The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) hosts its AMP 2026 Annual Meeting & Expo November 10–14 at the Seattle Convention Center. It is the field's flagship gathering for molecular pathologists, laboratory directors, geneticists and the diagnostics companies that support their work.

This guide covers what to know before you go: the week's schedule, this year's plenary speakers, where to stay, how to get around, and a few Seattle stops worth making time for. It also tells you where to find the Puritan team.

AMP 2026 at a Glance

Meet Puritan at Booth #613

New booth, same swab experts. Puritan has a new home on the AMP 2026 show floor at Booth #613. Stop by to talk through your specimen collection and transport workflow with the people who manufacture the products in Maine. 

Molecular labs depend on what happens before a sample reaches the instrument. Collection device, swab material and transport media all affect specimen integrity, elution and consistency from run to run. That pre-analytical step is where Puritan has focused for more than 100 years.

At Booth #613, you can:

• See flocked swab options up close. Compare HydraFlock® and PurFlock Ultra® tips and sizes for different collection sites and workflows.
• Talk transport. Ask about UniTranz-RT® universal transport media and PurSafe Plus® for SARS-CoV-2 collection, inactivation and preservation.
• Bring your application questions. If you are validating a new assay or reviewing collection devices, our team can help you narrow options. Always confirm compatibility with your specific test's IFU.
• Ask about buying direct. Many Puritan products are now available through Puritan's own online store, in addition to distributor channels. [CONFIRM: store URL and whether to feature it here]

Can't make it to Seattle? Contact the Puritan team and we'll connect you with the right specialist.

AMP 2026 Day by Day

The main program runs Thursday through Saturday, but this year it pays to arrive early. AMP has added a new Special Programs Day on Tuesday, followed by Corporate Workshop Day on Wednesday.

For session times, coffee breaks and room assignments, check the full program or the AMP mobile app, which typically goes live a couple of weeks before the meeting.

New This Year: Special Programs Day

Special Programs Day brings partner organizations into the AMP week with focused, half-day and evening sessions. Topics include a reference material forum, biomarker testing stewardship, a hands-on NGS bioinformatics workshop that walks from FASTQ to clinical report, and molecular testing of cytology specimens.

Several programs are complimentary for annual meeting registrants, but most require separate registration through MyAMP. A few carry an added fee. Review the Special Programs Day schedule before you book travel so you can decide whether a Monday night arrival makes sense.

AMP 2026 Plenary Speakers

Artificial intelligence runs through this year's plenary lineup, from CNS tumor classification to antimicrobial resistance prediction. Each talk represents one of AMP's subdivisions, so it is easy to spot the sessions closest to your work.

See abstracts and room details on the Program Highlights page.

2026 Recognition Award Recipients

AMP will also honor three leaders in the field this year:

• Elaine S. Jaffe, M.D., National Cancer Institute: Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics
• Laura J. Tafe, M.D., Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center: Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award
• Daniel E. Sabath, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington: Meritorious Service Award

Who Attends AMP?

AMP draws thousands of professionals each year, including molecular pathologists, clinical laboratory directors and scientists, geneticists and genomic medicine specialists, researchers and academics, biotech and pharma leaders, and the diagnostics suppliers who support them.

That mix makes it one of the most efficient weeks of the year to catch up on the science and the tools behind it.

5 Things to Do at AMP 2026

1. Visit Puritan at Booth #613

First things first: come see us. Stop by Booth #613 to meet the Puritan team, see our specimen collection and transport products up close, and talk through what your lab needs.

2. Explore the Expo Hall

Nearly 200 exhibitors fill the AMP Expo Hall, which opens Thursday, Nov. 12, with hours continuing Friday and Saturday. Preview the floor plan before you arrive and mark the booths you want to hit. Lunches and coffee breaks are served on the show floor, which makes it easy to fit in a few booth visits between sessions.

3. Catch a Plenary or Scientific Session

Scientific sessions span AMP's five subdivisions: genetics, hematopathology, infectious diseases, informatics and solid tumors. If you only build a few sessions into your week, the plenaries are a strong place to start.

4. Stop by the Posters and Innovation Spotlight Stages

Three Innovation Spotlight Stages sit in the middle of the Expo Hall, hosting short, TED-style talks from exhibitors and AMP. Seating is first come, first served. Poster viewing is also on the show floor, and you can preview ePosters in the mobile app.

5. Make Time to Connect

Some of the best conversations happen outside scheduled sessions. AMP's networking events include the Thursday Welcome Reception, open networking lunches, a Trainee Social Hour, the new AMPower mentorship session and Friday's Amazing Molecular Party. You can also drop by AMP Central in the Expo Hall to recharge and spin the prize wheel.

Where to Stay Near AMP 2026

AMP has negotiated rates at downtown hotels within a short walk of the convention center, with the Sheraton Grand Seattle as headquarters. Book through the official AMP housing portal to get the group rate.

Rates and availability as listed on the AMP hotel page in October 2026 and subject to change.

A note on housing scams: AMP warns attendees to ignore unsolicited offers for rooms, registration or attendee lists. Trust housing emails only from @amp.org or @onpeak.com addresses.

