The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

RECENT NEWS

Expanded test menu for Beckman Coulter’s DxI 9000

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics has announced an expanded DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer menu, with tests for hepatitis B and C viruses - namely Access anti-HCV, Access HBsAg, and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays - receiving CE marks.

‘Diagnostics for All’ – BIVDA unveils new three-year strategy

The British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) has released its new three-year strategy, entitled ‘Diagnostics for All’.

Digital pathology live across West Yorkshire

All six NHS Trusts within the West Yorkshire Pathology Network are now live on the NPIC digital pathology platform, after Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recently joined the other four NHS Trusts within the West Yorkshire area, (collectively known as the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts [WYAAT]) and have now gone live.

UK NEQAS to relocate to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park

UK National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) is to relocate its Sheffield site to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and its state-of-the-art incubation centre, Landing Pad. The move for UK NEQAS will help propel the Park further towards becoming a global centre of excellence for innovation in health, sport and wellbeing.

FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for Roche’s Alzheimer's blood test

Roche’s Elecsys pTau217 assay blood test, which is being developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly, has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test aids in identifying amyloid pathology, a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease, and the two firms believe the test could play an important role in improving access to early and accurate Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Bosch and Randox investing in Vivalytic analysis platform for POC

Randox Laboratories has announced a new partnership with technology firm Bosch, with the goal of making fast and highly precise diagnostics accessible at the point of care. The two companies will invest around €150 million in joint research, development, and sales activities for new tests for the Vivalytic analysis platform provided by Bosch Healthcare.

New transplant monitoring partnership for Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Laboratories has announced a collaboration agreement with Oncocyte, a precision diagnostics company, to develop and commercialise transplant monitoring products using Bio-Rad’s Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) instruments and reagents.

North West Anglia works with Clinisys to modernise pathology services

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has replaced two legacy laboratory information systems with a single instance of Clinisys WinPath. The trust, which serves a catchment of 800,000 patients in North Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire, found itself with two LIMS when it was formed out of the merger of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals and Hinchingbrooke Health Care in 2017.

Latest research identifies distinct multiple sclerosis endophenotypes

In a transformative study an international team of researchers, led by the University of Münster and Department of Neurology at the University Hospital of Münster, Germany, in collaboration with the German Competence Network Multiple Sclerosis (KKNMS), has made a significant breakthrough in the understanding and potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

£1.7 million for the world’s first vaccine to prevent lung cancer

Researchers at the University of Oxford, the Francis Crick Institute and University College London have been granted £1.7 million of funding from Cancer Research UK and the CRIS Cancer Foundation to develop a lung cancer vaccine.

New WGS developmental test partnership for Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics and whole genome sequencing (WGS) firm Broad Clinical Labs have announced a research collaboration designed to demonstrate the clinical value of WGS as a first-line genetic test for postnatal diagnosis of developmental delay disorders.

WHO prequalification for Cepheid’s point-of-care HIV test

Cepheid’s Xpert HIV-1 Qual XC has been awarded World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification. Inclusion on the prequalification list signifies that Xpert HIV-1 Qual XC meets WHO's stringent performance, quality, safety and reliability standards.

NHS trialling blood tests for dementia

Two expert research teams, one from University College London and the other from Dementias Platform UK at the University of Oxford, will conduct UK-wide clinical trials to identify blood tests to boost dementia diagnosis.

New Synnovis hub laboratory processes first samples

Synnovis’ new state-of-the-art hub laboratory in Blackfriars Road, London, is now open for business, with the first samples processed at the beginning of April 2024.The new site is at the heart of a programme to deliver and transform pathology services in south east London.

Bio-Rad launches research-use PCR assay for breast cancer mutation detection

Bio-Rad Laboratories has announced the launch of its first ultrasensitive multiplexed digital PCR assay, the ddPLEX ESR1 Mutation Detection Kit. The assay expands the company’s Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) offering for the oncology market, where highly sensitive and multiplexed mutation detection assays aid translational research, therapy selection, and disease monitoring.

New research identifies blood markers for TB

Researchers have taken a major step towards identifying millions of ‘silent spreaders’ of tuberculosis. A new study led by researchers from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has identified a group of biological markers that are found in high levels among infectious patients.

Public satisfaction with the NHS slumps to new record low

Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded, according to analysis of the latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey published recently by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust.

Regulatory approval for bioMérieux’s BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE R/ST panel

In vitro diagnostics firm bioMérieux has announced that its BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE respiratory/sore throat (R/ST) panel has received both 510(k) clearance from the US FDA and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver approval.

INTEGRA Biosciences competition winner looks to transform cell culture

INTEGRA Biosciences is delighted to announce that Alt Biotech – an innovative French start-up making waves in the cell culture space – has been chosen as a winner of the 'INTEGRA supports start-ups’ competition.

FormaPath unveils novel tissue biopsy grossing platform

FormaPath has unveiled nToto, a new automated tissue visualisation system (ATVS) developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic's Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory. The new system was launched in conjunction with a poster presentation at the United States and Canada Association of Pathologists Annual (USCAP) meeting.

Upcoming Events

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Participants’ Meeting: UK NEQAS Immunology, Immunochemistry & Allergy

Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield
24th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025