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Background: Transgender people may avoid seeking medical care due to previous negative experiences and fear of discrimination. Clinical laboratories can contribute to a poor patient experience and clinical outcome when the design and functionality of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) do not consider the needs of transgender patients. This survey aimed to capture current practices in United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland clinical laboratories concerning how transgender patient data and test requests are managed throughout the total testing process. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed to clinical laboratory professionals in November 2021. Thirty-three questions covered how gender variables are recorded for transgender patients and used to inform gender-specific calculations, test access, and reference intervals (RIs). Results: Of the 66 respondents, 70% were based in laboratories in England, with a majority of laboratories having ISO 15189 accreditation and processing 1000–10,000 blood samples daily. Eighty-five percent stated that their LIMS had a single field recording sex or gender information. Forty-three percent did not limit test access based on gender, but 68% did not append RIs for patients with unknown or indeterminate gender. Conclusions: This survey was the first to quantify how clinical laboratories manage sex and gender information and report results for transgender and non-binary patients, and details several key recommendations based on the survey responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To understand the use, functionality and interoperability of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in UK transfusion laboratories. Background: LIMS are widely used to support safe transfusion practice. LIMS have the potential to reduce the risk of laboratory error using algorithms, flags and alerts that support compliance with best practice guidelines and regulatory standards. Reporting to Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT), the United Kingdom (UK) haemovigilance scheme, has identified cases where the LIMS could have prevented errors but did not. Shared care of patients across different organisations and the development of pathology networks has raised challenges relating to interoperability of IT systems both within, and between, organisations. Methods and Materials: A survey was distributed to all SHOT‐reporting organisations to understand the current state of LIMS in the UK, prevalence of expertise in transfusion IT, and barriers to progress. Survey questions covered LIMS interoperability with other IT systems used in the healthcare setting. Results: A variety of LIMS and version numbers are in use in transfusion laboratories, LIMS are not always updated due to resource constraints. Respondents identified interoperability and improved functionality as the main requirements for transfusion safety. Conclusion: A nationally agreed set of minimum standards for transfusion LIMS is required for safe practice. Adequate resources, training and expertise should be provided to support the effective use and timely updates of LIMS. A single LIMS solution should be in place for transfusion laboratories working within a network and interoperability with other systems should be explored to further improve practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Every year, many thousands of travellers return to the United Kingdom (UK) from visits to other countries and some will become unwell due to infections acquired abroad. Many imported infections have similar clinical presentations, such as fever and myalgia, so diagnostic testing is an important tool to improve patient management and outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the demographics, travel history, presenting symptoms and diagnostic outcomes of referrals to the UK's specialist diagnostic Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) for the period 2015–2020. Methods Anonymised clinical and laboratory data were extracted from RIPL's Laboratory Information Management System and cleaned prior to descriptive analysis of the data. Travel history data were mapped to one of eight world regions, whereas symptom data were categorised into presenting syndromes. Diagnostic data were categorised as either positive, equivocal or negative. Results During the period 2015–2020, RIPL received 73 951 samples from 53 432 patients suspected of having infections that are rare in the UK. The most common age group for unwell returning travellers was 30–39 years and the most commonly reported travel destination was Southern and SE Asia. Dengue virus was the most diagnosed infection overall, followed by chikungunya, Zika, leptospirosis and spotted fever group Rickettsia. Dengue virus was among the top three most frequent diagnoses for all world regions except Europe and represented 62.5% of all confirmed/probable diagnoses. Conclusions None of the top five infections diagnosed by RIPL in travellers are vaccine-preventable, therefore understanding traveller demographics, destination-specific risk factors and encouraging preventative behaviours is the best available strategy to reduce the number of returning travellers who become infected. Prompt referral of acute samples with a detailed travel history, including purpose of travel and activities undertaken as well as dates and destinations can be a valuable tool in designing public health interventions and diagnostic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which discusses the effect of electronic requesting on pre-analytical errors in primary care in Great Britain. Topics discussed include the analysis of error data during pre- and post implementation of primary care electronic requesting, the quality of information, and the importance of electronic requesting to reduce pre-analytical errors across all laboratories.

