James
A PSA blood test measures prostate-specific antigen in the blood. PSA is a protein made by cells of the prostate gland. It can be produced by normal prostate cells as well as prostate cancer cells. This is why PSA is useful, but also why it can be misunderstood. A raised PSA does not automatically mean … Read more
eGFR stands for estimated glomerular filtration rate. It is a blood-test-based estimate of how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Many people first notice eGFR when it appears beside creatinine on a kidney function test report. The number can feel worrying, especially if it is highlighted as low. But eGFR is not … Read more
PT, INR and APTT are blood tests that help assess how long it takes blood to form a clot. They are often grouped under the wider heading of coagulation tests, clotting tests, or haemostasis tests. If you see these acronyms on a blood test report, the laboratory is checking part of the blood clotting system. … Read more
Explore career paths in biomedical science, including biomedical scientist, clinical scientist, and clinical biochemist roles, qualification routes, and salary expectations in the UK.
A comprehensive introduction to how the immune system works, covering innate and adaptive immunity, key cell types, and how laboratory tests assess immune function.
Learn how sickle cell disease develops from a single gene mutation, what happens to red blood cells, and how haematology laboratories diagnose and monitor the condition.
Discover what clinical biochemistry involves as a laboratory discipline, the tests it covers, and how it supports diagnosis and monitoring in modern healthcare.
Understand what electrolyte blood tests measure, what normal and abnormal sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate levels indicate, and how these results are used clinically.
Understand how PCR (polymerase chain reaction) works, its applications in clinical diagnostics and research, and the differences between conventional, RT-PCR, and qPCR.
Learn how autoimmune blood tests work, including ANA, anti-dsDNA, ANCA, and rheumatoid factor, and how these antibody tests are interpreted in clinical immunology.