James
A biomedical scientist and a lab technician may work in the same laboratory, handle similar equipment and contribute to the same testing service, but the job titles are not interchangeable. In the UK, “biomedical scientist” is a protected professional title linked to HCPC registration, while “lab technician” is a broader job title whose duties and … Read more
Ferritin and serum iron both relate to iron, but they measure different parts of iron metabolism. Ferritin is mainly used as a marker of stored iron, while serum iron measures iron circulating in the blood at the time the sample is taken, much of it carried by transferrin. This is why one result cannot simply … Read more
A “biomedical science degree” does not mean exactly the same career pathway in the UK and the US. In the UK, biomedical science is closely connected with the regulated profession of biomedical scientist, while in the US the clinical laboratory profession is more commonly organised around titles such as medical laboratory scientist (MLS) or clinical … Read more
Biomedical Science vs Medical Laboratory Science: What Is the Difference? Biomedical science and medical laboratory science are closely related terms, but they do not always describe the same type of degree. The biggest mistake is assuming that the course title alone proves professional eligibility. A programme called Biomedical Science may be a professionally accredited diagnostic … Read more
Blood Sample Collection Explained: From Preparation to Transport Accurate blood testing begins before the sample reaches the analyser. The pre-analytical phase includes preparing the patient, confirming identity, selecting the correct specimen and tube, collecting the blood, filling and mixing tubes correctly, labelling the specimen, and storing and transporting it appropriately. Errors during this phase can … Read more
What Is a Reference Interval in Laboratory Tests? A reference interval is the range printed beside many numerical laboratory results. It gives a lower and upper limit that the laboratory uses as a comparison point. It is often called a reference range or “normal range”, but reference interval is the more precise scientific term. For … Read more
Blood Test Results Glossary: Common Report Terms Explained Blood test reports contain more than numbers. You may also see comments such as high, low, borderline, haemolysed, fasting, positive, inconclusive or repeat sample required. These terms describe how the result compares with a laboratory interval, whether the target of a test was detected, whether the specimen … Read more
Medical Lab Abbreviations: Blood Test Acronyms A–Z Medical laboratory reports often use shortened test names. You may see FBC, CRP, ALT, TSH or eGFR instead of the complete test name. These abbreviations help laboratories and healthcare teams display large amounts of information clearly. However, they can make a report difficult to understand when you are … Read more
Chronic Kidney Disease Blood Tests Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is usually assessed using a combination of blood and urine tests. The most important markers are often creatinine, eGFR and urine albumin, but other blood tests help monitor complications and overall kidney-related health. This page explains the laboratory tests commonly used in CKD investigation and … Read more
Iron Deficiency Anaemia Explained Iron deficiency anaemia happens when the body does not have enough iron to make healthy red blood cells and haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Iron deficiency can develop before anaemia appears. This means someone may have low iron stores first, then later develop low … Read more