A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... SHAKEELA BROWN A DAY IN THE LIFE OF.... Shakeela Brown, Trainee Specialist Biomedical Scientist at Health Services Laboratories
(HSL), tells us more about her daily duties and the main challenges she faces during her work in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.
I have been working in the field of Biomedical Science for approximately two years. I became a Biomedical Scientist by first completing an Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredited degree at the University of Hull. I was then successfully appointed into a Trainee Biomedical Science (BMS) role with HSL, where I undertook a period of training in the Microbiology laboratory. I have subsequently successfully completed the generic registration portfolio and gained the Certificate of Competence for Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
The microbiology department is divided into specialist areas which include: stool, urine, gynae, blood cultures, wounds, bones and joints, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain material, lower respiratory tract, eyes, ears and upper respiratory tract, assays, mycology, miscellaneous and containment level 3. An average day involves working in one of these sections, processing samples, performing identification and susceptibility testing on isolates detected, and reporting patient results to the relevant clinicians. The laboratory contains state-of-the-art technology; including the Kiestra system, an automated bacteriology system, the Moldi-Tof, an analyser for the rapid identification of bacteria and yeast, the BD Phoenix, a fully-automated system that performs microbial identification and susceptibility testing, and the Uri Mast system, a semi-automated analyser for identification and susceptibility testing of urine pathogens. Daily quality control checks are performed on these analysers and all other equipment and reagents used.
The main challenge I face in my daily work is ensuring that turn-around- times (TAT) for patient results are
42 | Tomorrow’s Laboratories
impact on TAT is when multi-drug resistant organisms are isolated, as further susceptibility testing is required to provide suitable treatment options. These challenges are overcome by sending interim reports and also direct liaison with the pathologists and clinicians in order to ensure we perform the appropriate reflex testing.
“The main
challenge I face in my daily work is ensuring that
turn-around-times (TAT) for patient results are met.”
met. This can be difficult as a lot of the samples received are from patients with complicated conditions including urology, oncology and intensive care unit patients. In such cases, any organism may be associated with the patient’s infection, therefore identification and susceptibility testing is required for any isolates detected, and this can have an impact on the TAT. Another scenario which commonly has an
There are approaching 20 microbiology-focused research projects currently being undertaken across HSL’s Infection Sciences departments at any one time. These range from projects supporting staff BSc, MSc or PhD projects through to Trust/Investigator facilitated clinical trials. These projects are quite diverse in nature and range from assessment of use of peracetic acid sporicidal wipes in preventing the spread of Clostridium difficile and other common nosocomial pathogens in a hospital environment, through to assessment of rapid diagnostics in infection control, through to whole genome pathogen sequencing.
In addition, there are approaching 250 ongoing clinical trials whereby microbiology plays a major part in patient assessment both at baseline and throughout the duration of the trial. Laboratory staff of all grades may get involved in these research projects/clinical trials and, with access to the latest diagnostic techniques and equipment, we envisage this number will continue to grow.
HSL is a clinically-led provider of pathology and diagnostic services with a network of laboratories across the country. The organisation is a progressive partnership between The Doctors Laboratory, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (the Royal Free London) and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).
www.hslpathology.com
www.tomorrowslaboratories.com
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