RECENT FEATURE ARTICLES
Coverslipping for high-quality immunohistochemistry: an automated experience
Quality, convenience and timely support when needed are some of the reasons why staff in histopathology at Bath are reaping the benefits of automated ClearVue coverslipping from Thermo Scientific.- Feature
Closing critical gaps in tackling the ongoing threat of tuberculosis
The World Health Organization is calling for increased efforts and investment to end one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. But have we become complacent about the threat posed by TB in the UK? Are healthcare workers prepared for outbreaks, and what are they doing to protect themselves and their patients? Louise Frampton reports.- Feature
Anti-tumour necrosis factor drug levels and neutralising antibodies: an update
Peter Kelleher looks at a range of inflammatory conditions and considers the role that testing for anti-TNF drugs and neutralising antibodies can play in the care of patients with autoimmunity-related conditions.- Feature
Providing confidence when measuring blood levels of the new direct oral anticoagulants
Laurence Loï considers the latest on DOACs, and the importance of confidence in testing, which is now supported by the Stago Qualiris external quality assessment programme that includes the new DOAC assays.- Feature
Empowering laboratories to harness the potential offered by digitalisation
Pathology and cancer leaders from the UK and across Europe met recently in London at a Philips Digital Pathology Workshop to learn how a Lean-based business tool can be used to build the case for digital pathology.- Feature
More pathology in practice: a look in the current literature
A small sample of research interest in the areas of haemostasis, calprotectin testing and immunohistochemistry to be found in the current literature.- Feature
Clinical and laboratory haemostasis: update from UK NEQAS Blood Coagulation
Consultant haematologist Jonathan Pattinson reports from the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation annual scientific meeting, which drew international support from scientists, clinicians and contributors.- Feature
Current pathology in practice: a brief look in the literature
A small sample of research interest on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Lean management and cancer screening to be found in the current literature- Feature
Full and rapid automation upgrade with no interruption to service
Pathology in Practice speaks with Portsmouth Pathology Service’s Nathan Hunt and Beckman Coulter’s Tom Coulson about how Beckman smoothed the transition from a mature automation system to a modern Lean automation configuration to eliminate bottlenecks for consistent workflow.- Feature
Serology and its role in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
A combination of three laboratory tests can help to identify rheumatoid arthritis patients sooner and enable clinicians to start tailored treatment promptly. Jason Cunningham provides an update and looks to the future.- Feature
Lean laboratories: the prerequisite to survive rising pressure?
Warnings that pathology services are unable to cope with demand are now national headlines. As pressure mounts, Dr Gene Elliott asks if decades-old car manufacturing ideas could now help laboratories support better patient outcomes, lower costs and meet hugely rising demand.- Feature
Improved techniques and technology for cellular and molecular pathology
Contributors from Georgia, the UK, USA and Sweden made last year’s online Pathology 2016 event, organised by EuroSciCon, a truly international annual occasion.- Feature
A FIT approach: improving sample integrity for faecal haemoglobin testing
Faecal immunochemical testing is the latest advance in the screening programme designed to identify patient with colorectal cancer, but success relies on the quality of the sample, as Matthew Davies explains.- Feature
Antibiotic prescribing targeted with GAS test at Children’s Hospital
Antimicrobial resistance is a major problem in 21st-century medicine, the unwarranted treatment of infant pharyngitis being just one contributing factor. This has now been addressed using a lateral-flow immunochromatographic cassette test.- Feature
Acquire, learn, share, repeat: an Innovation Academy update
Recent advances in technology and data science mean that there is more data about people, their habits and their health than ever before, but clinical utility cannot be fully realised without successful integration and analysis.- Feature
Point-of-care testing: an expanding repertoire in accident and emergency
Patience Kapuya shares the results of a study of A&E clinician use of various POCT devices, comparability of results with the central laboratory, and the value of additional tests to speed decision-making in the emergency situation.- Feature
Reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with chlorine dioxide
There is growing evidence to support the efficacy of disinfection with chlorine dioxide in the fight against healthcare-associated infections. One trust has achieved significant reductions in MRSA rates, resulting in major cost savings by implementing this disinfecting agent in its environmental cleaning process. Suzanne Callander and Louise Frampton report.- Feature
Measurand: the first step to measurement uncertainty evaluation
In this first of a series of articles on individual aspects of the assessment of uncertainty of measurement, Stephen MacDonald begins with consideration of the measurand.- Feature
Clostridium difficile: value of the GDH, toxin and tcdB testing algorithm
Sarah Copsey-Mawer evaluates testing for glutamate dehydrogenase, toxin A/B and the tcdB gene, compared to the gold standards of toxigenic culture and cell cytotoxin neutralisation assay.- Feature
Current pathology in practice: a brief look in the literature
A small sample of research interest on Clostridium difficile infection, colorectal cancer and Mohs micrographic practice to be found in the current literature.- Feature