RECENT NEWS

The World Health Organization recently declared H1N1 swine influenza a global pandemic, resulting in the creation of rigorous vaccination programmes worldwide. Children are among those considered particularly susceptible to contracting swine flu and are viewed as a top priority in receiving this vaccine.

Hologic UK has announced that it has received CE marking approval for its ThinPrep integrated imager, which was on display at the 35th European Congress of Cytology recently in Lisbon and shown for the first time in the UK at the IBMS Biomedical Science Congress in September. The integrated imager represents the latest innovation in cervical cancer screening by combining proven ThinPrep imaging technology and slide review into a single, convenient standalone device. This new product allows laboratories of all sizes to benefit from clinical advantages of ThinPrep imaging for cervical screening.

Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in Europe, continues to increase in many countries according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). It affects mostly young adults under 25, and true occurrence of Chlamydia is most likely much higher than the official figures because the majority of those infected do not have clinical symptoms.

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a premium collection of Thermo Scientific Taq DNA polymerases that are licensed and optimised for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) processes. ThermoPrime Taq DNA Polymerase and Thermo-Start Taq DNA Polymerase are designed to provide excellent amplification specificity and improved product yield.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced a collaboration with the integrative network biology initiative at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). The ICR’s new, state-of-the-art proteomics laboratory is equipped with a complete Thermo Scientific proteomics workflow, including the Kingfisher Flex automated sample preparation system, the TSQ Vantage triple quadrupole and the UK’s first two LTQ Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometers. This workflow provides powerful capabilities to meet the needs of the ICR’s demanding research goals.

Kinesis has announced the availability of a new HPLC Instrument Spares and Accessories Catalogue. Available in electronic and hard copy, the new catalogue is the most comprehensive range of pump spares, fittings and accessories and deuterium lamps from one company.

The Binding Site Group, a privately-owned specialist UK diagnostics company, has announced the sale of its autoimmune diagnostics business to the Werfen Group, based in Barcelona, Spain. The autoimmune diagnostics business develops, manufactures and distributes a range of diagnostic assays and reagents used in hospital laboratories worldwide to help diagnose and monitor the treatment of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, vasculitis and coeliac disease.

At the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on Guernsey, two cobas 6000 analysers, linked to MODULAR PRE-ANALYTICS, from Roche are helping the hospital's laboratory increase efficiency and become more self-sufficient.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that its Nautilus LIMS (laboratory information management system) now delivers purpose-built functionality to meet the specific needs of the biobanking industry. Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS for Biobanking and BioSpecimen Management will help to manage biospecimen locations, online requests, chain-of-custody and patient demographics.

The RIQAS scheme is the largest global external quality assessment (EQA) scheme in the world, offering 15 comprehensive programmes, and a brand new RIQAS dedicated website (www.riqas.com) will soon go live. The new RIQAS site will allow RIQAS participants to source all the information they require. Instead of contacting RIQAS headquarters, you can simply log onto our user-friendly, fresh website and find what you’re looking for in a couple of clicks!

More than 250 UK and Irish laboratory managers recently met in London to participate in Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics' first annual Siemens Academy meeting. The three-day event provided an engaging and enlightening forum to learn commercial skills, understand the need for long-term pathology planning, embrace business tools and absorb scientific best practice from peers spearheading change. Specialist lectures, real laboratory case studies and open debate sessions were combined to draw together all the key topics facing pathology. Guest speakers, Siemens representatives and the hundreds of delegates were able to discuss openly the current challenges and solutions facing pathology today.

The director of a newly formed blood service in Chile recently saw how a world-class tissue bank works. Dr Christina Martinez made a special visit to Liverpool to view the groundbreaking tissue bank in Speke and experience the workings of the largest facility of its kind in the world. The visit was part of a joint venture between NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the Chilean Ministry of Health that aims to set up a tissue bank as part of plans to run the first ever completely unremunerated voluntary blood and tissue service in Chile.

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not being diagnosed or treated sufficiently quickly, and some services are inadequately coordinated, according to a report published recently by the National Audit Office (NAO). Delay in treatment is detrimental to a patient’s health, their quality of life and the economy.

Visitors to Sebia’s global website will discover a new interactive and extremely user-friendly version. Available in five languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese), it facilitates international connections with over 80 countries in which Sebia’s technology is distributed.

Continuing to make his mark in his 80th year, Don Whitley has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Bradford. Don has a long list of achievements in the field of applied microbiology, the most notable of which include the new technologies designed and manufactured by his company, Don Whitley Scientific. The award is also in recognition of his support, over many years to the university’s Division of Biomedical Sciences. This includes intercalation training and employment opportunities provided to undergraduate students and his contribution as chairman of the Advisory Board in Biomedical Science.

Following a successful pilot, SRC, a provider of digital dictation and voice recognition solutions to NHS trusts, has rolled out its digital dictation solution to 500 users at Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals. The solution, based on the WinScribe digital dictation technology, is central to the trust's aim to distribute all patient correspondence within 24 hours and deploy integrated digital systems to optimise the patient care referral to treatment pathway.

The Karolinska Institute’s Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is using Chip-Man Technologies’ Cell-IQ live-cell imaging and analysis platform to investigate mechanisms of infertility and oocyte maturation, as well as for development and characterisation of human embryonic stem cell lines.

The Institute of Mechanical Engineers has recognised Randox Laboratories with an award for product innovation at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards held in June in London, attended by Dr Peter FitzGerald (managing director), Gareth Wilson (engineering project leader) and Ivan McConnell (R&D manager).

An investigator carrying out research on the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity and memory storage has won the Eppendorf and Science Prize for Neurobiology 2008. By revealing the importance of translational control in the formation of long-lasting memories, Dr Mauro Costa-Mattioli’s research could help to develop new treatments for major brain disorders including impaired memory function in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.

Sebia UK is celebrating the placement of its 50th automated capillary electrophoresis instrument at the Royal Preston Hospital. Developed with Sebia’s sound expertise and sophisticated technology, Capillarys and Minicap are innovative, fully automated systems.