FEATURE ARTICLES

A recent case study, poster and paper provide compelling evidence to support the efficacy of the latest diagnostic system and assays from Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. The following trio of reports from across Europe provides independent support for the value of Beckman Coulter’s DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System and assays in routine virological practice.

Laboratory professionals must be given detailed clinical information to make decisions on the most effective testing for patients, writes Martin Wilkinson, as we can no longer afford for laboratories to be confined to the back office.

In the run up to publication of the latest European guidance on testing for Clostridium difficile infection, this article provides an overview of the current situation.

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Caroline Glennie and colleagues at Manchester Royal Infirmary have been using the MacroPATH Pro-X system from Menarini since January. Here, they report on a revolution in histopathology dissection.

A combination of three laboratory tests can help to identify rheumatoid arthritis patients sooner and enable clinicians to start tailored treatment promptly, as Jason Cunningham explains.

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The addition of two new ergonomic anaerobic jars to the Anoxomat range promises to maximise the use of space both in the laboratory and within incubators. Jim Smith explains.

Biochemical features of selenium have emerged only in recent years, and investigations into selenoproteome gene expression and the selenocysteine synthetic pathway have provided evidence that underpins its biochemical roles in health and disease.

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The latest reports by Jim O’Neill’s independent Review on Antimicrobial Resistance have highlighted the power of simple measures to prevent infections, as well as the potential role of vaccines and other alternatives in tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Lack of formal international standardisation of tests for venous thromboembolism means that appropriate medical care may sometimes not be given. Here, Laurence Loï looks at the current situation.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumour that often follows an aggressive course. Understanding its biology could improve the clinical outcomes for patients who present with this rare malignant disease.

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Providing a high-quality, reliable and cost-effective pathology service is the priority for today’s NHS. Beckman Coulter’s Ibti Rashid explains why the company’s laboratory automation customers excel in these areas.

Teams of researchers in Cardiff, Zaragoza in Spain, and Brno in the Czech Republic have focused on the use of TRAIL, a member of the TNF cytokine superfamily, as a more effect treatment for breast cancer.

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The next phase in the development of innovative laboratory technologies is in progress and will be highlighted next year with the return of SmartLAB to Hanover.

Pathology services have a pivotal role to play in the diversification of point-of-care testing services, but the shift of responsibility outside the laboratory setting is not without its challenges, as Martin Wilkinson explains.

Use of the cardiac troponin high-sensitivity test from Roche means that faster diagnoses can be made in patients who present with chest pain to accident and emergency, resulting in prompt treatment and better use of healthcare resources.

Suzanne Callander reports on the move towards accreditation of quality and competence of point-of-care test services to bring them into line with clinical laboratories.

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Advances in immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, quantum dot technology and the use of tissue microarrays were subjects covered in an annual EuroSciCon meeting devoted to advances in histopathology.

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Delia Geary provides a United Kingdom Accreditation Service perspective and insight into the importance of accreditation for point-of-care testing to ensure quality control.

When a patient suffering from Trichomonas vaginalis proved difficult to cure using standard treatment, the clinician turned to laboratory medicine to provide some answers. Subsequently, an in-house approach proved successful and indicated that sensitivity testing should be more widely available, as Alison Davies and colleagues explain.

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As laboratories experience expanding molecular diagnostic workloads, many are faced with meeting this increasing demand in cramped working environments. Here, Jordi Vila and Angeles Marcos describe how workflow efficiencies can be achieved in virology.

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