Speakers
Alexandra Yates
Nicola Barlow
Alex Lawson
West Midlands
Session Chair: Alexandra Yates
2.15pm Nicola Barlow, Diagnosis and monitoring of heavy metal poisoning: interactive case illustrations
2.45pm Alex Lawson, From the laboratory to the headlines, the emergence of nitazene opioids in the UK
3.15pm Lauren Starbrook, Diagnostic difficulties in bile acid diarrhoea
This session hosted by the West Midlands will provide an update in three specialist areas of interest and progress within the region. Heavy metals is often an area of uncertainty for Clinical Scientists and Dr Nicola Barlow will use a series of interactive case presentations to convey the latest evidence-based information with respect to identifying, diagnosing and monitoring lead, mercury and arsenic poisoning. Dr Alex Lawson will then present on developments in detection of novel opioids, including 2-benzyl benzimidazole (nitazene), which has been detected with increasing frequency in the UK over the past two to three years. He will cover the potential for harm, analytical strategies to detect these drugs and discuss several pertinent cases. In the final session, Lauren Starbrook will provide an overview of the presentation, prevalence and treatment of bile acid diarrhoea and consider the difficulties in diagnosing this condition. She will then present new work on diagnostic tests, encompassing faecal bile acids and serum 7-α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one.
Diagnosis and monitoring of heavy metal poisoning: interactive case illustrations - Nicola Barlow
In the past, heavy metal measurement and interpretation was performed only in specialist trace element laboratories. However, with the formation of pathology networks and increased availability of instrumentation, heavy metal analysis is increasingly taking place in non-specialist laboratories, requiring general clinical scientists to have a better understanding of the field. This presentation will cover pertinent aspects of when heavy metal testing is appropriate, sample collection requirements and interpretation of results for the most commonly encountered heavy metals, lead mercury and arsenic, through a series of interactive case illustrations.
From the laboratory to the headlines, the emergence of nitazene opioids in the UK - Alex Lawson
In the US, the death rate from drug overdoses more than tripled between 1999 and 2017, this was driven by increase use of opioids. This opioid epidemic had three phases: the first was dominated by prescription opioids such as oxycodone, the second by heroin, and the third by cheaper but more potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Despite a few outbreaks of synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl analogues) causing death is particular geographic areas, the UK has not faced the same epidemic as the US. However, over the past 2-3 years the UK has seen an increase in the detection of 2-benzyl benzimidazole (‘nitazene’) type opioids. These are found mixed with heroin or purchased online, typically sold as oxycodone. This talk will give a brief overview of novel opioids, discuss the potential for harm, the analytical strategies to detect these drugs and discuss a number of pertient cases.
Diagnostic difficulties in bile acid diarrhoea - Lauren Starbrook
Bile Acid Diarrhoea (BAD) is a prevalent condition that is significantly under-diagnosed. This is due to lack of available diagnostic methods. The gold standard for diagnosis is the 75-SeHCAT scan which is time consuming, expensive, and exposes patients to a dose of radiation. This presentation will discuss other alternative ways of diagnosing BAD that may be brought into routine clinical practice, to improve diagnosis and patient outcomes.
Mrs. Alexandra Yates. Director of Scientific Affairs
Alex, is a Clinical scientist in the biochemistry department at the North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service, where her interest include analytical interferences, renal medicine and quality improvement.
Alex was appointed as Directorof Scientific affairs in May 2019 after 5 years on the scientific committee, and a previous role as a national member on the ACB council. As chair of the scientific and clinical practice committee, her vision is that the scientific committee should serve all ACB members across all disciplines they represent, whilst supporting the fulfillment of the wider ACB strategy, via action such as the scientific scholarships.
Other wider interests include equality and diversity with NHS organizations, Alex is passionate in enacting meaningful change leading to equity for all and recognizing the benefits this bring to the NHS and wider community.
Nicola is Consultant Clinical Scientist and SAS Director of the Trace Elements Laboratory at Black Country Pathology Services (based at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust). Her role embraces both general biochemistry and oversight of a number of specialist laboratory services. Current interests include heavy metals, vitamins, measurement of anti-TNFα drugs and mass spectrometry.
Dr Lawson is a consultant clinical biochemist and toxicologist working in Birmingham UK. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Biochemistry and PhD in hormonal metabolism. He has worked at University Hospitals Birmingham since 2010. His special interests include the use of mass spectrometry for the measurement of drugs and hormones in biological fluids, clinical/post mortem toxicology and lab based assessment of medication adherence.
I am currently a principal clinical scientist in biochemistry, within Black Country Pathology Services. I completed the STP in 2019 and am now on the HSST programme, which I am really enjoying. I have a range of interests, including mass spectrometry, training and education, and IT-driven solutions in pathology.