CONTENTS PPi August 2026
Volume 27 Issue 5
COVER STORY SlideMate TSP: on-demand slide printing and enhanced traceability Epredia’s new SlideMate Thermal Slide Printer delivers on-demand slide printing and enhanced traceability for pathology laboratories.
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Wrong diagnosis: the testing problem nobody wants to own
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The causes and consequences of pre-analytical errors in phlebotomy and how the problem can be addressed.
Pneumococcal disease surveillance in an evolving epidemiological landscape
OPINION After Pathology Networks: future diagnostic services
NEWS
How recent technological advances in identification of bacterial isolates and their serotypes are improving surveillance and treatment of pneumococcal disease.
5 9
ARTICLES Precision studies: common mistakes, limitations and points of caution 16 Stephen MacDonald looks at precision studies, focusing on issues such as their practical use, terms used, study design, and interpretation.
Microbial Technology in Practice: the Good, the Bad and the Bugly 22 The 41st iteration of the British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference offered delegates an eclectic scientific programme together with access to many of the leading microbiology companies.
Glioma tumour biology: from histopathology to molecular diagnostics
27
Eleanor Crossland explores the biological complexity of the glioma tumour microenvironment and examines the role of immune cells, molecular biomarkers and genetic testing in neuropathology.
Proposal to use a new testing protocol to improve the cleaning of surfaces 42 After proving the relationship between air contamination and surface contamination, how can this knowledge be used to improve cleaning, and reduce potential cross contamination and microbial resistance to disinfectants?
MDR/IVDR revision: a regulatory system at a crossroads 47
Trade association MedTech Europe assesses the proposed revision of the EU Medical Devices Regulation and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation, which aims to bring urgently needed reforms to increase patient protection and trust in medical technologies.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae: an often overlooked but clinically significant respiratory pathogen
51
Mycoplasma pneumoniae was one of the topics on the scientific programme of the recent BSMT Conference. Here, Pathology in Practice Science Editor Brian Nation looks at other recent published work on this microorganism that lacks a cell wall.
Editor Andy Myall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
andymyall@stepcomms.com
Science Editor Brian Nation CSci FIBMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
briannation@stepcomms.com Publisher Geoff King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
geoffking@stepcomms.com Business Manager Peter Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
petermoon@stepcomms.com
Journal Administration Katy Cockle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
katycockle@stepcomms.com Design Laurence Hallam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
laurencehallam@stepcomms.com Publishing Director Trevor Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
trevormoon@stepcomms.com
Advisory Panel
Dr Nigel Brown FIBMS Gavin Knight CSci FIBMS Wendy Leversuch CSci FIBMS Dame Dr Suzy Lishman CBE FRCPath Dr Stephen MacDonald FRCPath
Prof Gerry McKenna DSc CSci FIBMS Malcolm Needs CSci FIBMS Dr Sarah Pit CSci FIBMS Dr John Rees FIBMS
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August 2026
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