Alexis B Carter, MD

Pathology Informatics

Assistant Professor
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Other Appointments/Positions

Director of Pathology Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine

Pathology Division(s):
Clinical Pathology

Email Address:
abcart2@emory.edu

Education:

BS   University of Georgia, 1990 - 1994

MD   Medical College of Georgia, 1994 - 1998

AP/CP Residency   East Carolina University, 1998 - 2003

Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship   University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2003 - 2004

Research in Mol. Path. & Informatics   University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2004 - 2005

Research Interests:

- Software Development for Laboratories
Laboratories benefit from small software programs that fill gaps in functionality left vacant by Laboratory Information Systems (LIS). These small and easy-to-code programs increase efficiency, decrease turnaround time and improve the quality of patient care by performing complex calculations, automated quality control checking, error flagging and unique functionality specific to discrete pathology subspecialties. Current Projects: - Lightweight and portable Bone Marrow and Blood Counter - Rapid Desktop Image Capture and Storage for Inexpensive Telepathology Systems

- Web Application Development for Laboratories
The use of the Internet and Wide-Area Networks have revolutionized the field of medicine. The specialized nature of Pathology and its subspecialties make the Internet the ideal venue by which clinical services can be delivered. This includes telepathologic diagnosis on specimens required at remote sites as well as electronic order entry and result display to and from outreach facilities. Efforts to begin telepathology services are currently being investigated.

- Laboratory Information Systems for Molecular Diagnostic Testing
Few systems exist that meet the data storage needs of specialized laboratories which perform molecular tests. This is primarily because of the relative newness of the field and the high complexity of the testing. I am developing systems that meet these needs in both the clinical and research arenas in an open-source format.

- Molecular testing on paraffin-embedded tissues.
Tissues which have been fixed and subsequently embedded in paraffin constitute the vast majority of solid tissues stored in the pathology laboratory. Unfortunately, these tissues are not the best specimens for molecular techniques. Degradation of genetic material, difficult-to-remove inhibitors and fixatives containing chemicals which prevent the polymerase chain reaction all contribute to difficulty or inability to use these tissues for diagnosis. Dr. Carter is interested in discovering new ways to extract genetic material that will improve the ability to perform testing on these pervasive specimens as well as to test current molecular techniques against newer, less toxic fixatives.

Clinical Focus:

As Director of Pathology Informatics, I coordinate projects and translate functional needs related to our various laboratory information systems at the faculty level between the Departments of Pathology and Information Services. My clinical responsibilities also include interpretation of high-complexity tests in molecular hematopathology, fluorescence in-situ hybridization and immunology.

Honors / Awards:

Best Scientific Session in Pathology Informatics, October 2008. Advancing Practice, Instruction and Innovation through Informatics, Pittsburgh, PA., 2008

Specialty Boards:

2003 Anatomic & Clinical Pathology American Board of Pathology

2005 Molecular Genetic Pathology American Board of Pathology

Selected Publications:

Published and Accepted Research Articles -

Carter AB, Howanitz PJ. Intraoperative testing for Parathyroid Hormone (PTH): A Comprehensive Review of the Use of the Assay and the Relevant Literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2003;127(11):1424-1442.

Hortin GL, Carter AB. Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Testing: Survey of Testing Program Characteristics. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002;126(9):1045-1049.

Dobbs LJ, Madigan MN, Carter AB, Earls L. Use of FTA gene guard filter paper for the storage and transportation of tumor cells for molecular testing. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002;126(1):56-63.

Carter AB, Price DL, Tucci KA, Lewis GK, Mewborne J, Singh HK. Choroid plexus carcinoma presenting as an intraparenchymal mass: A case report. J Neurosurg. 2001;95(6):1040-1044.

Byrne AL*, Camann MA, Cyr TL, Catts EP, Espelie KE. Forensic implications of biochemical differences among geographic populations of the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen). J Forensic Sci. 1995;40:372-377. *Published under maiden name (Alexis L. Byrne).

Other Publications -

Carter AB. Information Systems for MDx Laboratories, Part 2. Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory. 2008;17(1):16-18.

Carter AB. Information Systems for MDx Labs, Part 1. Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory. 2007;16(11):18-20.

Carter AB, Christie JD, Kragel PK. Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis. ASCP Check Sample: Surgical Pathology II. 2002;26:43-64.

Carter AB, Halliday BE. Choroid plexus carcinoma. ASCP Check Sample: Surgical Pathology I. 2000;28(3):37-54.