Transport and storage of samples prior to analysis is critical to the quality framework in clinical pathology. In recent decades the pathology industry has relied heavily on the use of dry ice to transport frozen specimens when required. The nature of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) means that it can be hazardous and poses a safety risk to staff. It requires specific training and personal protective equipment to use safely. In addition, dry ice is expensive and single use. With a focus on sustainability, we considered how our organisation could change our process in order to improve efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint.To address these issues we introduced the use of non-hazardous phase change material (PCM) disposable ice sheets reducing our dry ice requirements significantly. We also conducted a largescale review of our tests requiring samples be frozen and were able to reduce this list following stability studies. The next step toward sustainability and efficiency is the implementation of reusable expanded polypropylene transport eskies and PCM ice bricks to be introduced this year. These will be temperature monitored and GPS tracked.
Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2: CUL3 mutation confirmed 15 years following initial diagnosis Continuous variables presented as means (standard deviation). Differences in categorical variables were tested using a Fisher's exact test, and differences in numerical variables were tested using analysis of variance. PHA2, pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2.
Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has dramatically improved the neurocognitive outcomes for newborns with a confirmed positive screening test result. However, screening yields a small number of false positive and false negative results. This report describes the first known case of familial dysalbuminaemic hyperthyroxinaemia presenting with a positive newborn thyroid stimulating hormone screen. This condition is characterized by artefactually elevated free tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels due to increased albumin binding and subsequent dissociation during laboratory assays but normal true free thyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in a clinically euthyroid subject. This highlights the need to take care when attributing clinical significance to discordant results.
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