The article explores the role of laboratory technicians in British medical research. It focuses on the history of technical assistants at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research in North London, England from 1913 until the mid 1960s. The working practices and contributions to medical research of technical staff involved with laboratory procedures and developments are considered. Other topics include recruitment of staff, pay and working conditions, and the impact of World War II on social aspects of the workplace.

The author reflects on her participation in the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) programme and her appointment of students as science ambassadors to promote interest in science education. Topics include the use of white laboratory coats to signify the student ambassadors, the appointment of older ambassadors as laboratory assistants, and the future plans for the programme.

The author reflects on various rules for organizing a scientific meeting in Great Britain. He emphasizes the importance of proper management of scientific meeting, whereby, it should give an enjoyable experience that breaks the usual routine in the laboratory. He also presents the ten simple rules in organizing a scientific meeting, which includes allowing for plenty of planning time, studying of all financial issues that affect the event, and choosing of the right setting of the meeting.

Aims: To consider the value proposition of digitisation of clinical immunohistochemistry services, and to develop an approach to digital immunohistochemistry implementation and validation in a large clinical laboratory., Methods: A methodology for slide scanning in the laboratory was developed, in addition to a novel validation exercise, to allow pathologists to identify the strengths and weaknesses of digital immunohistochemistry reporting, and train in digital immunohistochemistry slide assessment., Results: A total of 1480 digital immunohistochemistry slides were assessed by 24 consultant pathologists, with complete clinical concordance between the digital and the glass slide assessment observed. Certain stains were identified as being difficult/time consuming to assess using ×20 digital slides. These stains were rescanned at ×40, which improved the confidence of the pathologists to make a digital assessment. Full digitisation of immunohistochemistry slides was achieved, introducing six new steps into the pre-existing laboratory workflow., Conclusions: While initially encountering challenges in terms of workflow, our experience showed that a well-designed, adequately resourced and well-managed scanning process can minimise the delay in slides being made available for review. Our approach to validation highlighted the need for careful assessment of a digital pathology system and scanning protocols before pathologists are expected to transfer from the light microscope to the digital microscope for routine immunohistochemistry assessment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: St James University Hospital Leeds has a collaborative partnership with Leica Biosystems for digital pathology deployment., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aim: To survey UK cellular pathology departments regarding their attitudes and practices relating to release of human tissue from their diagnostic archives for use in clinical trial research., Methods: A 30-item questionnaire was circulated to the National Cancer Research Institute's Cellular Molecular Pathology initiative and Confederation of Cancer Biobanks mailing lists. Responses were collected over a 10-month period from November 2016 to August 2017., Results: 38 departments responded to the survey, the majority of which regularly receive requests for tissue for research purposes. Most requests come from academia and financial support to facilitate tissue release comes from a variety of sources. A range of practices were reported in relation to selection of the most appropriate sample to release, consent checking, costing and governance frameworks., Conclusions: This survey demonstrates wide variation in practice across the UK and identifies barriers to release of human tissue for clinical trial research. Until we can overcome these obstacles, patient samples will remain inaccessible to research. Therefore, this study highlights the urgent need for clear and coordinated national guidance on this issue., Competing Interests: Competing interests: KAO reports grants from the National Cancer Research Institute during the conduct of the study; grants from Leica Biosystems, grants from Qiagen, non-financial support from ThermoFisher, non-financial support from Illumina, non-financial support from Aridhia, non-financial support from Sistemic, non-financial support from BioClavis, non-financial support from Biotheranostics, outside the submitted work. CV reports other from National Cancer Research Institute CM-Path, other from NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), other from CRUK Oxford Cancer Centre, during the conduct of the study. PSM, AH, JL, JH, VS and GJT have nothing to disclose., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The author discusses the guidelines for pre-transfusion compatibility in Great Britain. The author states that there have been changes in the guidelines which refers to ABO typing and compatibility, atypical red cell antibodies detection, and processes in the blood transfusion laboratories. The author mentions that confusion in the repeat sample can be solved by sending second sample tube after the first one is received. The author adds that sample validity rules must be simplified.

Reports the agreement between the British Medical Association and Forth Valley Health Board on the management of laboratory services in Great Britain. Issuance of guidance on the organization and management of the services; Changes in the arrangements; Effects of cuts on patient care.