of an innovative education model. The case should present strategies used to resolve the dilemma or to place the education model in practice and describe the significance and implication of the issue to clinical laboratory practice.  
   2. Abstracts for a management or education case study should include:
      1. A short description of the issue
      2. Underlying principle for resolving the issue
      3. Brief description of the strategies used
      4. Relevant statistical findings whether qualitative or quantitative
      5. Outcome or resolution
3. Research (Qualitative or Quantitative)
   1. When submitting abstracts in either the Quantitative or Qualitative Research Category, the research study should be complete; however, abstracts with significant preliminary results from which preliminary conclusions/inferences can be drawn will be considered.  Research presentations characterize original structured investigations of specific problems relevant to clinical laboratory science. 
   2. Quantitative research is used to assess the problem by way of generating data that can be transformed into usable statistics.   In quantitative studies, the research methods are set before observation begins and specify the methods of observation which may be used and the type of data which may be collected. Observations are collected before analysis begins. After analysis is complete, no more observations are taken. The quantitative research abstract must include all of the following:
      1. Study's objective
      2. Research hypothesis
      3. Brief description of methods
      4. Relevant statistical evidence
      5. Results summary
      6. Statement of conclusion
   3. Qualitative research is exploratory research used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons opinions, or motivations. In qualitative studies, research methods are set up which suggest the type of methods of observation which may be used and the type of data which may be collected. Analysis begins as soon as data begin to be collected. Analysis and data collection proceed in a cyclical fashion, where preliminary analysis informs subsequent data collection and so forth. The qualitative research abstract must include all of the following:
      1. Context of the research topic
      2. Description of the specific research problem
      3. Methodology
      4. Significant findings
      5. If appropriate, conclusions or recommendations

Content Category - Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students enrolled in a NAACLS-accredited MLS or MLT program are invited to submit abstracts of their research (case studies not accepted). 

Abstract Format Guidelines

• Title: Use a concise title (five or six words, if possible) that reflects abstract content. Capitalize the first letter of each word except for prepositions, conjunctions, and articles. Underline or italicize scientific genus and species names of organisms. Do not use acronyms, abbreviations, or initials in the title.
• Author/Institution: List the presenting author(s), in boldface type. Limit academic degrees to highest degree earned. List author institution affiliation (excluding department or division information) below each author’s name, followed by the city and state of the institution (no address or zip code), except when authors share the same institutional affiliation. When multiple authors submit an abstract, clearly identify one contact author and provide complete contact information on the submission.
• Abstract: Line spacing of abstract must be double-spaced. Recommended font and size is Times New Roman 12 pt. in Word format. Abstract text format is flush left. Text length (not including title and author information) must be at least 100 but not to exceed 300 words. Use a single-space-return to separate title and author information. Do not use headers, charts, figures, tables or references in the abstract. Abstract text should include the information outlined above for the respective content category.
• File Format: Authors will need to upload their abstract within the submission portal. This file should be a Microsoft Word file. The file name cannot include the author's name. It is recommended that the file name include at least two keywords from the title. 
• Example of Acceptable Abstract Formatting Sample Abstract

Submission Information

1. Abstracts must be submitted according to instructions (failure to do so will result in rejection).
2. Abstracts must be submitted by March 12, 2021.
3. Accepted Professional and Graduate Student abstracts will be published in Clinical Laboratory Science or The Journal of the Association of Genetic Technologists*
   1. Accepted undergraduate poster authors are encouraged to submit their project as a manuscript to Clinical Laboratory Science, the official journal of ASCLS, or The Journal of the Association of Genetic Technologists. Significant editorial changes may be necessary before publication and the respective editorial staff reserves the right to reject any submission.
4. All abstracts must be original. Please perform appropriate literature searches to avoid issues with plagiarism. No abstract should be submitted for presentation at any other meeting(s) or submitted for publication in any format prior to November 30, 2020. (Abstract reviewers will perform literature searches to confirm that a submitted abstract has not been previously published.) This exclusion includes abstracts that have been presented at previous ASCLS national meetings. The only exception is for those posters that have been presented at ASCLS constituent society or regional meetings; these are acceptable to submit. The author must include this information on the abstract submission.
5. Faculty members may be co-authors of undergraduate student submissions, but they are not allowed to present and are not eligible for any awards or discounts.
6. An individual’s name may appear as a first author in no more than two abstracts representing different bodies of work in any category (professional or graduate student).
7. An author may present up to two presentations at the same meeting on different topics.
8. A nonmember may submit an abstract for presentation; however, an ASCLS, AGT or SAFMLS member must be listed as coauthor. Membership status will be verified by March 12, 2021. 
9. All presenting authors must register for and attend the meeting. Presenting authors must be available thirty minutes before and after scheduled presentation times.
10. Notification is by email only so a valid email address is a requirement for communication. Notify ASCLS of any email changes.

*Copyright Transfer

Submission Portal

Abstract submissions will be made electronically, via the portal accessible below. Once accessing the portal, submitters will need to create an account (by providing your full name and email address). Once the account has been created, authors will be able to create their submissions. Submissions may be edited and saved prior to submission. All submissions must be made by March 12, 2021.

Authors are required to attach a Microsoft Word version of their abstract (title, author and abstract) within the submission portal. Remember - the file name must not include the author's name (to preserve the integrity of the blind review process). Submissions made with the author's name(s) on the abstract file will be disqualified.

The submission portal also includes a financial disclosure section (required) and the opportunity to include a headshot (to be used in any promotional items, if abstract is accepted; this is optional). 

During the submission process, authors will be asked to identify up to 3 topics/disciplines from the list below. If additional keywords are needed, submitters may access the NIH US National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings.

After the submission has been made, the author will receive a confirmation number and email (from speakers@ascls.org). The author may check on the status of their submission(s) by logging into the submission portal.

Questions about the submission portal may be directed to ASCLS Director of Professional Development and Project Management Melanie Giusti at melanieg@ascls.org.

Questions about the review process, etc., may be directed to speakers@ascls.org.