3 November 2015 (Tuesday) - NBS Communication

The October (?!) communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant came out today http://hospital.blood.co.uk/

It covered some interesting points

• NHSBT Launch its First Therapeutic Apheresis Service in London
• New Phlebotomist and Porter learning pathways on learnbloodtransfusion
• New OBOS version release
• Improvements to NHSBT Recall Process – Stage One
• Advanced 1 day course on ABO Blood Group Systems
• Training & Education Events and Courses

Personally I was quite interested in the Advanced 1 day course on ABO Blood Group Systems. I wonder how much it would cost…

2 November 2015 (Monday) - Who's Doing What?

Here’s something else which made me think.

http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/common-medical-tests-escape-scrutiny-but-often-fall-short-1-b99570945z1-338990781.html

The article is basically focussing on the American laboratory system, but its arguments remain valid nonetheless. Especially as UK labs face privatisation and de-skilling.

Just who (exactly) is doing the blood test, and what controls are in place to monitor what they are doing?

30 October 2015 (Friday) - An Article

Here’s something which made me think.

http://www.morehealthlesshealthcare.com/functional-medicine/those-lab-values-suck/

At first sight it comes over as quackery, but it does make you think about reference ranges and whether or not tests are necessary, whether those interpreting the results are aware of the reference ranges, and whether having set profiles is a good idea.

29 October 2015 (Thursday) - IBMS e-newsletter

The monthly IBMS e-newsletter came out today. It focussed on the recent IBMS congress. I suppose that’s not surprising really. Mind you there were also other items of note including

• IBMS winter events: from TB to venereal disease
• Klebsiella from the dark side; agar art & leukaemia cells (from the Facebook page)
• Listen online: cancer therapy and lab training
• Researchers needed to evaluate pathology services across the UK

I was actually quite intrigued by the evaluating pathology services bit; but on reading the article it seems the closing date for applications is tomorrow. That’s a pain….

19 October 2015 (Monday) - http://www.haemspecialistportfolio.co.uk/

By popular demand I’ve resurrected http://www.haemspecialistportfolio.co.uk/ (it really is by popular demand – you’d be surprised how many people have asked for it).

Mind you at the moment it is a straight re-publish of what I had from four years ago. I need to seriously review it. I shall do so over the next few weeks and months….

16 October 2015 (Friday) - New BCSH Guidelines

An email came today telling me of new guidelines that have recently been published:

• Use of JAK inhibitors in the management of myelofibrosis - revised
• Modification of BCSH diagnostic criteria for essential thrombocythaemia
• Interim statement BCSH CLL guideline
• Diagnosis and management of Aplastic Anaemia
• Guidelines on the identification and management of pre-operative anaemia
• Investigation and management of Nodular Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's Lymphoma

 

Some are of direct relevance to me; others not so. But one of the more informative emails I’ve received recently

www.bcshguidelines.com

15 October 2015 (Thursday) - BBTS Newsletter

An email from the BBTS “Bloodspots”. As newsletters go it didn’t really have much to say for itself. In many ways I saw it as a sales pitch.

For all that I’d like to improve my knowledge; and there are some glaring gaps in my blood transfusion knowledge, these courses they are pushing aren’t cheap:

• “The Uncertainty of it All”  £90

• “Spotlight on Platelets” £90 / non-members £95

• “Red Cell Special Interest Group”  £45.00

• Specialist Certificate in Transfusion Science Practice £891

Time was work would pay the course fees. Perhaps I’m just an old leftie?