CORONAVIRUS NEWS

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has published a consultation document on ways to improve the environment and health of children and young people in the UK.

Doris-Ann Williams, director-general of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), commented recently on the government’s proposals for so-called health MoTs.

Two University of Ulster academics have won prestigious awards in recognition of their cutting-edge research into diabetes.

In response to enquiries from its members, the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (AAPT) has drawn up guidelines covering the involvement of anatomical pathology technologists (APTs) in post-mortem examinations on friends or relatives.

The Wellcome Trust has announced a £30 million partnership between the private, public and charitable sectors to offer much-needed training to science teachers.

The Health Professions Council (HPC) has launched a three-month consultation to invite stakeholders for their views on its proposed fees increase for 2009.

Labcold has published the new edition of its everpopular catalogue. The essential guide provides full information on Labcold products, as well as details on all new ranges, plus improved specifications and designs.

Eppendorf’s customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland benefit from fast delivery times and the very highest standard of professional aftersales service from some of the largest and best-known local distributors. Eppendorf UK has added to its portfolio of distributors in Ireland, with Fisher Scientific Ireland joining AGB Scientific (a VWR International company), Unitech and Davidson Hardy as an approved service partner.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) expert Dr David Whitehouse will chair EuroSciCon’s PCR perfection: insider tricks meeting, which will be held on 3 October at BioPark, Hertfordshire. Dr Whitehouse is an experienced academic and commercial scientist with more than 20 years’ research experience in the university sector, mostly with the MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit at University College London (UCL).

Roche Diagnostics has announced the global launch of enhanced software (Version 7.0) for its flagship cobas b 221 blood gas analyser system. The cobas b 221 is a desktop device designed for critical care and provides blood gas analysis, measurement of the most important electrolytes, and glucose, lactate, urea, bilirubin and haemoglobin derivatives.

Anachem has launched a completely new website (www.anachem.co.uk) as the result of customer feedback. Numerous enhancements have been made to the site, including a more effective search engine, easy online catalogue navigation and improved online ordering functionality.

Siemens’ latest marketing campaign has hit the road and involves three London taxi cabs, each branded to represent three of the key sectors (ie healthcare, industry and energy) in which Siemens operates. The ‘Answers for life’ campaign is designed to promote Siemens as a company and how it can help answer life’s complicated questions.

Oxford Expression Technologies (OET) has launched baculoXPRESS, a comprehensive custom baculovirus expression service that can be tailored to individual requirements.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that PRA International, a leading clinical development organisation, has selected Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS to help manage its state-of-the-art bioanalytical laboratory, located in Assen in The Netherlands.

The Healthcare Employment Consortium (HEC) has been appointed master vendor for the provision of temporary allied health professionals (AHPs) and healthcare science services (HSS) staff to the East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub, which covers NHS trusts in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Implementation has already begun and managers have been asked to make all placements in these staff categories through HEC.

Abbott Diagnostics has announced the appointment of Trevor Nichols (pictured) as UK general manager. Trevor has been with the company since 1990, having previously held the post of UK commercial director. Prior to joining Abbott, Trevor worked as a microbiologist in the National Health Service.

GE Healthcare has announced completion of the contract to supply Centricity Ultra Laboratory to NHS Highland’s pathology department at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.

Randox Laboratories was awarded the prestigious title of International Company of the Year 2007 at the Growing Business Awards last November. Hosted by Real Business magazine and the Confederation of British Industry, the Growing Business Awards recognise entrepreneurial achievement in the UK.

Delta Consultants, a specialist in scientific and medical devices recruitment, has been providing recruitment to ensure the perfect job match between client and candidate since 1988. The company, which is an IBMS Company Member and regular supporter of the Biomedical Science Congress, attributes its success and longevity to listening to the needs of its candidates and clients, and keeping close to the industry.

Applied Biosystems and scientific IT specialist Integromics SL have launched a solution for analysing real-time PCR data, which integrates advanced bioinformatics software with highthroughput real-time PCR instrument systems. The solution incorporates IntegromicsÆ Real- Time StatMiner software with any of Applied BiosystemsÆ line of real-time PCR systems.