FEATURE ARTICLES

On Thursday 15 May 2025, the BSMT will celebrate its 40th Anniversary Microbiology Conference. Renowned for the quality of its presentations and speakers, the event will once again offer a cutting edge programme not to be missed.

While most strains of Escherichia coli are harmless and can even be beneficial, others are extensively pathogenic and pose serious health risks. Dr Neil Bentley examines the role of E. coli in human health and disease, looking at how the global health challenges it presents can be tackled.

Recently The Royal College of Pathologists’ virtual conference on antimicrobial resistance brought together leading experts from around the world to discuss the urgent need for solutions to this global health crisis. Here, Carmel Aldridge presents key takeaways from the conference, shedding light on the essential roles of accurate diagnostics and effective antimicrobial stewardship.

In this article, Lauraline Winter delves into the profound significance of tissue archiving within histopathology; shedding light on its pivotal role in advancing medical science.

Implementing a digital pathology workflow comes at a considerable cost; and measuring the return on investment is a difficult and multi-faceted task. Here, the pathology team at Vestfold Hospital Trust in Norway share their experience of going digital and evaluating the benefits.

As recent research illustrates, platelet function and platelet counting have wider application than simply their role in the study of haemostasis. Here, Pathology in Practice Science Editor Brian Nation compiles a selection of current interest in the medical literature.

Stephen MacDonald returns with the first in a new series of articles. Here, he begins with an introduction to the subject of management of risk in the pathology laboratory environment.

The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme has recently published its Annual Report, collecting and analysing information on serious adverse events in blood transfusion within the UK. SHOT Laboratory Incident Specialist Victoria Tuckley presents a summary of its key points.

This year’s British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference will be held on 15 May at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London, and will cover a range of different topics. Here, Pathology in Practice provides the first of two previews of the programme.

With digital equipment and workflows now proliferating in pathology laboratories, the next technological leap is the introduction of artificial intelligence. Here, Dr Kayla Hackman MD, Benjamin Dyer and Hallie Rane look at the roles for AI in clinical and diagnostic workflows.

Clinisys’ second big customer summit of 2024 saw more than 150 people gather at The Belfry to hear about the roadmap for its order communications and results reporting system, innovative use-cases, and why it all matters. Matthew Fouracre reports.

Adoption of digital pathology has the potential to transform histopathology services within the NHS, but a cohesive strategy is required to realise the full benefits nationwide. Source LDPath looks at digital adoption so far and previews key recommendations from a forthcoming white paper from a National Working Group for Digital Pathology.

EQA scheme directors Chantell Hodgson and Becky Treacy explain the complex and rigorous process that demands experience and in-depth clinical and laboratory knowledge to produce purposeful external quality assessment.

To mark its 40th anniversary, Dr Jim Cooper, the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures’ Operational Lead, looks back at the department’s fascinating history, the collection’s achievements and impact on the scientific community and public health.

Dr Andrew Kemp and Dr Vanessa Hodgkinson present a study comparing the bacterial load on surfaces and the air particle counts in a working office environment, after the introduction of two new disinfecting technologies.

For their discovery of microRNAs, the Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun received this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Here, Pathology in Practice Science Editor Brian Nation compiles a selection of current research interest in these tiny RNA molecules that play a crucial role in health and disease.

David Norcliffe and David Manuel examine the role that plasma viscosity could play in the future diagnosis of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Helen Peat, HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist, and James Cottam, UK General Manager for Cepheid, examine how point-of-care multiplex PCR testing for respiratory viruses alleviates winter pressures on health systems.

With the festive season upon us, Dr Neil Bentley takes a look at Christmas tree syndrome, and considers the risks of a live tree in the home or office.

Sharing knowledge is the key to more accurate laboratory testing, and also for longer-term, better patient outcomes. Scheme Directors Melody Tabiner and Richard Haggas reveal the many and varied ways in which UK NEQAS shares its expert knowledge.