Authors and acknowledgments
The clinical laboratory questions and answers which are shown on this site have been adapted from a series of reviews published in the
Journal of Clinical Pathology with the kind permission of the publishers. They are accompanied by a series of clinical case discussions by the same publisher in the British Medical Journal (
www.bmj.com) which highlight some of the pitfalls of laboratory testing. The references to the original reviews and series of case reports can be found in the
References section.
This work has been supported by the Association of Clinical Pathologists*, Association of Clinical Biochemists*, Royal College of Pathologists* Royal College of General Practitioners, Association of Medical Microbiologists and British Society for Haematology, representatives of which have contributed as individuals to the reviewing process. The opinions stated are however those of the authors. (*financially)
We are most grateful the following members of the supporting organisations who kindly acted as internal reviewers for the original work prior to the formal peer-review process, in addition to any answers they may have authored separately:
Dr Neil Campbell, Aberdeen Dr Andrew Duncan, Glasgow Dr Elizabeth Farish, Glasgow Dr Danielle Freedman, Luton Dr Michael J Galloway, Sunderland Prof Rousseau Gama, Wolverhampton Dr Philip Hannaford, Aberdeen Dr Richard Herriot, Aberdeen Dr David Housley, Luton Prof William Irvine, Nottingham Prof Kevin G Kerr, Harrogate Dr Elizabeth Logan, Sutton in Ashfield Dr Albert J Mifsud, London | Dr Richard Neal, Cardiff Dr RG Dermot Neely, Newcastle Dr Andrew B Provan, Southhampton Dr Anthony Wierzbicki, London Dr David Gozzard, Clwyd Prof Timothy M Reynolds, Burton on Trent Prof Colin Waine, Sunderland Prof Ian S Young, Belfast And the following professional groups: Association of Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Practice Section UK Northern regional clinical biochemistry audit sub-group, Gateshead UK South West region GP Microbiology Laboratory Use Group, Gloucester |
and to the following co-opted reviewers from the other medical specialities who kindly added to the reviewing process with their own clinical perspectives:
•Prof Rudy Bilous, Middlesbrough
•Dr Lesley Kay, Newcastle
•Dr Bridget Griffiths, Newcastle
•Dr John Main, Middlesbrough
Literature searching was conducted by the Sowerby Centre for Health informatics and was organised by Dr Sharon Smart, Clinical Knowledge Director. Searches were carried out by:
•Mrs Dor Wilson
•Mrs Jennifer Forth
•Mrs Naomi Shaw
•Mr Richard Bowley
And web site development and IT support was provided by:
•Mr Richard Hall
•Mr Ben Wilson
•Mr KaiRong Zhu
•Mr Bill Phillips
•Ms Gillian Manson
Mrs GC Smellie helped to collate answers into the reviews, and
Mrs Susan Richardson helped in the preparation of manuscripts.
I am also grateful to other senior members, too many to list individually, of the Association of Clinical Biochemists, Association of Clinical Pathologists, Association of Medical Microbiologists, British Society for Haematology, Royal College of General Practitioners and Royal College of Pathologists for their help in facilitating the project itself and for their help in recruiting reviewers. Additional financial support is also gratefully acknowledged from the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust (now County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust).
Finally I should like to thank Sir JA Muir Gray KBE, Director, Clinical Knowledge, process and safety, Department of Health for his support, financial assistance and unceasing enthusiasm to increase the provision and use of clinical knowledge.
Thanks everyone.
Original Project Development Group
One Royal College of General Practitioners representative:
•Dr Colin Waine, OBE FRCP FRCGP
Three PRODIGY representatives (2 general practitioners and 1 information scientist):
•Dr David Finnegan, MBChB MRCGP DCH Dip Ther
•Dr Sharon Smart, MBBS MRCGP DCH DRCOG Dip Ther
•Mrs Doreen Wilson, BA(Hons) Dip HSci MSc
•New member 2005 — Mrs Jennifer Forth, BSc
Four Association of Clinical Pathologists representatives:
•Prof Tim Reynolds, BSc MD FRCPath (Chemical Pathology); Queens Hospital, Burton on Trent
•Dr Marjorie Greig, MB ChB Dip Hlth Mgt FRCPath (Microbiology); St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester
•Dr David Bareford, MD FRCP FRCPath (Haematology); City Hospital Birmingham, now Dudley Hospitals
•Dr Gavin Spickett, MA BM BCh DPhil FRCP FRCPath (Immunology); Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle
Two Royal College of Pathologists representatives:
•Prof Tim Reynolds
•Dr Graham Beastall, BSc PhD FRCP; Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
One Association of Clinical Biochemists representative:
•Dr Danielle Freedman, MB BS FRCPath; Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust (now also RCPath representative)
One Association of Medical Microbiologists representative:
•Dr Judith Richards, MB Bs FRCPath Dip Med Ed; Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
One British Society for Haematology representative (held jointly):
•Dr Michael Galloway, BSc MBA MD FRCP FRCPath; Sunderland Acute NHS trust
•Dr David Bareford, MD FRCP FRCPath; City Hospital Birmingham, now Dudley Hospitals
One Health Protection Agency representative:
•Dr Cliodna McNulty, MBBS FRCPath; Gloucester PHLS
One National Patient representative:
•Mr John Marriott; Vice-Chairman of the Lay Committee of the Royal College of Pathologists
Chairman/Editor
•Dr Stuart Smellie, MA DM FRCP FRCPath (Clinical Biochemistry)
Bishop Auckland Hospital, County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS trust.