RECENT NEWS

Quality Systems International (QSI) has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with laboratory equipment specialist Camlab of Cambridge that will see both companies working closely together to market and support QSI’s WinLims Rental solution across the UK.

The fifth edition of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (plus Hevylite), written by Professor A R Bradwell, includes new information on renal applications of serum free light chain (FLC) assays, new case studies and an introduction to the new Hevylite assays that are due to be launched later this year.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is now routinely using Backlogs online pathology reporting service to manage workload fluctuations in histopathology, and also meet the challenges of covering staff sickness and holiday periods. Working on a flat fee per case basis, with no requirement for binding contracts or minimum orders, Backlogs provides the immediate cover and subspecialist reporting needed for this major pathology centre.

Shadow science minister Adam Afriyie has promised scientific literacy lessons on evidence-based policy-making for new Conservative MPs and top civil servants. The new three-point Conservative policy proposes: scientific literacy lessons for elected politicians with a view to introducing compulsory lessons for senior civil servants as part of their CPD; science awareness sessions incorporated into the induction arrangements for all incoming Conservative MPs and existing MPs; and examination of the options for scientific literacy lessons in the civil service and for all elected officials. In addition, the Conservatives will consult on ways to integrate external scientific expertise into the decision-making process.

The next Biomedical Science Congress is fast approaching and the current climate in the health service means that attendance is vitally important. Now, together with all the usual features of this premier event in the laboratory medicine calendar, introduction of a new Premium Early discounted rate makes early booking even more attractive.

SRC, the UK’s leading provider of healthcare digital dictation and speech recognition solutions, has introduced the WinScribe digital dictation system to 800 users at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL). The deployment is central to the trust's plans to cut waiting times and improve document turnaround times and is the first major contract under the East Midlands resource hub digital dictation framework agreement with SRC.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that its Atlas chromatography data system (CDS) now supports the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. Thermo Scientific Atlas version 8.2 provides liquid chromatography and gas chromatography instrument control, digital data acquisition, chromatography data processing and reporting, all in a familiar, easy-touse and widely supported Microsoft Windows Vista environment.

Sterilin has announced the availability of handy ward/ shelf packs of its best-selling 30-mL universal containers, usually supplied in packs of 400. The new packs of 50 will contain an inner bag label with product code, lot number and expiry date, aiding product traceability.

Pronostics, a developer and manufacturer of nextgeneration multiplexed diagnostics, has signed a deal with Hannover Medical School to provide its proprietary platform for the diagnosis of autoimmune disease. The deal will see Hannover Medical School, one of the world’s leading medical centres, use UltraPlex hardware and ANA kits for the diagnosis of autoimmune disease.

The new Institute of Oncology at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, has been equipped with refrigerators and freezers worth over £250,000 by Labcold, the specialist manufacturer of professional medical, scientific and laboratory refrigeration equipment.

Cambridge Research Biochemicals (CRB) has launched a new online shop, thus expanding its offerings to customers worldwide.

A new Health Protection Agency (HPA) Culture Collections website has been launched offering cell lines, bacteria, viruses, fungi, associated services and technical information. This follows the integration of four UK culture collections into one not-for-profit strategic business unit within the Health Protection Agency.

Olympus UK has announced that Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, which covers Hexham, Wansbeck and North Tyneside General Hospitals, has awarded a seven-year managed service contract (MSC) to Olympus Diagnostics. The MSC covers Olympus immunoassay, clinical chemistry and automation products, and process improvement analysis consultation and the refurbishment of new laboratory facilities. This MSC is the first order to include the new AU3000i immunoassay system – three of which have gone live at the trust.

Cellzome has been awarded a Medical Research Council Pilot Industry Collaboration Grant with Professor Christopher Buckley and Dr Karim Raza in the Department of Rheumatology and Medical Research Council Centre for Immune Regulation at the University of Birmingham Medical School to profile the expressed kinome in early inflammatory arthritis.

Eppendorf customers in Ireland now have more choice and expertise available for calibration and repair of their manual liquid-handling products from approved service partner Calibration Technology.

The letter ‘Who is a Clinician?’, published in the October issue (page 908), made reference to the Chief Scientific Officer.

An item published in the October issue of The Biomedical Scientist (‘Government Recognition to Boost Cord Blood Usage’ page 848) stated that Virgin Health Bank is “the UK’s only licensed and accredited cord blood bank”.

In vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs) are often used in combination with other devices and equipment, and this needs to be planned and managed carefully so that the combination does not impair the performance of any of the individual devices, according to a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) bulletin issued recently.

Research has shown that prion protein, a form of protein that triggers bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is associated with other brain diseases in cattle.

Teachers and lecturers across the UK now have new resources to help them inspire and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.