This is (supposed to be) a reflective diary by a (not very) anonymous biomedical scientist who works somewhere in the south of England. One day this diary may well be submitted to the Health and Care Professions Council as evidence of ongoing continual professional development....
December 22 2010 (Wednesday) - Wednesday Talks
There was no lunchtime talk scheduled for today: so today I reflected on how this year's program of Wednesday talks has gone so far.
We started with minor hiccups where people were preparing presentations at home and were using .pptx format documents which wouldn't open on the trust's software. We have a work-around for that now.
We had minor hiccups when speakers weren't available because of night shift commitments, but I was able to re-schedule.
The biggest problem (that the punters would have seen) was the decision by management to unilaterally cancel one seminar's second session. I have been asked to re-schedule that showing. I will so at some point.
For myself I feel there is still a problem with the talks having to be attended in people's own time. Management allow speakers to speak in work's time. And management allow me to prepare the room, tidy up afterwards and prepare certificates of attendance in works time. However people prepare and attend seminars in their own time. Which is fair enough - it's an established point of law that the onus is on the registered biomedical scientist to do CPD, not on the employer to provide facilities for them to do so.
However I then have a problem when management ask me for a list of attendees so's they can impress the CPA with the in-house CPD program. So far I've refused to provide information on specific attendances at the lunchtime sessions. I feel I am right to do so.
But all things considered, the sessions are going well. We've a program up till next April. I'll see how it goes...
December 21 2010 (Tuesday) - Post Transfusion
An interesting case. Clearly microscopically there is a dimorphic population from a blood transfusion in November
TRANS, FUSION A+ DOB 28/02/1960 Sex F Pat No 173985 Source GP Address FOLKESTONE, Clinician WHO Date 20/12/2010 09/12/2010 11/11/2010 17/08/2009 05/08/2009 19/02/2009 Time 15:30 14:45 15:30 14:50 15:25 u/k Spec AW269253P AM982778X AW140608Q AW219311R AW183817E AW279932C BIO BIO BIO BIO BIO BIO HB 9.9 9.6 7.4 12.2 12.0 12.3 WBC 5.5 5.3 5.7 5.4 4.0 11.7 PLT 335 353 568 346 288 242 RBC 4.82 5.06 4.57 4.31 4.07 4.06 HCT 0.350 0.352 0.280 0.390 0.400 0.380 MCV 72.8 69.6 61.3 91.2 97.1 93.6 MCH 20.5 19.0 16.2 28.3 29.5 30.3 MCHC 28.2 27.3 26.4 31.0 30.4 32.4 NEUH 2.9 3.3 3.2 3.4 1.5 9.1 LYMPH 1.9 1.5 2.0 1.5 1.9 1.7 MONO 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.9 EOS 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 |
I’m well aware of the vagaries of haematological analysis following blood transfusions, but know nothing of how biochemistry is affected. From a conversation with a consultant clinical chemist, it would seem that there is little information available in scientific literature.
Given that any parameter’s post transfusion level is similar to the pre-transfusion level, then it’s safe to say there’s been no effect.
Given that there is a difference, then how much is due to the fact that the patient is critically ill (after all, they needed a blood transfusion!) and how much is due to the transfusion itself would seem to be a matter of conjecture.
One lives and learns…
December 20 2010 (Monday) - The Future...?
The government’s education and workforce consultation paper has just been published: Developing the Healthcare Workforce.
I am told by my superiors that this will have serious implications for my place of work, my colleagues, and for me personally. I don’t doubt it will, but despite my best efforts, I can’t make head or tail of it, nor can I find anyone who can explain (in English rather than gobbledegook) what it is all about.
December 18 2010 (Saturday) - A Useful Link
One of my colleagues suggested this website to me. She warned me that it was rather basic, but having had a look round, I think that she’s wrong about the site's perceived simplicity. There are some very silly pictures which give the impression of simplicity, but the topics mentioned are covered in quite some detail.
I shall be adding this website to my list of recommended resources for students. And I shall learn a lot from it myself….
December 15 2010 (Wednesday) - Xmas Quiz
Normally on Wednesday we have a lunchtime lecture. Today we had an Xmas quiz, with questions from all walks of pathology. I was rather flummoxed by the acronym round. What do CAPA, NICE, IBMS stand for? And they didn’t get any easier. When was haemoglobin first discovered? I don’t know. What is the most common blood group in Kent
But after all was said and done I didn’t do too badly. With twenty one points out of a possible forty, I ended up in joint third place, and only lost out on a prize after I failed the tiebreaker, which was of a festive nature. How many of Santa’s reindeer can you name? I got Rudolph, Donner, Blitzen, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dave, Dee , Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch. But it would seem I missed some out.
