FEATURE ARTICLES

After almost four months of meticulous planning, three hospital laboratories in the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust now have automated chemistry systems that set new standards in cost-effectiveness and efficiency and extend the benefits of high-throughput analysis.

Hospital-acquired infection is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in the clinical setting. Here, Fiona Macrae discusses some ways in which hospitals can assess and monitor the microbial cleanliness of critical areas.

Reduction of potential risks and greater cost efficiency are fundamental surgical ideals. Here, David Coates considers the benefits that can be provided for hip arthroplasty patients by the use of autologous blood transfusion.

The opening of state-of-the-art biomedical research and teaching laboratories will support current scientific research that now focuses on proteomics rather than genomics.

Asymptomatic hyperprolactinaemia due to macroprolactin, which is not bioactive in vivo, has prompted research on prolactin and the many commercially available immunoassays used to measure the hormone. Here, Veronique Jarrige provides an overview of implications for the laboratory.

Microbiologists at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, compare the efficacy of four selective MRSA media to produce specific, sensitive and rapid results.

Digital imaging and telemedicine have developed in leaps and bounds over the past decade. To get the best out of the technology, however, focused training in the latest techniques will pay dividends for the novice and experienced user alike.

Recent installation of three UF 100 automated urinanalysis instruments in hospitals in north-east England brings the UK total to 30. Here, two NHS Trusts provide an overview of their experiences.

KingÆs College Hospital began the hunt for a fully managed pathology service some two years ago. Thanks to close cooperation between the laboratory and two commercial organisations, the project is now approaching successful completion.

Ruling out the possibility of heart failure in the primary care setting using B-type type natriuretic peptide testing is proving cost-effective both for the GP and the laboratory. Hilda Crockett reports on the Northampton experience.

Consolidation is set to remain a key priority in the provision of laboratory medicine, as healthcare providers and patients continue to demand more from pathology. However, Olympus is committed to helping biomedical scientists respond to the expectations of user groups.

Russell Cottier, automation section leader in biochemistry at Warrington, describes the evaluation and implementation of a new generation of HbA1c analyser.

Contracts provided by commercial companies to supply analysers, reagents, consumables and additional staff and support are a cost-effective way to provide an efficient pathology service. Here, Chris Bird takes a brief look at what is involved.

Norovirus infection can be quite devastating, as past outbreaks in hospitals and on cruise ships has demonstrated. Now, a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from Quadratech offers reliable detection and a commitment to adapt the technology to detect different variants of the virus currently in circulation.

Total confidence in first-time results can open up more effective ways of working. Here, two laboratory managers discuss how Intellicheck technology from Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics makes change possible.

The wide range of manual identification methods available from Oxoid combines speed and convenience with accuracy and reliability, allowing clinical microbiology and virology laboratories of any size to offer rapid results. Ian Hart explains.

Virologists from across the UK and Ireland gathered in London in October for the annual Bayer molecular diagnostic systems user group meeting. As guests of the company, delegates assembled at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to exchange views, compare experiences and listen to topical presentations by keynote speakers.

Manual urine testing in microbiology is a time-consuming and laborious process. However, automation in the form of the iQ200 from Instrumentation Laboratory is at hand, as Karen Edwards explains.

Blood gas analysis at the point of care is often performed under stressful situations that provide the opportunity for error. However, 1st automatic from Radiometer simplifies and automates the process, as the companyÆs Lorenzo De Feo explains.

Electrophoretic separation of macromolecules is common in molecular biology. However, knowing the dispensed-sample quantity is critical for reliable interpretation of the bands produced. Now, the new Transferpette electronic pipette from Brand offers the means to determine and document the dispensed volume precisely.