LABORATORY MANAGEMENT ARTICLES

Stephen MacDonald concludes his series of articles on risk-based quality management by drawing together the various elements on which each of the previous seven articles focused.

Advances in molecular and genomic technologies are transforming oncology diagnostics, bridging screening, risk stratification, and treatment selection into a connected model of early cancer detection.

Earlier this year, South West London Pathology celebrated the installation of new analysers and automated tracking at Croydon Hospital’s essential service laboratory. Six months on, Pathology in Practice Editor Andy Myall caught up with SWLP‘s Managing Director Simon Brewer to see how the project is progressing.

With laboratories under pressure, automation allows staff to gain back time. Here, Megan Northam explains how her laboratory has benefited from the features of the OsmoPRO MAX Automated Osmometer.

In this seventh article in his series on risk management, Stephen MacDonald moves on to consider internal audits and periodic reviews of examinations, which are fundamental to delivering safe and reliable laboratory services.

In this sixth article in his series, Stephen MacDonald considers the need for a broader, risk-based approach, where monitoring activities are chosen and applied according to the potential for patient harm.

Andrew Turner explains how pathology services and ultimately patients can benefit, by analysing and then optimising the pre-analytic phase.

Debra Padgett, Clinical Pathology Lead and Lead Healthcare Scientist, and an IBMS Past President, discusses pathology, working towards Net Zero, and Biomedical Science Day as well as the recent refurbishment of her laboratory.

In this fifth article in his series, Stephen MacDonald focuses on the implementation of risk-based turnaround time management, which requires collaboration across laboratory and clinical teams, supported by robust IT infrastructure and real-time monitoring tools, and, most importantly, cultural change.

By moving away from fixed quality control schedules and embracing a framework rooted in clinical risk and analytical performance, laboratories can tailor their quality systems to reflect real-world challenges. Here, Stephen MacDonald introduces the role of analytical performance specifications, Sigma metrics, and the MaxE(nuf) model.

The third in Stephen MacDonald’s latest series of articles focuses this month on the use of risk-based approaches and the application of methods such as FMEA, FTA, RCA and Process Mapping.

Stephen MacDonald continues his new series on the management of risk in the pathology laboratory environment with a look at three practical approaches, process mapping, failure mode and effects analysis, and fault tree analysis.

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.

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.

Building innovative solutions to common laboratory challenges has been Advanced Instruments’ mission since 1955, a time when electronic automation was just beginning to be applied to laboratory methods. Throughout its 70-year history, Advanced Instruments’ osmometers have helped global clinical laboratories revolutionise workflow efficiency on the chemistry bench. Over the last two decades, this mission has expanded to microbiology, haematology, and beyond.

Clinisys WinPath laboratory information system customers recently gathered at The Belfry to discuss the major challenges facing pathology, and the role of technology in addressing them. Here, Matthew Fouracre reports from a packed, but inspiring, two-day event.

Karl McIntyre of Liverpool Clinical Laboratories describes the improvements to pathology process and efficiency which have been delivered by a fully automated molecular work area.

Laboratory sterilisers play a key role in safe ongoing operation of the laboratory and training operators in the safe use of these machines and laboratory managers in managing the processes is more important than ever, says Keith Miller.

Liam Whitby, President of the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) explains the reason why UK NEQAS is a world leader in EQA.

While automation of laboratory tests and procedures can bring great efficiencies and benefits to the laboratory and to overall patient care, effective implementation of an automation project requires detailed planning strategy and evaluation, as Renato Gargiani explains.