The UK death rate reached a record low last year, according to exclusive analysis of death certificate data carried out for BBC News.

Amanda Pritchard's exit comes as the government moves to assert more direct over healthcare.

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundThere have been no reports on blood glucose metres for measurements in a wide variety of infant patients, from very preterm infants to mature infants and from the early neonatal period onwards. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the ...

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
Background:Patients with features of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) frequently present to the emergency department (ED) and often meet recognized criteria for CT head imaging. Observational studies suggest that use of a tandem ubiquitin C-terminal ...

It gives general practices a big funding boost, as well as reducing red tape and targets.

Chef Heston Blumenthal says being sectioned was the "best thing" as he dealt with bipolar symptoms.

It gives general practices a big funding boost, as well as reducing red tape and targets.

Some NI GP practices face the risk of going under due to a hike in national insurance contributions.

Creon, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, helps digestion but stocks are desperately low.

Creon, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, helps digestion but stocks are desperately low.

Infectious syndromes affecting the genitourinary tract and reproductive organs

A coroner says the public is being misled over what an NHS physician associate does.

A coroner says the public is being misled over what an NHS physician associate does.

Susan Hamilton wins her case for unfair constructive dismissal against a south London NHS Trust.

A different strain of the winter vomiting virus is now on the rise, UK health experts say.

A different strain of the winter vomiting virus is now on the rise, UK health experts say.

Laura Winham, 41, was found dead in her flat in Woking by her mother and brother in May 2021.

Scientists in Aberdeen say the scanner could make an extraordinary difference to diagnosis and treatment.

A devastating side effect made Weronkia Somerville lose 14 years of her life, and then she discovered she had to go through it again.

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundUnderstanding lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] measurement variability is essential in establishing its coronary heart disease (CHD) association, and optimizing assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. We established the components of biological variation (BV) and reference change value (RCV) of Lp(a) in a UK cohort.Method22 healthy individuals were recruited to the study. Blood samples were collected for six consecutive weeks and analysed in duplicate using the Lp(a) assay by Sentinel Diagnostics on the Beckman Coulter AU5800. Outlier, heterogeneity, normality, and trend analysis were performed, followed by CV-ANOVA to determine estimates of BV, adhering to the 14 BIVAC quality items. RCV was calculated based on estimated CVA and CVI.ResultsFour participants were excluded from the analysis as their mean Lp(a) levels fell below the functional sensitivity of the assay. Mean Lp(a) concentration ranged from 14 to 241 nmol/L. The overall estimate of CVI for all participants was 10.9% (95% CI of 9.1 – 13.0%). The RCV for Lp(a) was +31.6%/-24.0%.ConclusionOur study obtained a CVI estimate for Lp(a) that aligned consistently with recent studies adhering to the quality specifications outlined in the BIVAC checklist. The CVI estimate was significantly lower than Lp(a) estimates reported in studies up to 2003. The CVI estimate highlights the limitations of relying solely on a single Lp(a) measurement for prognosticating ASCVD risk and identifying candidates for novel Lp(a) therapies, particularly when the measured value is near clinical decision thresholds.