What is National Audit Day?
LabMed’s National Audit Day is a dedicated one-day event showcasing the latest national and regional clinical audits in laboratory medicine, led by clinical scientists and medical professionals across the UK.
Whether you’re directly involved in audits, use audit data to improve patient care, or want to stay ahead of developments in diagnostic service quality — this is an essential event to attend.
The event takes place at the Royal College of Pathologists in London. We will also be live streaming the event. Just select in person or online when you purchase your ticket.
Submit your abstract
The deadline for submitting audits has now passed.
Why attend?
Hear firsthand about current and future national audits, and how they’re shaping best practice
Learn from leading experts in poisoned patient guidelines, lipid guidance and dyslipidaemia
Engage in discussion with peers and national leads on improving quality across laboratory medicine
Network with professionals and explore audit posters from across the UK
CPD opportunity – supporting your continued professional development
Who should attend?
Clinical scientists
Laboratory medicine consultants
Pathology audit leads
Trainees
Quality managers
Anyone involved in clinical audit, service improvement, or diagnostics
Agenda
9:30am
Welcome and introduction
- W Wassif, national audit lead
9:35am
National audit of the poisoned patient
- Hannah Fearon, principal clinical scientist, University Hospitals of Liverpool Group NHS Trust
The national audit of The Poisoned Patient was a follow-up to the Scotland Audit Group’s 2018 Audit of Laboratory Analyses for Poisoned Patients based on the 2014 Guidelines for laboratory analyses for poisoned patients in the United Kingdom (Thompson et al, 2014). This 2026 audit was also based on the yet to be released Royal College of Pathologists Best Practice Recommendations for patients presenting with poisoning and hopes to act as a gap analysis. The results of the 2026 audit will be presented and discussed, and recommendations made to improve national laboratory practice.
10:05am
A toxic change or the antidote? What new poisoned patient guidelines mean for the laboratory
- Alex Lawson, consultant clinical scientist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
In this talk, Alex will go over the rationale for updating the 2014 guidelines for laboratory analyses for poisoned patients in the United Kingdom (Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 2014, Vol. 51(3) 312–325). The new guidance, produced in collaboration with the RCPath, CTNUK, NPIS and RCEM, updates key aspects of the 2014 guidance which will impact on laboratories. The similarities and differences between the guidance will be highlighted with reference to practice within the laboratory.
10:45am
Discussion
11:00am
Coffee, exhibition and posters
11:15am
Laboratory support for managing the poisoned patient: a clinical perspective
- Ruben Thanacoody, director, National Poisons Information Service Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
11:55am
Discussion
12:10pm
Regional audit presentations
1:00pm
Lunch, exhibition and posters
2:00pm
Introduction from the chair
- Louise Ward, national audit deputy lead
2:05pm
National audit of recent lipid testing and lipid prescribing guidance
- Eric Kilpatrick, consultant chemical pathologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
This National Audit had two main purposes. The first was to assess adherence with recent standard/best practice recommendations on laboratory lipid measurement and reporting, based on Heart UK and Association for Laboratory Medicine recommendations (Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 2025, Vol. 62(4) 257–286). The second was to survey the clinical practices of lipid clinics in the UK, as there was anecdotal evidence of differences between centres in accessing specialist lipid testing and in the ability to prescribe lipid lowering drugs.
The presentation will discuss the results from both the audit and the survey.
2:35pm
Lipoprotein(a): why it matters, who to test, and how we measure it?
- Julia Kenkre, consultant in metabolic medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
This session will provide a practical overview of the role of Lp(a) in cardiovascular risk assessment and management. Participants will explore the evidence linking elevated Lp(a) levels to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, review current guideline recommendations on patient selection for testing, and identify clinical scenarios in which Lp(a) measurement can influence risk stratification and treatment decisions.
The session will also address the analytical challenges associated with Lp(a) measurement, including assay variability, unit reporting (mg/dL versus nmol/L), standardisation issues, and interpretation of results.
3:15pm
Coffee, exhibition and posters
3:30pm
Patient perspective
- Rebecca Smith – via video
This session shares my experience of living with lipodystrophy, with a focus on the challenges of managing severe hypertriglyceridaemia. I’ll explore how IVF treatment, medications and other life events have influenced my triglyceride levels, and the physical and emotional impact of living with a rare condition.
3:45pm
Current and future management of dyslipidaemia
- Kausik Ray, honorary consultant cardiologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
4:25pm
Discussion
4:40pm
Feedback and closing remarks
- W Wassif, national audit lead
