Lab Conference to Debate Key Issues

The latest of these to be announced by organiser Leipziger Messe, 'Laboratory Equipment in Hospitals and Healthcare', will be held on 3 October.

Speakers and topics at the one-day conference stream will include:.

Professor Chris Griffith, head of research, University of Wales Cardiff Institute.

In this presentation on 'HCAIs and hospital environmental surfaces: to sample or not to sample?', Griffith will examine if there is a link between surface contamination and HCAIs, if a link exists between cleaning and surface contamination, and how and why cleanliness can be assessed by outlining an integrated approach.

Clare Taylor, consultant in haematology and transfusion medicine at the Royal Free Hospital and National Blood Service, will be speaking on 'Transfusion science: optimising blood safety'.

Taylor will discuss the latest developments in the monitoring and identification of variant CJD, minimising bacterial risks, and asking how organisational changes in transfusion science are threatening safety and efficiency.

In addition, Taylor will review the latest technologies emerging to support excellence in blood safety, and review adverse incidents and accidents.

Kate Cuschieri, specialist virology centre, Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

This presentation will overview 'HPV testing' by analysing the molecular pathology of HPV, discussing the virological diagnosis of HPV, looking at the clinical considerations for HPV testing and debating if it is feasible to introduce wide-scale HPV testing.

David Houliston, governance manager, Directorate of Pathology at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust, will examine how to prepare for assessment for the new 'CPA Quality Standards'.

The presentation will cover the key challenges to overcome, how to manage the change, communicating with senior managers, the role of the quality officer and how the new regulations contribute to an overall quality improvement.