Events in 2023

Pandemics Present

This presentation will examine a specific case study submitted as part of the 'Advanced Specialist Diploma in Breast Pathology'. The case in question was a mastectomy sample for the treatment of diffuse multifocal invasive ductal carcinoma.

Within the presentation I intend to highlight the importance of pre-analysis and emphasise its correlation with macroscopic examination and block sampling. I will also highlight the importance of post analysis and the understanding of how the role of the Advanced Practitioner can directly impact patient treatment.

This presentation will cover a case study completed as part of the IBMS Specialist Diploma in Immunology in 2022. It will be of interest to anyone considering completing the Higher Specialist Diploma in Immunology, or anyone who would like to learn more about the case study element. It will also be of interest to anyone who would like to learn more about the protocols used for reading and reporting methods including immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, serum protein electrophoresis and immunotyping, serum free light chains and Bence Jones protein analysis at Greater Manchester Immunology Service (GMIS).

The case is one of an elderly gentleman with who, like roughly a third of new myeloma cases in the UK, presented through A&E. The presentation will cover pre-analysis, analysis and post-analysis, considering how the tests performed in the Immunology laboratory assist in the differential diagnosis and where they fit in with the other tests ordered, both tests within and outside of the Immunology discipline. The presentation will cover the methods performed at GMIS and some of the reporting protocols, as well as discussing some of the relevant associated guidelines.

The UK has the 4th highest prevalence rate of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in the world. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the most common non-genetic learning disability in the UK with a prevalence rate of at least 5%, more than autism and ADHD combined. A high-profile public health campaign combined with effective antenatal and pre-conception care is urgently required.

Accurate and early identification of women at risk from alcohol consumption during pregnancy allows education and support to be targeted at those most in need. Self-report has limited sensitivity but is commonplace due to its acceptability and affordability. Biomarkers have the potential to provide an objective and reliable antenatal alcohol screening solution.

To explore the utility of blood biomarkers, we conducted a systematic review comparing the diagnostic accuracy of blood analysis and maternal self-report in detecting at antenatal alcohol exposure. We discovered that none of the biomarkers identified had both high sensitivity and specificity when compared to self-report. There was some evidence that a combination of biomarkers, or combining biomarkers with self-report, increases accuracy. Blood biomarkers examined were of limited use in screening for low and moderate alcohol consumption in pregnancy when compared to self-report. However, certain biomarkers, such as carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) may complement self-report and help improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

We applied these findings to practice with two studies comparing the prevalence of alcohol consumption in the first trimester of pregnancy using self-report and blood biomarker analysis. The booking bloods were from women under the care of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHCT) and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (NTHFT).

Six-hundred routine blood samples were anonymously analysed from each location for the presence of Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT), a validated marker of chronic alcohol exposure (normalising 2–3 weeks from abstinence) and Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), a liver enzyme elevated for up to 8 weeks after alcohol exposure. At NHCT, CDT analysis revealed a prevalence rate of 1.4% and GGT a prevalence rate of 3.5% in the first trimester of pregnancy. Although those with elevated CDT generally had high levels of GGT, only one person was positive for CDT and GGT. The NTHFT data revealed a CDT prevalence rate of 1.7% (95% CI: 0.7–2.9) and GGT prevalence rate of 4.2% (95% CI: 2.6–5.9). No overlapping cases were identified, or a significant correlation was demonstrated between CDT or GGT. Although CDT and GGT analysis are not sensitive to low levels of alcohol, prevalence rates were similar in both areas, suggesting similar patterns of sustained alcohol use in pregnancy across the region.

We also took a full year's sample of data from the antenatal visits of women at NHCT, which documented the women's self-reported alcohol consumption. The percentage of women who reported alcohol intake in the first trimester was 0.8%, approximately half the rate of those identified by CDT. This compared to 74.1% of women who reported consuming alcohol before pregnancy, indicating the limited value of self-report in clinical practice.

There are many job roles and opportunities available to biomedical scientists outside of the laboratory, but what does a biomedical scientist do working within the Blood Stocks Management Team?

Learn about a different role, the transferable skills that are required and how this role is different from working in a laboratory environment. Why is this role important to Blood Transfusion laboratories and is it beneficial having a biomedical scientist as part of the team?

High Sensitivity Troponin in the Community

The lecture will include a basic introduction to a busy mixed urban and rural Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the East of England and the logistics of carrying and administering blood products to multiply injured, major trauma patients. The types of patients that typically require a transfusion will be presented and we will hear from patients that have since recovered and how they feel about having received a prehospital transfusion.

National Point-of-Care Strategy

What’s new in antivirals? (Antivirals & Mabs as therapeutics)

Delivery of a virtual ward in East Kent: A clinical overview