Date Time New lab-developed procedure improves treatment for fire victims During his fourth year as a medical laboratory science student at the University of Alberta, Steven Dang embarked on a project at the Misericordia Hospital laboratory to help improve treatment of patients rescued from house fires. Patients who arrive at hospitals from house fires are often treated for cyanide poisoning due to the toxic fumes generated by fires in the home. A major side-effect of treatment with the drug hydroxocobalamin is that patients’ blood plasma and urine turns red, which can interfere with many lab tests—leading to incorrect results that can affect patients’ care and treatment for a wide range of health issues.