ONEONE TOTO ONEONE TRANSFUSIONTRANSFUSION SCIENCESCIENCE LAB EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT DAVE SPIKEYSPIKEY DUFFY BLOODBLOOD GGROUPROUP THETHE TESTTEST TUBETUBE From haematologyhaematology An introductionintroduction TheThe historyhistory andand thethe iinn BoBoltonlton to comecomedydy to the Duff y blood ssymbolicymbolic power of this starstardomdom on TV: p.p.1616 group system: p.p.2222 iconic piecepiece ofof kit: p.p.2828 THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST AUGUST 2018 THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST THEBIOMEDICALSCIENTIST.NETTHEBIOMEDICALSCIENTIST.NET AAUGUSTUGUST 2018 PATHOLOGY NETWORKS WhatWhat progressprogress hashas beenbeen made onon tthehe cconsolidationonsolidation ttoo 2929 networksnetworks and whatwhat happenshappens next?next? P01 IBMS Aug18_Cover_v9gh.indd 7 19/07/2018 16:41 Increases sensitivity of immunochromatography with silver amplification detection technology What’s your strategy for combating this year’s winter season? IMMUNO AG1 is a rapid diagnostic system for influenza and RSV that can help you fight back Densitometry Analyser A Complete POC Solution – Combining Dry Chemistry and Haematology Automated Clinical Chemistry Analyzer www.fujimed.co.uk | [email protected] | 01234 326780 BIO.08.18.002.indd 2 18/07/2018 10:13 AUGUST 2018 THE BIOMEDICAL Contents SCIENTIST 3 EDITORIAL 5 Biomedical scientists have a lot to off er outside the laboratory NEWS IBMS.ORG AUGUST 2018 7 News in numbers CONTENTS 8 Research, funding, developments and clinical updates 13 Product advances and launches 34 British Journal of Biomedical Science: Synopsis of all the papers OPINION featured in the third issue of 2018 14 The big question: Does biomedical science still represent a career for life? ADVICE 16 One-to-one: Dave Spikey may 36 How to… prepare to meet be a famous comic and actor potential employers now, but in the late sixties 38 Biomedical Science Day: he was starting a biomedical A round up of the events science career MY IBMS SCIENCE 40 Institute news: The latest 18 Consolidation of COVER from the IBMS pathology networks: FEATURE 43 Journal-based learning: Progress made on the CPD exercises based on 29 networks and a look at journal articles the next steps and future plans 16 44 CPD update: Training courses, 22 Duff y Blood Group System: events and activities Laboratory Manager Martin 45 Maley gives an introduction Here to help: Advice for those undertaking IBMS examinations 24 The big story: A brief review of the development, analysis and clinical application of important 22 tumour markers MY LAB 28 The test tube: Review of the 50 Norbert Sene gives a history and symbolic power guided tour of Gibraltar’s COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD GLEED of this iconic piece of lab kit 24 Department of Pathology EDITOR RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING Neither the publisher nor the IBMS is able to Rob Dabrowski Katy Eggleton take responsibility for any views or opinions SENIOR DESIGNER expressed in this publication. Readers are Gary Hill ISSN 1352-7673 advised that while the contents are believed PUBLISHED BY PICTURE EDITOR © 2018 Institute of to be accurate, correct and complete, no Redactive Publishing Ltd Akin Falope Biomedical Science reliance should be placed upon its contents Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL being applicable to any particular PUBLISHING DIRECTOR +44 (0)20 7880 6200 redactive.co.uk PRINTED BY circumstances. Any advice or information Aaron Nicholls Warners Midlands plc published is done so without the Institute, PRODUCTION The Maltings, Manor Lane its servants or agents and any contributors Rachel Young Recycle your magazine’s Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH having liability in respect of its content. DISPLAY ADVERTISING plastic wrap – check your local James Rundle-Brown LDPE facilities to fi nd out how. P03 IBMS Aug18_Contents_v1gh.indd 3 20/07/2018 11:03 COMPLETE autoimmunity IFA ƵƚŽŵĂƟŽŶ SLIDESLIDE SlideSlide MOUNTINGMOUNTING ProcessingProcessing tŚŽůĞtĞůůtŚŽůĞtĞůů IImagingmaging SampleSample LoadingLoading AnalysisAnalysis RReporteport & ƌĐŚŝǀĞƌĐŚŝǀĞ • TotalTotal walk awayaway ssystemystem • Unparalleled image quality • ^ĐƌĞĞŶŽƵƚŶĞŐĂƟǀĞƐǁŝƚŚĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ THE EVOLUTION OF STANDARDISATION Find out more at: www.menarinidiag.co.uk Telephone: 0118 944 4100 BIO.08.18.004.indd 4 18/07/2018 10:14 AUGUST 2018 THE BIOMEDICAL Sarah May SCIENTIST 5 few months ago I accompanied my mother to an outpatient appointment and, as usual, I asked various pertinent questions of the consultant to ensure I was SCIENTISTS clear about her follow-up and actions required. AUnfortunately, my attitude to clarity, accuracy and planning wasn’t shared, and I have just spent the past week discovering DELIVER a trail of misinformation that has resulted in my mother having to be referred back The NHS is missing out on to the consultant. My frustration is without limit. what biomedical scientists I am sharing this with you because, as have to off er beyond the a profession, we understand the need for clear, well-communicated messages; a door of the laboratory. good unambiguous instruction or statement means