RECENT NEWS

Rift Valley fever: new insight, and hope for the future

Health control measures alone could be ineffective in the long-term fight against Rift Valley fever, which affects both humans and animals, according to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

News

/ Aug 06, 2018

Care, dedication and commitment recognised by Beckman award

A 28-year-old African community youth worker, Evah Namakula, has won the first global CARES HIV/AIDS award, designed to recognise ordinary people who have shown ‘care, dedication and commitment’ in their communities as part of the fight against the disease.

News

/ Aug 06, 2018

Evaluation of haematology POCT in oncology

Horiba UK Medical has announced the publication of two studies evaluating the use of its Yumizen H500 haematology analyser for point-of-care testing (POCT) to enhance the care of oncology patients. With near-patient, full blood count results, patients undergoing chemotherapy can receive treatment without delay and greatly reduce their hospital/clinic exposure times.

News

/ Aug 06, 2018

Reliable and timely microbiology services

Eurofins Biomnis is a provider of pathology diagnostic testing and offers reliable and timely services delivered by dedicated and fully trained staff. The company’s microbial testing range includes panels for sexually transmitted diseases (Atopobium, Chlamydia, Gardnerella, Mycoplasma, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum), bacterial and viral infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses, human papillomavirus, CMV, EBV, parvovirus, , measles, influenza, pneumonia), specialised parasitology (toxocariasis, amoebiasis, ascariasis, filariasis) and emerging microbial diseases such as Zika and dengue fever. By ensuring that every test is performed to the highest standard every time, Eurofins Biomnis can help its customers make better informed healthcare decisions for patients. www.eurofins.co.uk/biomnis/our-services/medical-testing/microbiology/

News

/ Aug 06, 2018

Molecular and phenotypic detection technologies

Hospitals are increasingly encountering unpredictable resistance patterns clinically while being faced with the need to minimise broad-spectrum antibiotic use to prevent and reduce antimicrobial resistance. For patients with sepsis, time to effective and optimised therapy is critical. Accelerate Diagnostics has created breakthrough diagnostic solutions by developing technologies that address the needs of clinicians and the laboratory.

News

/ Aug 06, 2018

Infectious disease researcher named Strathclyde Alumnus of the Year

One of the world’s leading researchers on HIV and AIDS has been named the University of Strathclyde’s Alumnus of the Year. Professor Mario Stevenson (Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami) has received the award from his alma mater in recognition of his achievements in researching disease, notably AIDS/HIV.

News

/ Jul 04, 2018

Funding awarded to support an enzymatic process for DNA synthesis

Evonetix, the Cambridge-based company pioneering an innovative approach to enable scalable and high-fidelity gene synthesis, has been awarded substantial funding to support the development of a novel enzymatic approach to DNA synthesis. Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, will co-fund the £1.3 million project, which will be undertaken in collaboration with Durham University.

News

/ Jul 04, 2018

Western blot imaging aids research in major Spanish hospital

A Syngene multi-application imager is being utilised by scientists at a major hospital in Spain to accelerate Western blot analysis of proteins expressed by white blood cells post-vaccination. Researchers are using the system to analyse rapidly and accurately ECL-labelled chemiluminescent Western blots of cellular receptors and proteins expressed by neutrophils and leucocytes. This fundamental research is allowing the scientists to detect changes in protein expression post-vaccination and is providing information to make predictions about the efficacy of, and potential adverse events associated with, clinical vaccines.

News

/ Jul 04, 2018

Portable laboratory for pathogen detection

An independent technology and product development company, TTP, and Cubed Laboratories, a developer of rapid, DNA-based molecular diagnostic devices and test kits, have announced the successful completion of a project to develop Cubed’s core product, the NESDEP portable laboratory for pathogen detection. This accurate, high-throughput and easy-to-use system has benefits in the food safety industry and potentially beyond.

