Mireille’s Lab Tour at Royal United Hospital Bath
Back in September 2023, Mireille was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the bones or the soft tissue around them. During her treatment, Mireille received blood and platelet transfusions.
Mireilla has a keen interest in science, and would like to become a doctor or a scientist one day. This has made her very curious about her samples, and what happens to them after they leave the laboratory.
The tour
The tour started at reception, where Sherin showed Mireille how to book in a sample. She then had a go loading racks on the track and sending pods back to the wards.
Next, Mireille visited Haematology and was shown around by Georgia who explained how the DxH analysers work to get a full blood count result. Mireille got a chance to make her very own blood film and looked at the different cells under the microscope and on CellaVision. CellaVision is a digital imaging system that captures high-quality images of blood cells, allowing biomedical scientists to examine and identify them on a screen.
Mireille booking in a sample and loading it onto the laboratory track
Learning how the haematology analyser processes blood samples
Looking at blood cell images on the CellaVision digital imaging system
Looking at a blood film under the microscope
In Biochemistry, Gabriel showed Mireille how the analysers worked and got her to top up some consumables.
Aisha showed her how to use the dip sticks on some ‘fake’ urine so she could see what sugar and protein would look like on a dip stick test.
Afterwards, Helen talked to Mireille about the importance of measuring accurately in Biochemistry and demonstrated this by challenging her to race to get to the correct volume using the pipettes.
Finally, Mireille's tour ended in Transfusion where she was shown how and where biomedical scientists keep the blood products she was given during her treatment, and the analysers used to do a group and save test. It was lovely to see Mireille's enthusiasm at what biomedical scientists do in the lab.
Mireille’s mum said:
She really enjoyed it and didn’t stop talking for a good 90 minutes afterwards!
This tour is a great example of what makes Harvey’s Lab Tours such an invaluable programme for young patients and their families. By giving Mireille a greater understanding of what happens to her samples and introducing her to the biomedical scientists who carry out this vital work, the visit helped bring the science behind her care to life. For a young person already inspired by science, it also offered a glimpse into a career she hopes to pursue in the future.
