RECENT NEWS

Molecular methods have become widely available for diagnostic microbiology but certain questions arise when considering their introduction. For example, can they replace conventional methods relia-bly, is training to use such complex assays available, and are the improvements in turnaround time and improved sensitivity actually worth the cost? Mike Wren considers some of these issues.

Inspirata is making available its digital pathology workflow software, on a free-of-charge basis, to assist NHS trusts and pathology networks in maintaining histopathology reporting throughput, as they wrestle with current and/or projected limitations in the availability of human resources caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Olympus will exhibit its leading microscopy and industrial inspection solutions to a global online audience at the new SelectScience Virtual Analytical Summit 2020, taking place from 31 March to 2 April 2020. The event is free to register and attend and will connect over 900,000 scientists with presentations, workshops, video interviews, virtual booths, cutting-edge resources, the latest product and application news, Q&As, networking and live-chat opportunities.

Many allied health professionals (AHPs) who have recently left the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register have expressed a willingness to return and help during the current coronavirus national emergency. For this reason, the HCPC has agreed to automatically re-register all AHPs who have voluntarily left the HCPC register over the past three years onto a temporary COVID-19 Register.

A study has shown that UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Blood Coagulation (UK NEQAS BC) lyophilised plasma samples can be tested on HORIBA UK, Medical’s Yumizen G200 haemostasis instrument, confirming that it is accurate and suitable for use in external quality assessment (EQA) exercises.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Life Sciences was relaunched recently. Chaired by Daniel Zeichner MP, the APPG will raise awareness of UK life sciences among parliamentarians, and explore the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

Public Health England is the custodian of four unique collections of expertly preserved, authenticated bacteria, viruses, fungi and cell lines of known provenance for use in medical science and laboratory healthcare.

Syngene has introduced a far-red HI-LED lighting option for its new design of G:BOX Chemi and G:BOX mini multi-application gel and blot imaging systems. This quick-fit, environmentally friendly lighting enables fast workflow and precise detection of IR fluorescently labelled proteins on gels and blots.

Biopharmaceutical company Kiadis and The Ohio State University (OSU) – Arthur G James Cancer Hospital and Richard J Solove Research Institute have launched a first-in-human clinical trial in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (R/R AML) with off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cells manufactured using Kiadis’ FC21 mbIL21 feeder cells and proprietary universal donor platform. The trial is expected to provide further clinical proof-of-concept of Kiadis’ K-NK003 product.

The appointment of John Barwick as the new chief executive of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has been ratified by the organisation’s Council. Christine Elliott (HCPC chair) said, “We were overwhelmed with excellent candidates for the post of chief executive. John’s passion, leadership and vision shone through, and he was compelling in his strategy for the future direction of our organisation.

Proscia, a provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital pathology software, has released the findings of a new study on the first deep-learning system with proven accuracy in real laboratory environments. Published in Scientific Reports, a journal from Nature Research, the study is the largest AI validation study conducted in pathology to date and supports the growing impact of AI in cancer diagnosis.

A project at King’s College London aiming to eliminate so called ‘zombie cells’ using a new group of drugs has received a grant of over £125,000 from the charity Heart Research UK.

Thermo Fisher Scientific and NanoPin Technologies have entered into a collaborative relationship to advance blood-based infectious disease detection technology through the development of highly sensitive liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based workflows.

A collaborative global scientific effort, which includes a group of researchers from the University of Glasgow, has completed the most comprehensive study of whole cancer genomes to date. The work will significantly improve the fundamental understanding of cancer, signposting new directions for its diagnosis and treatment.

Proclarix, the blood-based test for prostate cancer from Proteomedix, is now commercially available in Europe. Proclarix combines proprietary biomarkers and a risk score that accurately identifies an individual patient’s risk for clinically significant prostate cancer.

Priorclave has launched a new autoclave website (www.priorclave.com), which reflects the true status of this dedicated British autoclave manufacturer, with its products from small benchtop to large rectangular chamber machines in use in virtually every country around the world. The site’s simple global navigation structure enables potential customers to gain quickly an insight into Priorclave’s comprehensive range of laboratory autoclaves and research-grade steam sterilisers.

EKF Diagnostics is supporting the reduction of anaemia in developing regions of South America through the use of its point-of-care (POC) haemoglobin analysers. EKF’s Hemo Control hemoglobin analyser has been helping the reliable screening and monitoring of anaemia to fight chronic child malnutrition by South American public health programmes for a number of years. In Peru, one such programme has reduced chronic malnutrition in children under five years old from 28% to 13% since 2006. The significance of this achievement has been recognised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) has launched a transformative next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel for constitutional cytogenetics research. The CytoSure Constitutional NGS Panel contains the most up-to-date, hand-curated content for intellectual disability (ID) and developmental delay (DD) research. Delivering accurate and reliable detection of copy number variations (CNVs), single nucleotide variations (SNVs), insertion/deletions (indels) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) – including in mosaic samples – the panel combines the benefits of NGS and microarrays in one cost-effective assay.

Hologic has announced that new products within the Panther Scalable Solutions (PSS) portfolio are now commercially available in the United States and Europe. These new optional configurations, which represent Hologic’s next generation of molecular diagnostics innovation, will allow laboratories to scale their instrumentation to meet testing demands both in their current workflow and their future growth plans.

Biomedical scientists are trained to evaluate evidence, solve problems, think creatively and reflect on their own practice and their department’s performance. In a routine diagnostic setting, these skills are practised daily by all grades of pathology staff. It would be taken for granted that this constitutes good professional practice, but they are also the attributes required to be an effective researcher, as Sarah Pitt explains.