RECENT NEWS

The Biomedical Science Industry Handbook 2019

The second edition of The Biomedical Science Industry Handbook is included with the December 2018 issue of Pathology in Practice. Updated for 2019, the handbook provides concise yet comprehensive information on the full range of products and services supplied by colleagues across the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry spectrum.

News

/ Nov 30, 2018

Congress 2019: a brief update

Congress 2019 is going to be the most ambitious programme the Institute of Biomedical Science has ever hosted. Owing to the success last year of the new Sunday programme, the Institute will again be starting the Congress programme at 13.00 on Sunday, 22 September with four key lecture programmes: Education and Training, Quality Management, Molecular Pathology and a practical microscopy workshop for our cytologists. It is recognised that some programmes are extremely popular so to enable laboratories to juggle delegate attendances, the Quality Management programme will also be offered on the Wednesday, and Education and Training will continue on the Monday, with further content to be made available on the Tuesday as part of the exhibition hall seminars – but more about that next year.

News

/ Nov 30, 2018

Ten years of National Pathology Week

When the first National Pathology Week (NPW) was planned in 2008 the aim was to hold 40 events across the UK. By the end for the week over 320 had been held, and pathologists the world over had caught the public engagement bug. A favourite comment of Dr Suzy Lishman (pictured) from an early participant was that NPW had rekindled their passion for pathology and improved morale in their department – two rather unexpected side-effects. Since then, thousands of events have been held for schools, the public and healthcare professionals, and NPW is firmly established as an annual event.

News

/ Nov 30, 2018

Lab Innovations a major hit with visitors, exhibitors and speakers

Lab Innovations, the UK’s only trade show dedicated to the laboratory industry, beat all records for the show, attracting 3113 attendees – a 10% increase on the previous year. Underlying the headline number were significant increases in visitors involved in purchasing products and services. Overall, 79% of visitors were involved in the purchasing decision, with a 43% increase in laboratory managers, a 53% increase in laboratory technicians, and an impressive 125% increase in procurement managers. In addition, the number of scientists attending increased by 49%. This dynamism was clear from the buzz of activity on the floor, with the statistics highlighting the enormous contribution that Lab Innovations makes to the business of laboratory science.

News

/ Nov 22, 2018

Dual-action cancer-killing virus: early tests

Scientists have equipped a virus that kills carcinoma cells with a protein so it can also target and kill adjacent cells that are tricked into shielding the cancer from the immune system. It is the first time that cancer-associated fibroblasts within solid tumours – healthy cells that are tricked into protecting the cancer from the immune system and supplying it with growth factors and nutrients – have been specifically targeted in this way.

News

/ Nov 22, 2018

Alan Wainwright nominated IFBLS President-Elect

The International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) is a not-for-profit organisation made up of international member associations that represent biomedical laboratory scientists across the world, and has a direct input into the World Health Organization (WHO) development of policy and standards.

News

/ Nov 22, 2018

State-of-the-art pathology IT system announced

A new state-of-the-art laboratory system for the Black Country Pathology Service (BCPS) has been announced. It is hoped the new laboratory information management system (LIMS) will reduce clinical risk and provide more complete patient history across primary and secondary care. The new system will enable pathology services across the multiple hospital sites to work together more collaboratively than previously This will result in an enhanced service for clinicians and offers patients a centre of excellence providing all aspects of a quality pathology service.

News

/ Nov 22, 2018

Statistical quality control: verifying the attainment of accurate results

The December issue of Pathology in Practice will see publication of the second article in Stephen MacDonald’s new series on internal quality control. This will be the first of two parts covering the requirements of a quality control system, with a focus in December on the material used to control the system.

News

/ Nov 07, 2018

Welsh laboratories upgrade haemostasis analyser systems

The haemostasis laboratories at the Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles hospitals are already benefiting from Stago’s STA R Max 2 analysers. Four systems have been installed (two in each hospital) and are expected to be fully operational this month.

