Diagnosis

Public Health England to review guidance against the use of rapid COVID-19 tests in community pharmacies

Public Health England is reviewing its guidance against the use of rapid point-of-care tests for COVID-19 in community pharmacy.…

Welsh pharmacy sore throat test and treat service ‘should not be routinely adopted’, review finds

The use of rapid antigen detection tests in community pharmacies for the diagnosis and management of people with group A streptococcal infections should not be routinely adopted, according to guidance from Health Technology Wales.…

Superdrug relaunches at-home COVID-19 antibody testing service

High-street multiple Superdrug has relaunched its at-home COVID-19 antibody testing service, after it had been ”voluntarily and temporarily” withdrawn in May 2020.…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management

Early diagnosis and medicines optimisation are fundamental to ensure timely and appropriate treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and improve a patient’s quality of life.…

Regulator ‘following up’ Boots’ provision of rapid point of care COVID-19 antigen test

The General Pharmaceutical Council is to “follow up” Boots’ announcement that it plans to roll out a rapid point of care antigen test for COVID-19.…

Stuck in the 1950s: why UTI diagnosis badly needs an update

Urinary tract infections are the second most common reason for prescribing an antibiotic and, with antimicrobial stewardship a priority for the government, the stakes for accurate diagnosis are being raised ever higher.…

Phlebotomy services could be run from community pharmacies to cut hospital visits, report recommends

Phlebotomy services should be run from community pharmacies to allow patients to give blood samples without having to go to hospital, an independent review of NHS diagnostic services has recommended.…

Cervical cancer prevention: advice and services

With the uptake of cervical screening at 70–73% in the UK, it is important for pharmacy teams to recognise the symptoms of cervical cancer, as well as provide advice on prevention strategies.…

Clinical guidelines recommend dipstick tests for lower UTI diagnosis alongside two or more symptoms

Accurate diagnosis of a lower urinary tract infection in women aged under 65 years should be based on a positive dipstick test result for nitrite, alongside two or more urinary symptoms, new guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network say.…

Hundreds of UK pharmacies are now offering rapid point-of-care COVID-19 antibody testing

Exclusive: Almost 500 pharmacies across the UK are now offering a rapid COVID-19 antibody testing service.…