The Biomedical Scientist magazine

David Westrip reviews the recent British Society for Microbial Technology conference, which was based on the theme “the genomic revolution in microbiology”

Madihah Abbas, Specialist Biochemistry Team Manager at Christie Pathology Partnership, looks at result interpretation, comparing gel and capillary zone electrophoresis

Clinical Scientist and Andrology Service Lead Stuart Long on the impact that taking on a patient-facing role can have

Nicky Hollowood and Lee Peters, module tutors for the IBMS Point-of-care testing Certificate of Expert Practice, outline the benefits of the qualification.

Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Salford Tahmina Hussain looks at leukaemia and presents a case study

Rashmi Rungta gives an insight into her life with myasthenia gravis – a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness

Senior Biomedical Scientist Clare Wigley and colleagues take us through how their lab processes and workflow changed during the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stephen Mortlock looks at the health, history and medicine of a diverse group of hunter-gatherers from southern Africa.

A look back at how the Blood Stocks Management Scheme has evolved over the last two decades, some recent achievements, and what is planned for the next 20 years.

Madihah Abbas, Specialist Biochemistry Team Manager at The Christie Pathology Partnership, presents a case study of a 50-year-old male patient.

This is the tenth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science Sheri Scott explores the role of the circadian rhythm and its impact on cortisol production.

The ninth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

Barbara J. Bain, Professor of Diagnostic Haematology and Honorary Consultant Haematologist, analyses spherocytes and irregularly contracted cells.

John Stepney, Chairman of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB), outlines the charity’s work and achievements and some of the challenges faced over recent years.

Lead Biomedical Scientist Jonathan M Evans argues that we need to get better at engaging with anti-vaxxers for our own future benefit.

The eighth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

The second instalment of the seventh article in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

The seventh in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

Emma Copperwaite, a Transfusion Improvement and Development Lead, explains how the creation of her role led to a leaner, harmonised, quality-assured and cost-effective service.

Shahid Nazir Muhammad, Academic and Chartered Scientist, and Claire Corps, Research and Clinical Scientist, give an overview of how kidney transplants in paediatrics can survive with immunosuppression therapy.

The five recipients of the IBMS research grants in 2021 introduce us to their research projectsnand discuss what impact their work could have.

Senior Lecturer Simonne Weeks looks at how to inspire trainees to create innovative and original evidence for the IBMS portfolio.

Beginning her career as a junior hospital technician, Dr June Almeida completed it as a world-renowned virologist whose techniques revolutionised diagnostic electron microscopy. She was also the first person to see a human coronavirus. Here we look back over her life.

Cancer Genomics Project Manager Deborah Lakeland describes the cultural change sweeping across healthcare provision in the UK and its importance in clinical laboratories.

Ben Courtney, the Healthcare Section Head at UKAS, outlines the service’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cecilia Grimaldi talks to three previous recipients of IBMS research grants to hear about their projects, how the funding has supported their research, and what they plan to do next.

The sixth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

Jo Horne and Chris Fisher give a nuts-and-bolts guide to the new Histopathology Scientist Training Programme

Anne Lockhart, IBMS representative, and Victoria Tuckley from the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme explain their latest annual report

From chewing on pine cones to hair lice walking on eyeballs, Stephen Mortlock looks back over the medical history of the frozen north

The fifth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology laboratories.

Dr Rameen Shakur takes a look at how biomedical science and genomics are playing a part in real-world clinical cardiology.

Professor Adrian Esterman, Chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of South Australia looks at the current situation.

We asked biomedical scientist and intrepid traveller Sue Alexander her plans and opinions on travel as the world starts to open up again. Here’s what she said.

With artificial intelligence becoming ever more prominent in biomedical labs and research, biomedical scientist turned ethicist Sarah E Carter looks at the pressing issues.

Kamila Orzechowska, a final-year student at Coventry University, looks at the role of epidermal growth factor receptors and microbial infections in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Victoria Tuckley, Laboratory Incident Specialist at SHOT, looks at errors in transplant patients.

Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology (AAPT) council member Martin Goddard on how his profession has coped during the pandemic.