News

/ Nov 07, 2018

Government and Philips consortium co-invest in digital pathology and AI to improve cancer care in the UK

Royal Philips has been leading two healthcare innovation projects that will receive government investment as part of major cross-sector collaborations. A joint multimillion-pound investment by government and industry partners, this initiative will fully digitise a number of NHS pathology laboratories, expanding access to innovative digital pathology services in the UK.

News

/ Nov 07, 2018

Neutrons help to analyse outer surface interactions on Gram-negative bacteria

Researchers have been using neutrons to explore the complex outer surfaces of Escherichia coli, and they have revealed in the process, with great precision and detail, how such bacteria interact with their surroundings. Understanding these interactions is crucial, as E. coli infections can lead to fatal sepsis if untreated.

News

/ Nov 07, 2018

New track-based haematology platform achieves quality accreditation

Horiba UK Medical has announced the first global installation of its new HELO high-throughput fully automated haematology platform in Torbay Hospital, where the laboratory has achieved UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation. Additionally, the ease of use, fast processing and operational efficiency delivered by the company’s new track-based haematology system has enabled routine haematology work to be smoothed and cut by an hour at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT).

News

/ Oct 23, 2018

Innovation in digital pathology at Leeds a step to faster, better cancer diagnosis

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds have announced a critical milestone in going digital, by scanning every glass slide they produce. The milestone represents a major step towards achieving faster and accurate diagnosis for cancer patients in the future. The pathology department, located in St James’ Hospital in Leeds, is one of the largest in the UK, processing over 1000 pathology slides a day, and is now digitally scanning every slide thanks to its partnership with Leica Biosystems.

News

/ Oct 23, 2018

Pocket-sized lactate monitor to be launched at MEDICA 2018

At MEDICA 2018, EKF Diagnostics will be launching its new Lactate Scout 4 handheld lactate analyser for fast and accurate sports performance monitoring. Lactate Scout 4 is designed for use in the field as a training companion for individuals or sports teams, and will be demonstrated to delegates attending the co-located MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS conference.

News

/ Oct 23, 2018

Excellent and consistent disc quality highlighted by EUCAST

In 2014 and 2017, the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) evaluated the quality of 16 antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) discs from nine manufacturers against EUCAST targets and ranges for relevant quality control strains. The 16 AST discs were selected to represent different antibiotic classes and to include screening discs for important resistance mechanisms.

News

/ Oct 23, 2018

New Dean of Travel Medicine appointed in Glasgow

Jane Chiodini has taken up the post of Dean of the Faculty of Travel Medicine in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the first woman and the first nurse to hold this position. Mrs Chiodini (pictured with her predecessor as Dean, Group Captain Andrew D Green) was elected to the post by Fellows and Members of the Faculty, and took office at the Faculty's Annual General Meeting early in October.

News

/ Oct 10, 2018

Track-based haematology platform achieves quality accreditation in Torbay

Horiba UK Medical has announced the first global installation of its new HELO high-throughput, fully automated haematology platform in Torbay Hospital, where the laboratory has achieved UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation. Additionally, the ease of use, fast processing and operational efficiency delivered by the new track-based haematology system has enabled routine haematology work to be smoothed and cut by an hour at the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT).

News

/ Oct 10, 2018

Major London hospital uses automated colony counter

Synbiosis has announced that its ProtoCOL 3 automated colony counter is being used at a major teaching hospital in London to track the spread of carbapenem-resistant bacteria (CRB).

News

/ Oct 10, 2018

Synergy of academic and vocational values

The year 2018 represents an important milestone in the history of biomedical sciences education. It is the 40th anniversary of the first UK graduates emerging from honours degree programmes with a primary focus on biomedical sciences – then known as ‘medical laboratory science’. It is also the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS), the body which represents the biomedical sciences academic and research community.

News

/ Oct 09, 2018

Statistical quality control: overview of applications in the clinical laboratory

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

News

/ Sep 27, 2018

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