FEATURE ARTICLES

Recurrent symptoms of potential abdominal disease are often difficult to interpret without laboratory support and input. Here, Jason Cunningham reviews the latest guidelines and testing panel.

The predominant strain of influenza virus circulating last winter was not as expected, and resulted in more severe illness. Here, Sally Taylor and Bob Jones assess a new multiplex PCR assay that provides results in hours rather than days, and offers patients prompt diagnoses.

Image: CDC/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Catherine Moore summarises early results from the use of a new respiratory pathogen panel that has particular application to the detection of influenza and other acute respiratory infections in the community.

A profile of the laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the installation of, and progress with, the UK’s first Beckman Coulter DxH workcell.

The ubiquitous nature of HPV and its association with cervical cancer has resulted in the introduction of a vaccination programme and now calls for frontline testing both in screening and in identifying residual disease following treatment.

As withdrawal of Clinical Pathology Accreditation standards looms, Siemens asked experts at its chemistry and immunoassay user group to explore the changes ahead.

Viapath’s fourth Innovation Academy scientific symposium, on the subject of next-generation diagnostics, covered the very latest innovations in what is becoming a fast-moving field.

Last September, Roche Diagnostics hosted its 2014 Roche Symposium, focusing on doing now what patients need next. This report looks at findings from the forefront of pathology.

Richard McCann talks to Queen Alexandra Hospital’s Colin Walker and discovers what real-time wireless monitoring in a departmental setting means at first-hand.

At Congress, almost every one of the exhibitors will display the very latest technological advances and products. New technology plays a vital role in diagnosis and patient health, and contributes to the effectiveness and efficiency of everyone in the profession.

A two-day scientific programme provided a variety of informative lectures on a wide range of cytopathology topics, along with the interactive experience that is the trade exhibition. Helen Burrell reports.

With the introduction of its automated Access AMH assay, Beckman Coulter has addressed the need for a gold-standard test to ensure consistency in measuring a woman’s ovarian reserve. Heather Harper explains.

A combination of process management tools and innovative technology has been used to enhance the service offered by one microbiology department. Here, Jamie Laughlin provides an overview of the procedures and outcomes.

A combined NLMC and NPEx informatics roadshow event has proved very popular with delegates at five venues over the past six months. Two more are scheduled for early 2015, in London and Scotland.

Randox recently published the first in a series of White Papers. Here, Sarah Kee and colleagues focus on the importance of quality control in point-of-care testing, set against a background of accreditation.

The latest assay, for cytomegalovirus, from DiaSorin provides speed and accuracy in diagnosis and monitoring of the infection, with application in immunocompromised patients and in the pregnancy and neonatal setting.

Image: CDC

As a worldwide leader in the field of haemostasis, Stago is setting the standard of excellence in the field, with cutting-edge technologies, products and customer service providing a complete laboratory haemostasis package.

Gram-negative sepsis may develop following urinary tract, but can automated systems provide more timely identification and sensitivities? Ian Sturgess, Mike Weinbren and Kathryn Clarke look at the evidence.

Positive support for the new accreditation standards will increase confidence in the results produced by eliminating, wherever possible, the causes of variability in laboratory protocols. This is particularly true for pipetting, as Craig Bush explains.

With the increasing use of the new oral anticoagulants, Stago has called for greater awareness of the impact of drug concentration on outcomes, as Laurence Loï explains.