FEATURE ARTICLES

Microbiologists at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, compare the efficacy of four selective MRSA media to produce specific, sensitive and rapid results.

Asymptomatic hyperprolactinaemia due to macroprolactin, which is not bioactive in vivo, has prompted research on prolactin and the many commercially available immunoassays used to measure the hormone. Here, Veronique Jarrige provides an overview of implications for the laboratory.

Ruling out the possibility of heart failure in the primary care setting using B-type type natriuretic peptide testing is proving cost-effective both for the GP and the laboratory. Hilda Crockett reports on the Northampton experience.

Russell Cottier, automation section leader in biochemistry at Warrington, describes the evaluation and implementation of a new generation of HbA1c analyser.

Recent installation of three UF 100 automated urinanalysis instruments in hospitals in north-east England brings the UK total to 30. Here, two NHS Trusts provide an overview of their experiences.

KingÆs College Hospital began the hunt for a fully managed pathology service some two years ago. Thanks to close cooperation between the laboratory and two commercial organisations, the project is now approaching successful completion.

Few working in pathology can have missed the fact that ever-smaller numbers of junior doctors are choosing to specialise in the various disciplines that comprise laboratory medicine. The remedy may be far from simple but Nikon is playing its part.

President-elect of The Royal College of Pathologists, Professor Adrian Newland, outlines the challenges of his new role to Pathology In Practice, and discusses the future of pathology service delivery in the face of modernisation and regulatory change.

Norovirus infection can be quite devastating, as past outbreaks in hospitals and on cruise ships has demonstrated. Now, a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from Quadratech offers reliable detection and a commitment to adapt the technology to detect different variants of the virus currently in circulation.

Virologists from across the UK and Ireland gathered in London in October for the annual Bayer molecular diagnostic systems user group meeting. As guests of the company, delegates assembled at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to exchange views, compare experiences and listen to topical presentations by keynote speakers.

Total confidence in first-time results can open up more effective ways of working. Here, two laboratory managers discuss how Intellicheck technology from Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics makes change possible.

Manual urine testing in microbiology is a time-consuming and laborious process. However, automation in the form of the iQ200 from Instrumentation Laboratory is at hand, as Karen Edwards explains.

The wide range of manual identification methods available from Oxoid combines speed and convenience with accuracy and reliability, allowing clinical microbiology and virology laboratories of any size to offer rapid results. Ian Hart explains.

Contracts provided by commercial companies to supply analysers, reagents, consumables and additional staff and support are a cost-effective way to provide an efficient pathology service. Here, Chris Bird takes a brief look at what is involved.

Electrophoretic separation of macromolecules is common in molecular biology. However, knowing the dispensed-sample quantity is critical for reliable interpretation of the bands produced. Now, the new Transferpette electronic pipette from Brand offers the means to determine and document the dispensed volume precisely.

Blood gas analysis at the point of care is often performed under stressful situations that provide the opportunity for error. However, 1st automatic from Radiometer simplifies and automates the process, as the companyÆs Lorenzo De Feo explains.

Located in central London, Independent Histopathology Services is a private laboratory that provides a comprehensive service to the NHS and private sector. From frozen sections to molecular biology techniques, liquid-based cytology to the latest in reporting technology, histopathology and cytopathology are fully covered.

The enzyme-linked immunospot assay is a useful method for monitoring a patientÆs immune response, but an accurate cell count and viability determination is an essential prerequisite. Here, workers at the BBI Biotech Research Laboratories compare the standard manual counting method with the Guava PCA system and ViaCount assay.

Automated interphase fluorescence in situ hybridisation scanning methods speed up the labour-intensive process of screening for chromosomal disorders. Here, Ian Corless of Image Solutions demonstrates the effectiveness of this technology

Launched this year by Axis-Shield UK, Afinion is a compact desktop point-of-care analyser designed for multi-user environments. Here, Sue Younghusband looks in detail at the new technology on which Afinion is based and describes the chemistry used to produce laboratory-quality test results.