FEATURE ARTICLES

With antimicrobial resistance continuing to be a huge global health issue, lateral flow tests that can detect resistance markers are emerging as a simple, economic and rapid alternative to existing methods of detecting antibiotic resistance. With their comparable performance to molecular methods, Naomi Chant of Una Health explains how these tests are changing the landscape of AMR detection in routine microbiology laboratories.

In part one of a two-part series David Norcliffe presents a study of clinical viscosity, outlining how it is measured and how it is used as part of the diagnosis of various conditions. Part two – to run in the next issue – looks at future applications of this technology.

This year’s British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference will be held on 11 May at the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London. Here, BSMT Chair Dr Mark Wilks continues his preview of the programme and introduces two more themes of the meeting.

Initially a digital sceptic, being introduced to digital pathology technology and methods has ignited a new passion for Dr Azzam Ismail, a Consultant Neuropathologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Here, he tells Pathology in Practice how his working life has changed.

In the risk assessment of point-of-care services, the aim is to provide a robust service that provides the right result on the right patient every time. Here, Carole Gough looks not only to standards in the laboratory, but also to international risk management standards applicable across, for example, the pharmaceutical, medical device and aviation industries.

A new method to detect Clostridioides difficile can yield accurate results in as little as 15 minutes, leading to faster clinical decision-making and improving case management. Here, Jürgen Becker describes how this innovative assay can be integrated into near-patient testing, and outlines the positive impact it could have on hospital workflows and patient care.

Starting a new series of articles on the changing state of regulation for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic equipment, Ashleigh Batchen, Head of Regulatory Affairs at BIVDA (the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association) writes for Pathology in Practice looking at the current situation and forthcoming changes as a result of Brexit.

The potential benefits to personalised medicine likely to be offered in the near future by genomics are huge. But to start realising them, laboratories need to overcome the challenge of ‘big data’ which could stop them embracing these new technologies, says Emma Huntridge of Clinisys.

Specialist biomedical scientist Rakhee Surti details a recent project to evaluate community POCT services around Milton Keynes, initiated to document key strategic recommendations for improving and digitally transforming POCT services within the primary care community.

The North East Innovation Lab is celebrating its second anniversary having expanded its work in accelerating the development of diagnostics across a wide range of applications. Pathology in Practice hears from the laboratory about recent changes and the important role it has played in a number of high-profile projects.

This year's British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference will be held on 11 May at the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London. It will cover a range of different topics but this year there is a particular focus on different aspects of antimicrobial resistance. Here, BSMT Chair Dr Mark Wilks, on behalf of the organising committee, introduces some themes of the meeting.

In September, the fifteenth iteration in the biennial Congress series will return to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. The full programme is scheduled for launch in March and once again will focus on the very best that biomedical science and commercial colleagues have to offer. Here, IBMS Deputy Chief Executive Sarah May provides a brief preview of this important event on the laboratory medicine calendar.

Following the limiting effect that the various COVID-19 restrictions had on influenza rates over the past two years, infection due to this virus has return with a vengeance this winter. Here, Pathology in Practice Science Editor Brian Nation compiles a small selection of current virology research activity.

Esmita Charani looks at the global issues presented by antimicrobial resistance and considers the strategies and policies that need to be created and properly implemented to tackle the problem at a local level in communities around the world.

Pre-eclampsia remains a common complication during pregnancy, but the methods used to initially determine the presence of the disease still rely on simple non-specific parameters. Testing for placental growth factor has huge potential to improve management of a condition that is challenging to diagnose explains Dawn Hannah, clinical educator at Quidel.

NHS patients throughout the West Midlands are to benefit from a digital pathology programme delivered by Sectra, designed to help reduce cancer backlogs, transform services, and improve the speed and accuracy of cancer diagnosis.

Two companies have recently joined forces with the aim of reducing errors in the preanalytical phase following blood collection and before samples arrive in the laboratory.

Sanj Lallie of Source LDPath looks at the benefits of transitioning to a digital pathology workflow and charts a vision of a virtual histopathology department for every NHS trust.

The emerging technology of on-demand printers can offer significant benefits to histology laboratories and pathology procedures, while also facilitating error reduction, explains Lauraline Winter.

New point-of-care testing technology boasts rapidly expanding capabilities, and a new piece of equipment from HORIBA offers under-pressure NHS frontline staff laboratory-accurate tests within minutes, allowing them to make quicker treatment decisions.