Events in 2023

CONGRESS 2023 - Production of platelets and red cell in vitro for human transfusion

27/09/2023
The idea of generating blood cells in vitro for transfusion is not new but only now we are reaching the point where the concept is reaching clinical trials. In vitro derived blood cells (namely platelets and red cells at this stage) are complementary to blood donor-derived products but with distinct advantages: biological safety, more resilient supply line and potentially less immunogenicity.

We have developed a forward programming approach relying on the overexpression of transcription factors in pluripotent stem cells to produce the platelet mother cells, the megakaryocytes, conferring added efficiency and purity to the culture system. The challenges that remain to be addressed are related to transition to GMP production, optimising platelet release in the culture and quality control of the final product. The power of genome editing has also allowed us to explore the production of platelets with added clinical benefit (immune silent, added thrombotic potential).

Red cell production from primary CD34+ progenitors has been demonstrated in academic laboratories about a decade ago. We are now mid-way through a first in human study to look at the potential of using in vitro derived red cells for transfusion. One of the main benefits would be a potentially longer survival of the manufactured red cells in the circulation than their donor-derived counterpart. This would allow spacing out transfusion intervals for patients on chronic transfusion programme, thereby reducing iron overload.

CONGRESS 2023 - The new electronic Registration Training Portfolio - a “get ready” guide for all users

27/09/2023
This talk is designed to be a “get ready” session where we introduce the ePortfolio system and present a high-level overview of the extensive features that Onefile offers, whilst simultaneously streamlining administration and reducing repetition. This will form an essential training and familiarisation opportunity for both trainers and trainees.

Digital tools are revolutionising the way researchers, clinicians, and educators manage and showcase their qualifications and career milestones. The IBMS are excited to be part of that revolution by launching version 5 of our Registration Training Portfolio on Onefile, a leading ePortfolio platform. The transition to a digital-only solution hosted by Onefile will redefine how students, apprentices and laboratory-based staff complete this integral part of their journey to HCPC registration as biomedical scientists.

Onefile offers a multifaceted approach to collating, managing and auditing a portfolio of evidence; simultaneously providing a robust and efficient process for training officers and managers to support and supervise the journey of their trainees from enrolment, portfolio completion and finally to successful verification.

Rather than providing a demonstration of Onefile per se, this talk will allow delegates to see how the platform can be easily embedded into their existing training structure. We will suggest a delivery workflow so users can maximise the features and benefits of Onefile and we will outline a roadmap of user training, plus other support to facilitate the transition to Onefile in their laboratories and / or universities over the coming months.

This talk will be informative for anyone who is involved in or responsible for pre-registration laboratory training, in particular portfolio candidates, training officers, laboratory managers and university placement tutors.

Additional talks focusing on specific elements of Onefile are scheduled for the free seminar programme on Thursday. These talks will specifically consider Onefile from the perspective of trainees and trainers (11.00am, Hall: 4), and training officers/laboratory managers/portfolio verifiers (2.30pm, Hall: 4).

CONGRESS 2023 - The effects of long COVID on coagulopathy

27/09/2023
The effects of long COVID on coagulopathy

CONGRESS 2023 - Who lives in a papaya under the sea? SpongeBob Alloadsorption Pants! A Transfusion Laboratory Perspective of AIHA

27/09/2023
Who lives in a papaya under the sea? SpongeBob Alloadsorption Pants! A Transfusion Laboratory Perspective of AIHA

CONGRESS 2023 - The cellular pathology of clots and cell blocks

27/09/2023
The cellular pathology of clots and cell blocks

CONGRESS 2023 - Meet your Haematology Portfolio examiners

27/09/2023
Meet your Haematology Portfolio examiners

CONGRESS 2023 - Anaerobe update

27/09/2023
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in anaerobic bacteria varies greatly between institutions and countries. It is crucial that we have robust and widely available methods and perform regular surveillance to raise awareness of AMR amongst laboratory and clinical teams.

The UKARU offers a UK-wide service for the identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of anaerobic clinical isolates. Since 2016, this service has included weekly AST by agar dilution. The MIC population distributions for isolates referred are presented in real time via the ARUMIC platform, facilitating continuous monitoring of the development of resistance and valuable data for the review and development of epidemiological cut-offs (ECOFFs) and species-specific breakpoints, alongside the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST).

