Emma: a future in biomedical science

Seventeen year old Emma had visited Southampton hospital before for routine appointments and blood tests. She understood why her blood was being taken, but knew less about the journey her sample took once it reached the laboratory.

For Emma, that journey is particularly exciting, as she is interested in biomedical science and a possible future career in healthcare.

Chloe Aman, Harvey’s Lab Tours Ambassador at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), was excited to answer Emma’s questions, and what better way than through her very own Harvey’s Lab Tour?

Joined by her dad, Mark, Emma met Chloe for a behind-the-scenes visit to the hospital laboratories.

After receiving an enquiry through the IBMS, Chloe contacted Mark to arrange the tour. Emma was already due to attend a hospital appointment, so Chloe was keen to organise the visit for the same day. This way, the family wouldn't need to make an additional trip to Southampton.

With the laboratory preparing to pause tours over the summer holidays, the timing was important.

School holidays can be challenging due to staff leave and although we love doing the tours, we also must consider making sure laboratory sections are covered so we don’t disrupt service provision. Luckily, we were able to get Emma’s tour organised just in time.

The lab

Emma's tour was an exciting opportunity to learn more about her own healthcare while also exploring her interest in becoming a biomedical scientist.

Alongside seeing what happens to her blood samples, Emma was also able to ask questions about pursuing a career in the profession. Chloe explained the importance of choosing an IBMS-accredited degree programme and completing the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio.

The tour began in biochemistry, where Emma met Kate and did an experiment demonstrating how laboratory analysers use colour changes to measure substances in samples.

In haematology, Will showed Emma red cell morphology. Together, they looked at blood films and used Play-Doh to create 3D models of abnormally shaped red blood cells.

The team also arranged an additional stop in coagulation, built around Emma and Mark's interests.

We don’t normally visit the coagulation department, but as Emma and Mark were interested in finding out more about Factor V Leiden, I had arranged for Christos, a Specialist BMS in haematology and coagulation, to meet with them to give a brief overview of the department and answer any questions.

Emma then visited transfusion, where she investigated blood group testing by interpreting different reaction patterns.

The tour finished with the emotions volcano activity which gave Emma a chance to look back on her experience.

A future biomedical scientist

Following the visit, Mark shared how much Emma had enjoyed seeing the laboratories and how the experience had strengthened her interest in biomedical science.

Many thanks for a wonderful and really interesting tour. Emma really enjoyed it and it has given her a really good insight into her career choice and inspired her to learn more. You may well meet her again when you lecture at university soon.

It was lovely to meet you and a wonderful look behind the scenes.

The team at University Hospital Southampton would like to wish Emma all the best with her studies and hope they might one day welcome her back as a colleague.

A big thank you to Chloe, Kate, Will, Christos and everyone involved in making Emma’s tour possible.