FEATURE ARTICLES

A new collaboration between the government and the life sciences industry aims to save tens of thousands of lives through pioneering research to detect deadly diseases as early as possible before symptoms appear.

Hepatitis C was first discovered in the 1980s and known initially as non-A, non-B hepatitis. It was identified properly in 1989, and in 1991 a screening process was developed making it possible to detect hepatitis C virus in blood samples. As a relatively new disease, there remain many aspects of hepatitis C which are yet to be fully understood, as the following selection of research efforts illustrate.

The latest cybersecurity systems designed by Stago aim to support and protect NHS pathology networks and facilitate real-time data retrieval, uploading, monitoring and sharing at any time, and from anywhere, with total security offering piece of mind.

The recent resurgence this year in a predominantly childhood infection has focused attention once again on the need to encourage vaccination and therefore increase coverage. Here, Sarah Pitt looks at the background to this and provides an update on progress.

After decades of neglect, political attention has finally turned to TB. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly agreed to hold the first ever High-Level Meeting on TB. Recently, heads of state gathered to make new global commitments to combat the disease, as Mark Pointer reports.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification was developed at the turn of the 21st century and in the almost two decades since has proved increasingly useful, especially in resource-poor settings.

Stephen Macdonald returns with the second in a series of articles on internal quality control, specifically looking in this issue at process design and the impact of the materials used.

The Autumn Symposium of the British Society for Microbial Technology took place at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool last October. On behalf of the BSMT, Mark Wilks reports on a comprehensive and stimulating programme.

Recently, Torbay Hospital saw the first global installation of the HORIBA HELO fully automated haematology system. A collaborative approach to implementation was key to the success of a process that secured UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation.

Following development in the military setting, the bacteria-specific rapid metabolic assay could take a step closer to a new era in bacterial detection. Here, Andrew Kemp provides an overview of progress.

In order to optimise and standardise the handling of fresh tissue for the 100,000 Genomes Project, four partner trusts of the West Midlands Genomic Medicine Centre have adopted an innovative vacuum-packing solution.

Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a family of rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. A recent confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Scotland has brought this devastating group of diseases, that are usually rapidly progressive and always fatal, back into focus.

Laboratory incidents specialist Hema Mistry summarises the 2017 SHOT Annual Report, and looks at why the same errors continue to occur and how many of them could have been prevented.

Screening of faecal samples for blood and microorganisms is commonplace, yet testing that can distinguish irritable from inflammatory bowel conditions, and detect pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. is equally important, as this review illustrates.

Tim Woods collates abstracts that reflect proceedings of the UK NEQAS for Blood Coagulation annual scientific and participants’ two-day meeting, which was held in Sheffield earlier in the year.

Over the past decade, much research effort has been invested in the genomics and epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Currently, scientific and political initiatives aim to improve the situation.

Following the recent publication of his successful articles on measurement uncertainty, Stephen MacDonald returns with the first in a new series looking at internal quality control in laboratory medicine.

Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children is one of the great success stories of cancer medicine. Genetic analysis continues to have a major role in the fight against this and other lymphoid leukaemias.

As we move through yet more amalgamation, consolidation, change – call it what you will – a time for reflection and prediction is always worthwhile. Here, Mark Reed offers a brief history of change.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme is set to replace cytology screening with the molecular HPV test as the primary form of screening. Here we discuss the impact of this change and the role of a trusted partner in this process.