NEWS Lots to look forward to
Welcome to this April issue of Pathology in Practice, and my first job is to thank those of you who got in touch to say positive things about our new look, which we debuted for the February issue. It made for a good start to 2026, one that we’re determined to continue by bringing you great articles which will be interesting and informative for all of our biomedical scientist and laboratory staff readers. I’m pleased to say we have lots lined
up for you for the rest of the year and its forthcoming issues. A timely reminder that you can register to receive your own copy of the magazine – as well as weekly news updates via email – by registering for an account at our website
www.pathologyinpractice.com. And while you’re at it, why not follow us on LinkedIn as well, where we post regularly to a growing audience of almost 4,000 followers.
Within the pages of this issue, you’ll find
a follow-on piece to last month’s cover story from Pro-Lab Diagnostics Europe on biobanking. Company founder Mark Reed
With bacterial
meningitis hitting the headlines recently, we take a timely look at the latest research
examines the evolving nature of biobanking – an area he and his firm have been involved with for over 35 years, manufacturing and developing the Microbank product line. You can learn more about these vital resources and how they’re managed from page 23. Andrew Kemp of the British Institute of Cleaning Science is a previous contributor to this journal over many years, and for this issue he has partnered with colleague Denise Hanson to recount a research project evaluating disinfection products and methods, which has also proved a measurable link between air and surface
Inquiry into NHS use of innovation and AI
The House of Lords Science and Technology Commitee has launched an inquiry into innovation in the NHS, with a focus on personalised medicine and AI. The Commitee will explore major gaps and existing possibilities in personalised medicine, including the role of AI. It will also look at how effective the
UK is in translating its life sciences strengths into validated personalised medicine; how proven innovations might be deployed across the NHS; whether regulatory frameworks are appropriate and proportionate, and where they could be improved. Advances in artificial intelligence and genomics offer the prospect of developing truly personalised medicine across prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Recent advances in genomics, AI-driven data analytics and biotechnology are enabling new therapies like CAR T-cell therapy, which uses modified versions of the body’s own immune system cells to fight cancer, and other gene therapies that are highly customised to patients. These therapies offer life-saving potential, but the need to tailor them to the individual can
make them expensive to deploy. Novel developments in AI, such as the
development of Google’s AlphaGenome model, offer further hope that genomic medicine will advance as our ability to understand genetic effects on health improves and the data analysis for personalised medicines becomes possible to automate. There are broad ambitions to use AI more widely to advance medical science; for example, the Government’s AI for Science strategy has a target to “Use AI to accelerate drug discovery to develop trial- ready drugs within 100 days by 2030 and contribute to deploying new treatments faster.” But translating the cuting edge of medical science into routine patient delivery in the NHS remains a challenge.
From the Editor
contamination. The authors believe that whilst air sampling will not give an indication of bacterial species colonising surfaces, as it does not satisfy all the ideal test criteria, it could be adopted as a fast, accurate, simple, inexpensive and effective way to determine approximate contamination levels, which could have serious potential for use in healthcare setings. You can find this interesting piece on page 29. With bacterial meningitis hiting the headlines recently due to a significant outbreak in Kent, Science Editor Brian Nation has compiled a timely look at the latest research which you can read from page 51. Elsewhere you can read articles looking at the potential for the use of the ratio between plasma and serum viscosity in diagnostic medicine, upcoming IVDR deadlines for class C medical devices, and a further preview of May’s BSMT Annual Microbiology Conference.
Andy Myall
andymyall@pathologyinpractice.com
Primary care rapid diagnostic testing in Wales
Rapid testing for bacterial infections is being rolled out in community pharmacies and GP surgeries across Wales.
The two-year pilot project will
provide near-immediate test results without the need samples being sent to laboratories. It is part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing aim to make sure more people can access healthcare closer to home, in local communities and will help to target antibiotic prescribing, tackling the problem of resistance. The project is being supported by
£734,000 of Welsh Government funding and £500,000 from the INEOS Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research. Oxford University will be providing an independent evaluation of the project. The Point of Care Testing (POCT) in
Primary Care pilot will focus initially on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) testing, which helps clinicians identify bacterial infections and make more informed decisions about antibiotic prescribing.
April 2026
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