May 2019

Blood test for pregnant women

A new blood test to check for the potentially life-threatening condition pre-eclampsia will be available to women in England.

Imaging with LEGO

Researchers have come up with an inexpensive, automated way to image biological samples – using the children’s toy, LEGO.

Breath testing for gut disorders

Small children may one day avoid invasive oesophageal tube-testing for gut damage and coeliac disease thanks to a new method. It involves blowing into a glass tube to provide effective diagnoses.

Blood test for rare cancer proteins

A new blood test developed at the Johns Hopkins University can identify individual molecules in human blood samples with minimal detection errors. 

Blood cell production insights

A healthy adult makes about two million blood cells every second, and 99% of them are oxygen-carrying red blood cells. 

HCPC standards of education and training

Alan Wainwright, IBMS Executive Head of Education, summarises revisions that are due to be implemented following an audit. 

“Poverty leaves mark on genes”

A new study challenges prevailing understandings of genes as immutable features of biology that are fixed at conception.

My Lab: dynamic histopathology service

Trainee Specialist Biomedical Scientist Megan Clarkson gives a guided tour of her laboratory at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

May: News in numbers

A breakdown of science news this month, in numbers.

May journal-based learning exercises

Please select your choice of correct answers and complete the exercises online at: www.ibms.org/cpd/jbl

Equality of opportunity

There is no place for outdated prejudice if there is a serious desire for change. 

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