During 2017 – 2021 EUCAST and the UKARU reviewed the AST methodology and breakpoints for anaerobes and developed a standardised disk diffusion method. Fastidious Anaerobe Agar with horse blood (FAA-HB) was used to test the most commonly isolated anaerobic bacteria including Bacteroides spp (n=170), Prevotella spp. (n=49), Fusobacterium necrophorum (n=51), Clostridium perfringens (n=58) and Cutibacterium acnes(n=54). The antimicrobials included for the initial phase were benzylpenicillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, metronidazole and clindamycin with vancomycin included for the Gram positive organisms. Breakpoints for additional agents have just been published on the EUCAST website.

This lecture will provide insights into the development of AMR in anaerobic bacteria, the available AST methodologies and the importance of surveillance for this important group of pathogens.

CONGRESS 2023 - Workforce and sustainability – getting the equation to balance

27/09/2023
The debate about performance and sustainability of our healthcare services is often reduced to a questions of money and beds are there enough of either? Both are back ups to the more important question - are there enough staff?

The size and complexity of the workforce challenge means there will need to be concerted and sustained action across the system on workforce planning, training, retention, productivity, job roles and creating workplace cultures - that demonstrates staff are valued. For our sector, action is needed both in the short term and the long term to support the workforce and meet the needs of our service and how this will meet the wider healthcare service for patients.

This presentation will look at how leaders at all levels need to work collectively to address our workforce challenge and how we can together take action at a local, regional and national level.

CONGRESS 2023 - Head & Neck Clinic – Sonographer’s perspective

27/09/2023
Head and Neck cancers account for approximately 3% of new cancer incidence in the United Kingdom (UK). The use of ultrasound guided fine needle aspirations within head and neck ultrasound, has become a vital resource for cancer diagnosis. Historically, it was common for head and neck patients requiring a fine needle aspiration, to have an insufficient tissue sample from their initial examination, leading to patient re-call for repeat investigation. Subsequently, this negatively impacted upon the patient pathway by delaying cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The utilisation of Rapid on-site Evaluation (ROSE) has proven to transform the diagnostic pathway by negating the need for repeat examinations and therefore improving the rate at which patients are diagnosed and treated.

This presentation focuses on the achievements that have been accomplished through great collaborative working between radiology and cytology within head and neck and the consequent patient benefits. It includes a summary of how the ROSE service has grown at Royal Cornwall Hospital to include the Cornwall ROSE research pilot and the values this has brought to the population.

Case studies will be included as examples of where ROSE has been paramount to a swift diagnosis.

Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of working with ROSE will be discussed from a sonographer's viewpoint, highlighting the potential pitfalls.



References

1. Head and neck cancers statistics | Cancer Research UK [Internet]. [cited 2023 May 26]. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/head-and-neck-cancers#heading-Zero

2. Breeze J, Poller DN, Gibson D, Tilley EA, Cooke L, Soar E, et al. Rapid on-site assessment of specimens by biomedical scientists improves the quality of head and neck fine needle aspiration cytology. Cytopathology. 2013 Oct;n/a-n/a.

3. Medina Chamorro FM, Calle JA, Stein JE, Merchancano L, Mendoza Briñez AM, Pulido Wilches AA. Experience of the Implementation of Rapid On-Site Evaluation in Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2018 Jul;47(4):220–4.

4. Aly AK, Ali MA, Sharma A, Gubbels MA, Zhao X, Ahmed A, et al. Rapid On-site Evaluation (ROSE) for Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid: Is It Helpful? SciMed J. 2021 Mar 1;3(1):1–7.

CONGRESS 2023 - Reporting direct to the patient

27/09/2023
In recent years, healthcare policy has been moving towards the concept of patients being able to receive their pathology test results directly, it is likely that pathology providers may need to consider the communication of some laboratory test results directly to patients.

This is a very different group of people to what pathology providers are used to. Expansion of concepts such as reference intervals and what is significant need to be explored in the context of a more general audience.