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From covid-19 tests to gall bladder dissections, the States have given Guernsey people a virtual tour around some of our healthcare system's all important labs to mark Biomedical Science Day.
Trainee Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology, Zoe Andrews, took over the States Twitter feed earlier this week, to talk the public through some of the meticulous procedures that go on behind closed doors - complete with photos and videos.
75% of the island's clinical diagnosis are based on the biomedical science investigations, carried out by a team of 19 registered scientists. They are spread across four different departments; Microbiology, Biochemistry, Haematology & Transfusion and Histology.
ZA: Meet Jack.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
Guernsey’s Faecal Immnunochemical Testing (FIT) analyser for bowel screening.
If you’re having bowel problems your GP will probably ask you to provide a sample for this type of test.
Jack detects blood in a faecal specimen. #Microbiology pic.twitter.com/TkNyClN5o5
Another side of biomedical science is blood donations, which have to be analysed to make sure each patient is safe to become a donor.
THREAD 1/3ZA: Blood donation.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
Marina is a healthcare scientist assistant and runs blood donating alongside our pathology nursing team.
Last year alone Guernsey had 790 red cell donations and 56 platelet donors through our doors. Platelets started 2017. pic.twitter.com/OTAUOpwJzS
People in Guernsey can enquire about becoming a donor by calling 725241 and asking to speak with someone from the pathology department.
ZA: Here is a video of another trainee biomedical scientist Gemma making a blood film then viewing that film under the microscope.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
If you have a full blood count and the scientist thinks it is abnormal this is what they will do #BiomedicalScienceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/wUVdGrYwEU
Meanwhile, those in the Histology department spend hours dissecting organs or tissue and annotating them.
ZA: THREAD 1/2
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
Histology is a department here with 4 Biomedical scientists.
Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissue.
Here is a dissection of a gall bladder. The process from start to finish is around 18 hours#BiomedicalScienceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/VrZeUOubfL
As part of the process, the organs or tissue are placed into white cassettes and embedded in wax overnight, before being sliced up into minute pieces - about the width of a cell.
ZA: Cook it, bin it, incinarate it!! These are called auto claves #microbiology. Once we have processed samples and are ready to destroy we have to cook them on a high heat to destroy any organisms. Then the waste is incinerated. #BiomedicalScienceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/rPOx414Z4y
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
Many of the samples taken by doctors are sent to biomedical scientists for testing.
ZA: #Biochemistry
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
This department run a lot of tests!! Tests like glucose, cholesterol and many more.
This analyser measures in picomoles! That is the same as trying to find a human cell by looking at the earth from outer space!#BiomedicalScienceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/RXmeKGpu9a
In recent weeks, staff in Microbiology have been focussing their efforts on finding effective technology and processes for covid-19 testing.
ZA: 1/2 Thread. A video just to show you how small each amount and vial is for each COVID19 test.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
We have to be in a room alone and undisturbed for the second part of testing as we are working at 5 microlitre measurements. #BiomedicalScienceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/FahTWDnW8u
But, the team has still been carrying out other tests, despite the increased demand.
ZA: This is one of my favourite things in #microbiology.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
Fungal nail infection!! We incubate the cuttings and on a agar plate at 28c for upto 3 weeks. It grows the fungi and we make a slide! And they tend to be so pretty!! #BiomedicalScienceDay pic.twitter.com/HJavfpsecr
Twitter users were invited to send in their questions throughout Biomedical Science Day, using the hashtag #GuernseyScientist.
ZA: Dom is one of our biochemistry scientists and can be here throughout the night on call. Arranging blood transfusions, running urgent samples, and answering bleeps and calls.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) June 11, 2020
24/7 we’re the science behind you’re healthcare. #BiomedicalScientistDay2020 pic.twitter.com/MoW49fAT85
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