Accuracy // #ADayInTheLifeOfABiomedicalScientist

1. 8:45am Monday morning. I always tried to get to work a little early, old habits from my previous job. The night team had topped up the reagents but forgot to remove the old ones, and so the QCs had begun drifting.

2. The hood was up, my hands in the heart of coagulation machine, taking out unnecessary old stuff. Start the week fresh.

The dull tone of the phone ringing broke the constant churning of the machines.

"Hi, it's the registrar here."

"How can I help?"

3. "A patient was seen in the clinic last week but it seems like you only received the sample, can you still run the FBC?"

"Unfortunately not," I answered.

"The consultant would really appreciate it." I could hear the desperation in her voice, but rules were rules.

4. "I'm sorry, but whether it's the consultant or someone else, I can't process old samples."

"Why?" she asked. "What's the point of keeping them for a week?"

I gulped. I wasn't ready for that curve ball of a question. FBC's are only valid for 24 hours so why did we keep them?

5. "They can always be used for other tests. Like for example currently the samples are being tested by virology to see if patients have antibodies against covid-19."

She was persistent. "Why can't you do the full blood count?"

6. The analyser started alarming. The internal environment was at 10 degrees and because it was open, it had been trying to cool the scorching lab. But instead the lab had begun heating it up. I pressed the stop alarm button.

"Cells change over time. They disintegrate."

7. She cut me off, "I know about EDTA changes, but couldn't you run it and see if the results were okay?"

Samples were building up. The other phone began ringing. It was probably the anticoagulation nurse with her list of samples from the day before after INR results.

8. I had an idea. "Let's do this." I said. "The patient's platelets run between 20-40. Pick a number between 20-40."

"What, no." she said.

"Why not?" I asked.

"It wouldn't be accurate."

"And that is my point exactly."

9. As #BiomedicalScientists we ensure the results we give you are accurate. We don't cancel tests because we enjoy it. We feel for patients and for you. Most importantly we know, that you on the wards and clinics will decide treatments, drugs, transfusions based on those results.

10. We spend considerable time ensuring our machines and processes are optimised to be accurate. We run quality controls and participate in national and international quality schemes just for that one reason; quality. It's something we pride ourselves on.

11. Our analysers and instruments are like F1 cars, they're regularly maintained. If there's an issue and we can't fix it, we call in the engineers.
Just so we can provide our patients with the best possible service. We wouldn't settle for anything less.

12. So next time you find a comment where there should have been a result saying the test was cancelled, or the sample was unsuitable, you know why. And if you don't understand, we're happy to explain. Give us a call. Just don't expect us to cut corners.

She sighed and hung up.