FEATURE ARTICLES

Point-of-care testing for the SARS-CoV-2 has expanded exponentially over the past two years, resulting in the need for an external quality assessment scheme for this activity. Here, Heather Crowton and colleagues introduce a new EQA scheme.

The International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine featured a live symposium hosted by Beckman Coulter devoted to the role of monocyte distribution width. Here, speakers take part in a question and answer session.

Nucleic acid amplification tests are the model for detecting SARS-CoV-2, but efficient extraction of viral RNA is essential. Here, David Mathias and Lucy Goulart compare the performance and usability of two RNA extraction kits.

Although very small in number, recent cases of monkeypox viral infection in the UK had doubled. The following is a selection of free-to-access research interest in the current literature on the subject of this member of the Orthopoxvirus genus

Development of inhibitor antibodies interfering with the function of FVIII replacement products is one of the most significant complications in the treatment of haemophilia A. Here, Eleanor Foxton and Áine McCormick consider several approaches to assay standardisation and EQA performance.

Aini Suraya Nizam and Lynne Lawrance examine the role of uncertainty in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, following the introduction by EUCAST of the concept of the Area of Technical Uncertainty in this sector of medical microbiology.

High-sensitivity assays and point-of-care testing are having a significant effect on how quickly acute coronary syndrome can be examined. Here, Holger Gundelach discusses how this is improving patient outcomes.

Last year’s annual conference of the BSMT took place in May as a webinar, inevitably on COVID-19. This year the BSMT decided to postpone the conference until July 2022 to maximise chances of holding a face-to-face event. Here, Mark Wilks, on behalf of the BSMT, provides a preview.

Summaries of lectures on the comprehensive Biomedical Science Congress programme are requested from individual speakers. In a final review of this important biennial event, Pathology in Practice dips into the education, management, support staff and seminar programmes.

The Veterinary Pathology Group – a member of SYNLAB UK and Ireland – has announced that it is partnering with Fitzpatrick Referrals to conduct a canine soft tissue sarcoma study to improve clinical practice and subsequent patient outcomes.

The Annual Microbiology Conference hosted by the British Society for Microbial Technology has been the beneficiary of support and sponsorship from a range of relevant companies. With this year’s return to a face-to-face event, the following commercial colleagues have grasped the opportunity to attend this important event.

Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the blood's ability to clot. It is usually inherited and most people who have the disease are male. The following is a selection of research interest in the current literature.

Methotrexate is used to treat patients with severe psoriasis, but is associated with hepatoxicity. Here, Nicola McDonagh undertakes verification and evaluation of the Siemens ELF Profile test as a marker of the degree of liver fibrosis in such cases.

The 37th Annual Microbiology Conference of the BSMT will be the organisation’s first full face-to-face meeting for over two years. Here, BSMT committee member David Westrip previews the conference

In order to optimise and standardise handling of surgical specimens, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board adopted an innovative vacuum-packing solution across its three main hospital sites in North Wales, reducing formalin use, improving quality and cutting costs.

Immunohistochemistry is a vital tool in the classification of melanocytic skin lesions. Here, Karolina Wojcik and colleagues assess PRAME expression as a new marker in recognising and distinguishing the malignant melanomas from atypical naevi.

Summaries of lectures on the comprehensive Biomedical Science Congress scientific lecture programme are requested from individual speakers. In this second review, Pathology in Practice selects highlights from alphabetically microbiology to virology.

The IBMS Congress held in Birmingham in March was a welcome return to face-to-face conference normality. Siobhan Brown from Roche Diagnostics provides an overview of the company’s experiences at the 14th iteration of this important biennial event.

Screening and testing of imported pets is not only crucial to the health of the animals and to their owners where there is zoonotic risk, but also to maintain UK biosecurity. Here, Lisa Martin provides an overview based on a recent HORIBA webinar on the subject.

Frozen section and H&E staining are an integral part of the support for patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. Here, Jeyrroy Gabriel and colleagues report on a focused assessment of haematoxylin staining sensitivity and specificity.