FEATURE ARTICLES

Laboratory external quality assessment is more than simple participation in an EQA scheme, as the following case study illustrates. Here, Nikki Emodi and colleagues also consider the limitations inherent in methodology.

Reliable storage and guaranteed traceability of serum samples is paramount in today’s laboratories. With the ever-increasing pressures on time and productivity, this can prove difficult. Here, James Hudson explains the benefits of the NEO Sample Manager over a previous track-based method used in his laboratory.

Molecular specialist Bradley Horn looks at the application of LAMP technology to combat the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria that increasingly demonstrate multidrug resistance.

Evaluation of the identification of a genetic mutation and its association with malignant pleural mesothelioma suggests diagnostic utility, as Justine Ellis and colleagues from East Lancashire and MMU explain.

In this eighth article in the series on internal quality control, Stephen MacDonald continues his review of the various ways that control can be charted. Here, he focuses on more-complex QC charting.

The search for novel antibiotic agents, and those that exert their antimicrobial effect in different ways, is currently high on the research agenda. Here, Sarah J Pitt and Alan Gunn review an innovative approach using mucus from common molluscs.

Against the background of an increasing prevalence of diabetes and demand for glycated haemoglobin testing, workers in the north-east of England have reaped the benefit from the introduction of Beckman Coulter’s new HbA1c assay.

Siobhan Fairgreaves introduces an aid to biopsy processing that protects tissue and facilitates production of maximum diagnostic information. Here, she talks to an early adopter of this innovative chip, and hears of the success achieved with trials in Durham.

Modern analyser systems provide cutting-edge support to the haematology laboratory, the latest prime example of which is the benefits provided by equipment and algorithms in the investigation of the cause of a raised mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration.

With lower temperatures and shorter periods of daylight at this time of year, norovirus, the so-called ‘winter vomiting bug’, is set to revisit the hospital setting, bringing with it cases of vomiting and diarrhoea. The following items of research interest are all available via PubMed as free PMC articles.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and Stago UK have collaborated in a joint interventional study to reduce blood transfusion costs while ensuring patient safety for those undergoing cardiac surgery.

With the approach of winter and its effect on respiratory illness, Simon Parker of Roche Diagnostics looks at the role of point-of-care PCR influenza assays in facilitating significant improvements in clinical decision-making.

Summaries of lectures on the comprehensive IBMS Biomedical Science Congress scientific lecture programme are requested from individual speakers. In this first of two reviews, Pathology in Practice selects highlights from alphabetically cellular pathology to immunology.

Why is it such a struggle for women to get to the top in healthcare science? There is no simple answer, of course, and the reasons are multifactorial. Here, Valerie Bevan considers the issues and outlines her experiences.

In light of the pressures of delivering digital transformation at scale, clinical teams need more support and investment to ensure IT systems are safe to use and fit for purpose, as Stephen Seagreen-Bell explains.

A campaign to raise awareness of sepsis in Scotland, combined with the introduction of the latest technology in microbiology, has had a positive impact on the speed of clinical intervention and potential outcomes in the fight against this serious condition, as Janet Young explains.

SHOT laboratory incident specialist Victoria Tuckley summarises the 2018 Annual Report, and highlights how to create safer transfusion practices, a more satisfactory working environment and improved patient safety.

In the fight against sepsis, modern haematology and haemostasis technology can assist laboratories looking to provide an early diagnosis of this devastating condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

In this seventh article in a series on internal quality control, Stephen MacDonald moves on from the monitoring of process with rules, to focus this month on the various ways that control can be charted.

Tim Woods collates abstracts that reflect proceedings of the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation annual scientific and participants’ two-day meeting, which was held at Sheffield Hallam University earlier in the year.