December 14 2010 (Tuesday) --Thalassaemia
An interesting case: From the consistent hypochromic microcytic erythrocytosis together with target cells and stippled cells we clearly have an undiagnosed case of thalassaemia. Being nearly sixty years old, and with a diagnosis of “chest pains” the thalassaemia has clearly not affected the patient’s life overly.
THALASSAE, MICK DOB Address 13 FAECES BOULEVARD Clinician KCMARY Date 14/12/2010 14/01/2010 29/11/2006 10/01/2005 21/04/1998 02/04/1998 Time u/k u/k u/k u/k 12:51 13:24 Spec AW246341N AW156879P AW186358Q AW377685L AW010664S AW094786B Test HB 12.6 13.2 12.5 12.9 11.3 10.3 WBC 12.0 15.2 7.2 8.6 7.1 5.7 PLT 218 283 260 293 255 223 RBC 5.96 6.40 6.26 6.31 5.76 5.36 HCT 0.380 0.400 0.389 0.406 0.367 0.324 MCV 64.3 63.0 62.1 64.3 63.8 60.5 MCH 21.1 20.6 20.0 20.4 19.6 19.2 MCHC 32.9 32.8 32.1 31.8 30.7 31.8 NEUH 7.6 11.6 4.36 5.19 3.97 2.94 LYMPH 3.6 2.8 2.30 2.83 2.43 2.01 MONO 0.8 0.7 0.42 0.42 0.24 0.21 EOS 0.1 0.1 0.09 0.15 0.32 0.27 |
The consultant will comment, and then family studies will ensue. Or that is they would have done back in the days before the fact that genetically transmissible conditions such as this affect one’s life assurance.
December 13 2010 (Monday) - A Letter
I read an interesting article in "Pathology in Practice" today. So interesting in fact that I wrote to the magazine’s editor.
Sir I must admit to a wry smile over the article in "Pathology in Practice" Volume 11 Issue 4 entitled "Microscopes and imaging: a brief independent guide". Specifically the paragraph on page 127: "A good quality digital micrscope camera with imaging software can be attached to any microscope for as little as £1500". I have recently obtained a Bresser USB Electronic Microscope Eyepiece from Scopes 'n' Skies for my department: This gadget has produced excellent quality photographs which students and senior staff alike have used, and far from costing over a thousand pounds, only costs £34.99. It comes with software, but can produce photographs with software as simple as MicroSoft Paint. Yours faithfully Adullday Atwork BA CSci FIBMS Senior Biomedical Scientist Blood Sciences Department Saint Swithin’s Hospital (I feel I should mention that I have no commercial connection with the companies in question here, I merely wish to share what I consider to be a serious economy that can be made) |
I wonder if I will get a response…?
December 12 2010 (Sunday) - An Article
Here's something I found on line:
An interesting article. Medical laboratories around the world are concerned with "Quality". But internationally the definition of the word "Quality" is different to that used here in the UK.
Internationally the concept of the "Quality" of a laboratory reflects the standard of the blood test reports that are produced by that laboratory.
A novel concept....
Making Medical Lab Quality Relevant: The Science of Qualitology: "I like the ASQ’s Quality Management Journal because it publishes articles in a science and experimental structure that I understand and expe..."
(click on the above to read the article)
(click on the above to read the article)
An interesting article. Medical laboratories around the world are concerned with "Quality". But internationally the definition of the word "Quality" is different to that used here in the UK.
Internationally the concept of the "Quality" of a laboratory reflects the standard of the blood test reports that are produced by that laboratory.
A novel concept....
December 9 2010 (Thursday) - Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (?)
An interesting case. An eleven year old child, septic, with marked pancytopenia. And the few neutrophils she does have all show these odd granules. I have no idea what they are, and we are waiting for the expert opinion from the referral centre.
I’ve a vague idea it might possibly be a case of Chediak-Higashi syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which there is a microtubule polymerization defect. This compromises the phagocytic ability of the neutrophil, resulting in recurrent infections, partial albinism and peripheral neuropathy.
It has been reported in humans, cattle, white tigers, blue Persian cats and albino orcas.
I wonder if today I might use my blog to ask if any of my readers might have any idea what this might be.
December 8 2010 (Wednesday) - Blood Films Revisited
Today’s lunchtime session was a refresher on blood film morphology. Whilst it was something I do on a regular basis, there’s a lot to be learned from taking a step back and reviewing practice.
And it was good to see our new web-cam has been put to use.
December 7 2010 (Tuesday) - Malaria Training
Today I had an in-house training session on malaria. I say "training session", it was more of a refresher and reminder. But we don't see that many cases of malaria, so I found it useful. I started off with an on-line tutorial, then had a go on some slides. One thing which became clear is that there is a world of difference between a microscope and a PC screen.
