FEATURE ARTICLES

It is almost a decade since it was shown that a strain of the endosymbiont Wolbachia that infects mosquitoes can make them resistant to the malaria parasite. Wolbachia can also have an impact on dengue, Zika and other mosquito-transmitted diseases.

At Torbay Hospital in Torquay, the microbiology and orthopaedic departments collaborated to implement point-of-care testing for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to increase bed occupancy and enhance patient experience.

During the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, point-of-care testing (POCT) is proving invaluable in facilitating the easing of restrictions and a return to normality. The following examples illustrate how this technology is being applied and assessed.

The 35th Annual Scientific Conference of the BSMT took place online on 11–14 May. Not surprisingly, the focus was on one topic, COVID-19, with a particular focus on laboratory aspects of the pandemic. Mark Wilks reports on behalf of the committee.

Laboratories in Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Swindon will use the CliniSys WinPath Enterprise system to deliver a consistent, high-quality and equitable service and build a platform for innovation across the pathology partnership.

The CN-3000 and CN-6000 models from Sysmex are joined by the CN-3500 and CN-6500 systems to provide laboratories with advanced immunological testing capabilities, and connectivity of these systems by the intelligent Laboratory Automation solution.

Mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 genome, particularly to those sequences responsible for the spike protein on the viral surface, are causing concern. Recent research has looked at the findings of studies undertaken over the past 12 months.

In March next year, the biennial IBMS Congress will return to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. The event will focus once again on the very best that biomedical science and commercial colleagues have to offer.

Of the hundreds of millions of diabetes cases globally, 90% are estimated to be type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although T2DM is more common in adults, as obesity in children, teenagers and young adults has increased, so too has the incidence of T2DM.

Sheila Devaney looks at the training Roche offers pathologists using the PD-L1 tests for non-small cell lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, and the development of algorithms to support the diagnosis and targeted treatment of cancer.

With the recent announcement about reducing bureaucracy and the publication of a consultation document, the time is ripe to look at how managing data more efficiently can have a dramatic impact on improving patient safety, as Phil Taylor explains.

In this penultimate article in his series on method comparisons, Stephen MacDonald moves on from difference analysis and the contribution of Bland and Altman to consider qualitative methods and also the role of McNemar, Yates and Cohen.

An important partnership between Beckman Coulter and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has resulted in the equipping of hospitals in the trust with up-to-date laboratory solutions at the cutting edge of analyser technology.

Plasma viscosity is significantly increased in patients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. This fast, inexpensive and accurate test can aid in the identification of positive cases and potential to monitor disease progression, as Dan Gleghorn explains.

In addition to the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the major organ systems of the body, there may also be reproductive consequences that go beyond the capacity to survive a viral attack from this pandemic agent of disease.

Adrian Gee-Turner discusses the survival of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on surfaces, the risk in transmission of this latest agent of disease, and also importantly the efficacy of hypochlorous acid in killing the virus.

Precision medicine is revolutionising diagnostics and treatment by targeting mutations specific to various diseases. The Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology at Essen University Hospital is looking for biomarkers of key malignancies.

Dr Carrie Mackenzie describes the experience of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital diabetes team in delivering effective and innovative care for children and young people during the pandemic, embracing and overcoming the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Non-invasive fetal genotyping has greatly improved the care of pregnancies at risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn, with mass screening also being cost-effective for targeted anti-D prophylaxis. Edwin Massey and colleagues provide an overview.

An introduction to a ground-breaking toolkit now available that aims to ease the burden of the many standards with which laboratories must comply, and reduce the stress associated with the regular accreditation visits