News

/ Jul 04, 2018

Minimising uncertainty in laboratory medicine

The issue of measurement uncertainty and its assessment has been a continuing theme across the past six issues of Pathology in Practice, and coverage of this topic concluded in the June issue. The series of articles has proved to be of considerable value to all those facing assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the standards that comprise ISO 15189:2012 Medical laboratories – Requirements for quality and competence. However, uncertainty in its various other forms frequently emerges in this publication. The June cover topic is pre-eclampsia testing, and the latest National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance that aims to limit the uncertainty around the possible development of this form of gestational hypertension (pictured) in late pregnancy.

News

/ Jul 04, 2018

Methotrexate and the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: an update

Since the approval of methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 30 years ago, there have been a number of new findings about this drug. As a result, the mode of action is increasingly better understood, new indications are identified and the relevant aspects of patient adherence are defined. In practice, this leads to continued therapy optimisation, especially with regard to the dose and route of administration, which was emphasised at the recent Medac Symposium.

News

/ Jun 19, 2018

Meeting, learning and discovering

In May over 1200 scientists, technicians, speakers and exhibitors descended on the East Midlands Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham for the fifth Scientific Laboratory Show and Conference. Organised by Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS), the day brought together delegates from across the community, offering opportunities to meet like-minded people, learn new things and discover the very best scientific technology and equipment for the laboratory.

News

/ Jun 19, 2018

Celebrate art in science with the Image of the Year Award

The Olympus Image of the Year European Life Science Light Microscopy Award 2018 recognises the very best in life science imaging. Participants can win a CX23 microscope with EP50 WiFi camera and iPad, an OM-D E-M5 Mark II camera, or a PEN E-PL8 camera.

News

/ Jun 19, 2018

Savings through quick adoption of new diagnostic techniques

Research commissioned by Innovate UK and the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) reveals that the NHS could save over £6.9 billion in five years through the quick adoption of new diagnostic tests as they come to the market. In turn, these savings could help tackle the annual NHS shortfall, widely expected to reach £20 billion by 2022. Patients would benefit from three new tests, for heart attack, pre-eclampsia and inflammatory bowel disease, by reducing unnecessary procedures and medication while delivering significant NHS savings.

News

/ Jun 19, 2018

Going Overboard with Microbiology – Women and Children First

Following on from a very successful Annual Scientific Meeting held in May, later in the year (Friday 19 October) the British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) will hold its Autumn Symposium at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, entitled: Going Overboard with Microbiology – Women and Children First.

News

/ Jun 04, 2018

Putting it all together: the assessment of uncertainty of measurement

In the June issue of Pathology in Practice, the seventh article by Stephen MacDonald brings the series on individual aspects of the assessment of uncertainty of measurement to a close. It provides an example of how to set, assess and review measurement uncertainty in any situation in the laboratory.

News

/ Jun 04, 2018

Strong feelings about point-of-care testing: a personal view

For the right reasons and in the right settings, point-of-care testing (POCT) is a great use of technology and could really improve efficiency for the NHS and convenience for the population. The big caveat is that it needs to be done when it is clinically appropriate and not just because technology makes it possible.

News

/ Jun 04, 2018

Going overboard with microbiology: a BSMT update

The 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT), held recently at PHE, Colindale, proved to be yet another resounding success. The focus of the meeting was Rapid Diagnostics – Time is Relative. Later in the year (Friday 19 October 2018), the BSMT will hold its Autumn Symposium at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, the theme being Going Overboard with Microbiology – Women and Children First.

News

/ May 22, 2018

Humans on a chip – the future for research and drug discovery

Medicines Discovery Catapult, the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Drug Safety Science (CDSS), based at the University of Liverpool, and the National Centre for the Replacement Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), combined forces recently to bring together experts from the field of organ-on-a-chip technology (OOAC) at the Sensor City in Liverpool.

News

/ May 21, 2018

Putting it all together, building the measurement uncertainty budget

The seventh and final article in the Pathology in Practice series by Stephen MacDonald on individual aspects of the assessment of uncertainty of measurement will provide an example of how to set, assess and review measurement uncertainty (MU) in any situation in the laboratory.

News

/ May 21, 2018