Diagnostic techniques and procedures

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.…

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.…

Serology testing for COVID-19 is the way forward, but we could face a long wait

While news of imminent serology testing is incredibly encouraging, we must be pragmatic about how quickly it can be made available to the general public.…

Governments must make tackling AMR worth pharmacy’s while

Pharmaceutical companies won’t develop fast, cheap and effective diagnostic tools on their own — incentives are the missing piece to tackling antimicrobial resistance.…

Colorectal cancer screening and the role of community pharmacy

Access to colorectal cancer screening varies across the UK. This article describes the various tests and how community pharmacists can promote them.…

Heavy menstrual bleeding: diagnosis and management options

Heavy menstrual bleeding has a major impact on a woman’s quality of life. This article covers the most recent guidance and available treatment options.…

Point-of-care C-reactive protein testing in community pharmacy to deliver appropriate interventions in respiratory tract infections

This pilot study sought to evaluate the potential use of point-of-care (POC) C-reactive protein (CRP) testing for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in a rural community pharmacy in North Staffordshire, UK, in conjunction with local GP practices. The study found that the use of POC CRP testing…

FDA issues guidance on developing new genetic tests for diagnosis and treatment of disease

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued two sets of guidance to drive the design, development and validation of new genetic and genomic-based tests using next generation sequencing (NGS). NGS works by looking at a person’s DNA to detect genomic variations that may determine whether a…

Blood test developed that can screen and locate cancers

A blood test has been developed that can detect tumours before a person may be aware that they have cancer.…