RECENT FEATURE ARTICLES
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin: from TB prophylaxis to tumour Immunotherapy
The use of BCG is best known as a vaccination against tuberculosis. However, its role in bladder cancer immunotherapy goes back almost four decades, and its success has prompted increasing interest in the manipulation of the immune system against tumours.- Feature
Clinical and Laboratory Haemostasis: a blood coagulation EQA update
Ian Jennings reports on proceedings of the second day of the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation scientific and participants’ meeting, which is held annually at The Atrium at Sheffield Hallam University.- Feature
Pre-eclampsia testing: support for the use of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio
Results of recent studies into pre-eclampsia testing have informed the latest National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, which recommends use of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test to help rule-out this form of gestational hypertension.- Feature
Research in brief
Research in the medical laboratory provides opportunities both for the seasoned professional and also those in the early stages of their career. The work reported below reflects first on an audit of the use of order communications and the need for effective training of clinicians, and second the potential problem of false-positive bloodspot results in inherited metabolic disease screening.- Feature
Expression of uncertainty in measurement: more budget topics
The sixth in this series of articles by Stephen MacDonald on individual aspects of the assessment of uncertainty of measurement considers the impacts created when contributors are not measured in the same units.- Feature
Semen Analysis with Machine Intelligence: evolution of technology
Mathew Tomlinson makes a case for SAMi, the latest development in computer-assisted semen analysis, which can provide reliable and reproducible results for sperm concentration and the more objective estimation of motility.- Feature
Susceptibility testing study: an evaluation of i2a antibiotic disks
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods must be robust, easy to perform, reliable and cost-effective. Here, Becky Walker reports on a comparative study to assess the performance of antibiotic disks and automated zone reading technology.- Feature
Biotin beware: a brief overview of interference in some immunoassays
Recent studies and case reports are driving awareness that biotin can interfere with laboratory testing, producing misleading test results in some documented cases. Patients, laboratories and clinicians may not know about the presence of biotin, so laboratories must decide on appropriate action to reduce potential for diagnostic errors, as Gordon Avery explains.- Feature
Tissue block archiving and storage: examples of revolution in practice
Different logistical and traceability issues related to tissue block storage problems prompted two laboratories to investigate the benefits of a cost-effective system that offers assurance of quality and security.- Feature
Research in brief
Research and the reporting of interesting cases provide publication opportunities both for the seasoned professional and also those in the early stages of their career. The work reported below reflects first on the ongoing research into the role of T follicular helper cell subset analysis in primary immunodeficiency, and second on a patient with undetectable HbA1c which proved to be due to blood loss from a tumour.- Feature
Identifying the ‘Big Four’ carbapenemases in the routine laboratory
The continued increase in the incidence of CPEs is creating workload issues for reference laboratories, but the diagnostics industry is responding with simple, more affordable identification methods that can be adopted by front-line microbiology laboratories, speeding confirmation and reporting.- Feature
Pre-emptively treating invasive aspergillosis: rapid diagnosis by PCR
The importance of treating Aspergillus before it has taken hold, and the challenges currently facing clinical diagnostics laboratories, cannot be over-emphasised. Here, Lewis White and Rosemary Barnes explain their approach to molecular testing and diagnosis.- Feature
Bacteriology: a selection of open-access articles in the current literature
A PubMed search using the terms ‘Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae’ and ‘Disk-diffusion testing’ found many recently published open-access articles, a small selection of which are included below.- Feature
Could standardisation of clinical LC-MS/MS transform delivery of patient care?
What impact could standardised clinical LC-MS/MS assays have on patient care? Here, Professor Brian Keevil talks with Thermo Fisher Scientific market development specialist Sarah Robinson.- Feature
Research in brief
Research in the medical laboratory provides opportunities both for the seasoned professional and also those in the early stages of their career. The work reported below focuses first on guidance provided to aid the establishment of defined reference intervals, and second reflects on the implementation and use of large, whole-mount sections and their value in the histopathological assessment of colorectal cancer.- Feature
Tissue block archiving and storage: security and traceability in Wales
The University Hospital of Wales, like other hospitals around the UK, experienced tissue block storage logistical problems and has now turned to a cost-effective system that offers assurance of quality and security.- Feature
External quality assessment in haematology: an update
Barbara Wild and colleagues from UK NEQAS Haematology examine the responses to a recent abnormal haemoglobin distribution, and also discuss findings from the Liquid Newborn Specimens Scheme.- Feature
Clinical and Laboratory Haemostasis 2017: a blood coagulation EQA update
Ian Jennings and Rob Jones report on proceedings of the first day of the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation annual scientific and participants’ meeting, which was held in Sheffield last year.- Feature
Where are we now in the fight to combat increasing antimicrobial resistance?
Following publication of Lord Jim O’Neill’s review on antimicrobial resistance, new guidance has been issued by NICE on antibiotic prescribing, and some progress has been achieved; however, there are many resistant infections that continue to pose a significant threat to public health.- Feature
Facilitating the prepared mind: highlights from the Congress science programme
The Biomedical Science Congress scientific programme once again provided a compelling reason to attend the twelfth biennial event, held last autumn at the ICC in Birmingham. Here, Pathology in Practice takes a brief look at some content highlights.- Feature
