The winners of the 2007/2008 Oxoid Infection Control Team of the Year Awards - designed to recognise those who are improving standards of infection control within hospitals worldwide - have been announced.

Researchers have discovered that a change in location of a protein in the brain could serve as a biomarker for depression, a finding they hope will allow a simple laboratory test to identify patients with the disorder.

Researchers are using state-of-the-art equipment to develop a breath test for diagnosing diseases including diabetes and cancer.

A new blood test could enable doctors to rule out tuberculosis infection within days rather than weeks, according to a new study.

Congratulations on the first edition of MedLab News, which is a much needed publication to fill the gap for UK clinical labs since the demise of MLW last year. As director general of BIVDA, I have been asked to provide a short scene setting piece with regards to current issues relevant to the diagnostics industry for this first issue.

Efficiency is all in the modern pathology laboratory and IT is playing an increasing role in achieving this. Here Carla Deakin takes a look at two laboratories and their IT needs and asks what benefits they sought from their technology.

As the drive to avoid unnecessary exposure to donated blood and promote alternatives gathers momentum, transfusion scientist Barry Hill examines the background and latest developments in this area.