P. malariae is fairly easy to get right – it looks hideous. P Falciparum is (usually) the only one with multiple infestations in one red cell, or with “blister” forms. I have trouble distinguishing between P Vivax and P Ovale. From the depths of my memory came some old ditties:
- Vivax-to-the-max (P. Vivax causes large infested red cells)
- Vivax –
- Ovaly Ovale (P. Ovale causes oval infested red cells)
- Ovale –
I have done my test; the results will come out in a week or so. I wonder how badly I did? I’m not the worlds best at malaria. I can’t help but feel that if I can spot the fact that a patient has malaria, then that is good enough. Other people far more expert than I can identify the species and quantitate the parasitaemia.
Is that being lazy?
December 6 2010 (Monday) - Queues Revisited
A while ago I rigged the lab computer so that samples with a one hour turnaround would be instantly accessible via a queue, and so that samples with a four hour turnaround would be instantly accessible via a different queue. I think that I can claim this idea as having been a success as the chemistry people have copied my idea.
Queue Summary Queues requiring attention :- Queue Queue name No. of specimens Date Time User -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Urgent - General Queues B1HOUR One hour samples (Biochem) 7 04/12/2010 11:03 0 B4HOUR Four hour samples (Biochem) 2 04/12/2010 11:03 0 HCONS Haematology consultant queue 22 04/12/2010 10:49 0 URGENT One-hour samples (Haem WHH) 7 04/12/2010 10:57 0 WARDS Four hour samples (Haem WHH) 10 04/12/2010 10:51 0 Routine - General Queues BROUT Biochemistry Routine General 17 04/12/2010 10:54 0 GF GF tests to be done 5 03/12/2010 16:58 0 VITP B12s awaiting authorisation 19 03/12/2010 22:12 0 ZHB1 Hb-opathies awaiting analysis 6 03/12/2010 18:15 0 ZHB2 Hb-opathies sent to ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
This scheme had a minor hiccup in that should a consultant referral be necessary, then these samples would remain on the queue, even though there was no need for them to be there by this stage.
Today I added a minor tweak to the computer so that the presence of the flag we use to when consultant intervention is required would move such samples to a separate queue.
Rule Table Definition Rule Code : CONS Description : Haematology consultant queue [2 ] [---------------------------------------------------------------------] If ~F1 CO REF OR ~F2 CO REF OR ~F3 CO REF OR ~F4 CO REF OR ~F5 CO REF OR ~F6 CO REF OR ~F7 CO REF OR ~F8 CO REF OR ~F9 CO REF OR ~F10 CO REF Then QUEUE Else QUIT } Dialogue -----------------------------------------------------------{ If XE FLAG1 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG2 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG3 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG4 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG5 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG6 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG7 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG8 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG9 does CONTAIN REF OR XE FLAG10 does CONTAIN REF Th [----------------------------------------------------------------------] |
Time will tell if it is advantageous…
December 3 2010 (Friday) - HPC Newsletter
On October 1st I mentioned that I wasn’t overly impressed with the HPC’s newsletter. I received the latest one today, and was (quite frankly) equally disappointed. There was half a page about some new publications concerning fitness to practice and raising concerns which I might incorporate into evidences for pre registration portfolio evidence suggestions. But other than that, there wasn’t much I felt to be relevant to me.
The term “biomedical scientist” wasn’t mentioned once…
December 2 2010 (Thursday) - The Pelger-Huet Anomoly
I saw something down the microscope you don’t see every day. And now I have a webcam, I can record what I saw on this blog using my own pictures, rather than blagging from Google Images.
The above picture has three neutrophils, all demonstrating the Pelger–Huet anomaly. Originally observed in Europeans, the Pelger-Huet anomaly has been seen in most racial groups of all ages with an equal gender ratio.
Pelger-Huet cells survive normally in circulation and demonstrate normal phagocytosis and normal ability to kill microorganisms. The defect (if that is the correct term) is in the terminal differentiation of neutrophils. PHA is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Effectively the cells look left-shifted, but are functionally normal.
Eosinophils are also affected but monocytes and lymphocytes are normal in appearance.
There’s plenty of on-line references about this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelger-Huet_anomaly is as good as most of them.
December 1 2010 (Wednesday) - Meningitis
Last week one of my colleagues spotted a cloudy CSF sample and immediately recognised it as being contaminated with bacteria. A rip-roaring case of meningitis immediately diagnosed by an experienced biomedical scientist, and today she presented the case.
I was able to contribute by using our newly acquired web-cam to obtain the CSF photo above…
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