we all know where we stand and can act or plan accordingly. include “considerable analytical and that have been associated with the I was, therefore, very pleased with the problem solving skills”, “an affi nity for revised train timetables could have been rewrite of the Institute’s guidance on accuracy and maintaining high anticipated and avoidance actions built communicating results; it covers every standards” and “favouring practical into the plans. eventuality and provides good, clear action”. Sound familiar? Now there is something else I would advice. It is a pity that our attention I think the various management boards like to share with you: apparently I have to detail wasn’t mirrored in the in our hospitals and trusts are missing out a tendency to catastrophise. Yes, I can aforementioned outpatient encounter. on what biomedical scientists have to spot a potential disaster a mile off and This leads me on to the results of an off er beyond the door of the laboratory. I extrapolate that potential to any one of a exercise undertaken by the executive believe that we share certain professional number of ghastly outcomes unless I take team at the Institute that consisted of characteristics and, while we may not all appropriate preventative action. Perhaps a personality test and team role feedback. be the best “baby-kissers”, and were not I’d better give Govia Thameslink a call... As with any team, we are a mixture of showcased as health service heroes in personalities and our strength is in our the NHS 70th birthday celebrations, complementary diff erences. What was so we possess skills that are essential to striking is that I share my “type” with my planning and delivering sound strategies. closest colleagues and we apparently In fact, if Govia Thameslink employed operate with a biomedical scientist “group biomedical scientists among its planning Sarah May mindset”. The attributes we possess staff , it’s possible the service problems Deputy Chief Executive Institute of Biomedical Science is the PRESIDENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOLLOW THE INSTITUTE professional body for the biomedical Alison Geddis CSci FIBMS [email protected] science profession. CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXAMINATIONS Join us on Jill Rodney [email protected] INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE facebook.com/ 12 Coldbath Square DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP biomedicalscience London, EC1R 5HL Sarah May CSci FIBMS [email protected] Follow us on Twitter United Kingdom EXECUTIVE HEAD OF EDUCATION CHARTERED SCIENTIST @BiomedScience +44 (0)20 7713 0214 Alan Wainwright CSci FIBMS [email protected] +44 (0)20 7837 9658 EXECUTIVE HEAD OF MARKETING Email: [email protected] AND MEMBERSHIP Find us on Web: www.ibms.org Lynda Rigby LinkedIn P05 IBMS Aug18_Ed Leader_v2gh.indd 5 20/07/2018 11:04 BIO.08.18.006.indd 6 18/07/2018 10:15 NEWS THE BIOMEDICAL In numbers SCIENTIST 7 SCIENCE NEWS The NHS: Then vs IN NUMBERS now 80% “Cancer in £149.2bn£ bnn The amount spent on health is now elderly to surge” 12 times more than it was when the The number of elderly NHS started. This is the case after people in the UK diagnosed inflation is taken into account. with cancer each year is set In real terms, the increase is from to rise by 80% in less than £12.9bn in 1949-50 to 20 years, a report predicts. £149.2bn in 2016-17. Cancer Research UK estimates that by 2035 about 234,000 over-75s will get cancer each year – up from 130,000 at present. RIP: 456 At least 456 patients died after being given powerful painkillers inappropriately at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, a report has A think tank report comparing the NHS with found. An independent panel said that, taking into account missing records, a further 200 patients 18 similar nations finds it is performing below average on 8 of the 12 most common causes of death. These are: may have suffered a similar fate. ● Breast cancer ● Colorectal Hay fever cancer The percentages ● Lung cancer of those from the ● Pancreatic UK who believe cancer that they suffer ● Lung disease from hay fever: ● Respiratory Excellent infections (such as Good pneumonia) ● Stroke 31%Adults overall Average ● Heart attacks. 33%Women Below average 28%Men p07 IBMS Aug18_News In Numbers_v2gh.indd 7 20/07/2018 11:05 THE BIOMEDICAL NEWS 8 SCIENTIST Science NEWS SCIENCE HAEMATOLOGY “EXERCISE MAKES THE BLOOD BRAIN TUMOURS OF OBESE PEOPLE HEALTHIER” Poliovirus therapy for recurrent Exercise can reduce infl ammation in obese people by changing the characteristics of their blood, according to new research. glioblastoma The blood cells responsible for causing infl ammation are formed from stem cells within the body. A genetically modifi ed poliovirus therapy shows This new research is the fi rst to show that exercise alters the signifi cantly improved long-term survival for patients characteristics of these blood-forming stem cells and reduces the with recurrent glioblastoma. number of blood cells likely to cause infl ammation. The therapy, developed at Duke Cancer Institute in the These fi ndings provide a new explanation of how exercise may US, has a three-year survival rate of 21% in a phase 1 improve health in adults with obesity.