Getting There and Getting Around

The convention center is about 20 minutes from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport by taxi. Sound Transit's Link light rail is a simple, low-cost alternative that runs from the airport into downtown. The convention center's Getting Here page covers parking and transit details.

Two things are worth knowing once you arrive. First, the Seattle Convention Center has two buildings, Arch and Summit, about a block and a half apart, so check the room location before you head to a session. Second, downtown Seattle is hilly. The walk down to the waterfront is easy; the walk back up is a workout.

For a quick trip to the Space Needle, the Seattle Center Monorail runs from Westlake Center, a few blocks from the convention center, in about two minutes.

Seattle Weather in November: What to Pack

Expect cool, damp days. November is typically Seattle's wettest month, with average highs around 50°F (10°C) and lows near 40°F (4°C), and rain on more days than not. Daylight is short, with sunset before 4:45 p.m. by mid-month.

Pack a waterproof jacket with a hood, layers you can shed in warm session rooms, and comfortable shoes that can handle wet sidewalks. Locals tend to skip umbrellas, but a compact one won't hurt.

5 Things to See While You're in Seattle

When the sessions wrap up, there's plenty waiting outside the convention center. Most of these are a short walk or monorail ride away.

1. Pike Place Market

It's practically a Seattle requirement. Wander Pike Place Market for local food, crafts and its famous fish vendors. It's roughly a 10- to 15-minute walk downhill from the convention center.

2. Overlook Walk and the New Waterfront

Seattle's central waterfront has been rebuilt over the past several years into a 20-acre park along Elliott Bay. The centerpiece, Overlook Walk, is an elevated park that connects Pike Place Market to the waterfront with views of the Olympic Mountains and, on a clear day, Mount Rainier. It also spares you the climb back up the hill.

3. The Space Needle

If it's your first trip to Seattle, make time for the icon. The Space Needle offers panoramic views from its observation levels, including a rotating glass floor.

4. Chihuly Garden and Glass

Pair your Space Needle visit with Chihuly Garden and Glass, right next door at Seattle Center. The exhibition of Dale Chihuly's glass work is especially striking after dark, which comes early in November.

5. Keep an Eye Out for Jimothy

And now for Seattle's most unexpected celebrity of 2026: Jimothy the raccoon.

Jimothy became a viral sensation this summer after videos of the unusually proportioned raccoon roaming the Ballard neighborhood spread across social media. His short, almost neckless build is believed to come from a rare spinal condition, and his fame has since reached Mariners games, fan art and national news.

We don't recommend making "find Jimothy" part of your official AMP itinerary. Wildlife is best appreciated from a respectful distance. But if you hear someone in Seattle talking about Jimothy, now you'll be in on the joke.

Source: Jimothy the Raccoon on Facebook

Where to Eat Near the Convention Center

Downtown Seattle has plenty of options within a short walk. A few dependable starting points:

• Quick lunch between sessions: The Pacific Place shopping center, about five minutes away, includes Din Tai Fung for dumplings and noodles.
• A group dinner: Tom Douglas's Carlile Room is a short walk from the convention center and takes reservations. Order the coconut cream pie.
• Something casual: Serious Pie serves wood-fired pizza downtown.
• Grazing: Make a meal of Pike Place Market, from chowder to fresh pastries.

Restaurants near major convention centers fill quickly during meeting weeks, so book group dinners in advance.

Tips for Making the Most of AMP 2026

Plan around two buildings. With sessions split between the Arch and Summit buildings and events at the Sheraton next door, give yourself a few extra minutes between sessions.

Set priorities before you land. Download the AMP mobile app when it goes live, mark your must-see sessions, and list the booths you want to visit. A little planning keeps the week from slipping by.

Engage with exhibitors. Don't just collect brochures. Ask exhibitors how their products fit your workflow, what's changed since last year, and what other labs are doing. That's what we're there for.

Take notes as you go. A quick line after each conversation or session makes follow-up much easier once you're back in the lab.

Get social. Use #AMP2026 and follow AMP on LinkedIn for live updates. AMP's attendee social media toolkit includes ready-made posts and graphics. Puritan will be posting from Booth #613 throughout the week, too.

AMP 2026 FAQ

When and where is AMP 2026? The AMP 2026 Annual Meeting & Expo runs November 10–14, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center in downtown Seattle, Washington.

When does the AMP 2026 Expo Hall open? The Expo Hall opens Thursday, Nov. 12, with the Welcome Reception on the show floor at 6 p.m. Check the program for daily hours.

What is the official hotel for AMP 2026? The Sheraton Grand Seattle is the headquarters hotel. AMP also has room blocks at eight other downtown hotels, bookable through the official housing portal.

Can I earn continuing education credits at AMP 2026? Yes. Attendees can earn up to 19.25 credits at the meeting. See AMP's continuing education page for details.

What is the AMP 2026 hashtag? #AMP2026.

Where is Puritan at AMP 2026? Booth #613 in the Expo Hall.

See You in Seattle

Between the latest work in molecular diagnostics and everything Seattle has to offer, AMP 2026 should make for a full week. If you're attending, make Booth #613 one of your stops. We'd love to meet you, talk through your specimen collection needs and show you what's new from Puritan.

AMP 2026 | November 10–14, 2026 | Seattle Convention Center | Puritan Booth #613

Explore the AMP 2026 website