To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Tahmina Hussain (TH) asked four colleagues three questions about gender and the workplace. Here’s what they said.

Microbiology Service Lead Susan Lovegrove outlines the process of creating a new PCR laboratory at Black Country Pathology Services

Specialist Biomedical Scientist Chloe Knowles looks at digital pathology and remote working during the pandemic

The fourth in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those in clinical pathology labs. Their names are most often used because they made highly significant contributions to the discovery and understanding of the disease

Robert Simpson, the IBMS Informatics Lead, gives an update and outlines the latest developments in the emerging field.

Professor Adrian Esterman, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, looks at the action taken in Australia to crack down on outbreaks and the lessons learned

Stephen Mortlock looks back at the history of the Aztec civilisation, the diseases that struck and the treatments that were created

The second instalment on Guido Fanconi in a series of short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions, syndromes or tests familiar to those working in clinical pathology labs.

Working in a laboratory often involves implementing a new method to improve the service, writes Specialist Biochemistry Team Manager Madihah Abbas.

Madihah Abbas, Specialist Biochemistry Team Manager at the Christie Pathology Partnership in Manchester, presents a case study.

The third of a series of selected short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions, syndromes or tests familiar to those working in clinical pathology laboratories.

What placements are available and how can these be used to increase training capacity, as well as increase visibility and development of our profession? Lee Peters, Senior Biomedical scientist at Swansea University Health Board, looks at the issues.

This is the second of selected short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions, syndromes or tests familiar to those working in clinical pathology laboratories.

David Sanders and colleagues discuss laboratory assessment of samples for retrograde ejaculation and outline how accreditation could work.

Deputy Editor Guy Orchard provides a brief glimpse of the articles on offer in the third issue of the year.

Sarah Alexander and Ayuen Lual from the National Collection of Type Cultures look back over a century of providing authentic bacterial strains

Anne Lockhart, IBMS representative on the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) steering group, explains the latest annual report.

The team at Leicester Royal Infirmary have collaborated on this article to discuss their experiences of scientist reporting in histopathology.

Medical Scientist Eileen Kelly reports on the impact of COVID-19 in Melbourne and the way the pandemic has been dealt with.

Professor Barbara J Bain covers some of the circumstances when blood films are vital.

The first article in a series of selected short biographies of persons whose names are directly used for diseases, conditions or syndromes familiar to those working in clinical pathology laboratories.

Alison Muir, a Lead Scientist in Blood Transfusion, discusses the issues and challenges in setting up a transfusion service to help cope with the pandemic

Steve Clarke on the history of screening tests and programme criteria, as applied to cancer screening, notably colorectal cancer

Chief Biomedical Scientist in Biochemistry Charlie Houston and colleagues outline the impact of COVID-19 on the Isle of Man

Laboratory Manager Richard Wardle outlines the introduction of a drive-through phlebotomy service during the COVID-19 pandemic

Adrian Esterman, Chair of Biostatistics at the University of South Australia’s Cancer Research Institute, asks: “Can we believe the statistics about COVID-19?”

The Black Death was the first great pandemic to devastate these shores and, unlike COVID-19, there was a special horror in the fact no-one knew what it was, states writer Jonathan Lovett.

Professor Anthony Rhodes and Dr Chooi Ling Lim discuss the COVID-19 spread and attempts to control the disease in Southeast Asia

Biomedical Scientist Team Manager Tahmina Hussain puts a new automated digital analyser to the test.

Sophie Scott, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, asks why we laugh, what it means and argues that it’s time to take laughter more seriously

Ben Courtney, Head of Healthcare at UKAS, gives an update with the latest news from the service

Biomedical Science Professional Managers Mairiead MacLennan and Jenny Smith look at the impact staff demographics can have on the delivery of laboratory services

What impact can the gut microbiome have on the human body? AD Diwan and SN Harke dive down the oesophagus to find out

Blood Bank and Stem Cell Bank Discipline Manager Beverly Craig outlines an innovative project with the emergency services

Helen Aitkenhead, Consultant Clinical Scientist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, looks at the latest on ammonia analysis and reporting

Quality and Training Supervisor Tola Elegbe on thawing times and haemostatic assessment.