TDDS Newsletter Autumn 2013

TDDS Newsletter Autumn 2013 Dear Colleague Thanks to your support we continue to enjoy a robust caseload this year and trust that this reflects the situation for you in practice. We have received a very positive response to our expanding offer of wide-ranging diagnostic support including our PCR laboratory, rapid toxicology service, new allergy services, histopathology and immunohistochemistry and our interpretive work on haematology, biochemistry, endocrinology and serology. We bring a high level of expertise and quality control which dovetails well with the current expectations of your in-house clinical pathology work. Cytology, in particular, is an area of ongoing growth both in terms of case numbers and complexity, as advances in imaging skills and technology in practice mean that we face new diagnostic challenges on a regular basis. • •

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Cytology has been further enhanced by our PCR laboratory, Molecular Testing, which has experienced month-on-month growth since its foundation in 2012. The first section of a diagnostic manual, dealing with PCR, has been completed and is now available on-line: www.tddslab.co.uk. Hard copies are being sent out now. These are in a ring-binder format to allow easy incorporation of updates and additional tests as they are developed, as well as a guide to optimal sampling for all other aspects of clinical pathology to be issued early next year. We would draw your attention, in particular, to the canine clonality test (PARR), available in the UK for the first time through TDDS / Molecular Testing. This is proving to be a valuable enhancement of cytology for canine lymphoproliferative disease, particularly in more challenging or equivocal cases. We are pleased to announce that we have a new ACVP Diplomat. Matt Harris joined us in 2009 and gained his diplomat status by examination in Ames, Iowa, last month. Great news. Even greater news is that Matt is staying here at TDDS. Matt is the fourth TDDS-sponsored resident to have gained his Diploma, following on from Roger Powell and Oliver Coldrick (FRCPath DACVP) and Sarah Putwain (FRCPath DECVP) in collaboration with Cambridge University and, more recently, the Royal Veterinary College. Our residency program currently includes David Buckeridge, Alice Pastorello, Julie Vickers and Emma Dickey, based at TDDS, with Anne Leuschner and Fiona Brooks sharing time between TDDS and the RVC. It will be great to have Fiona back here – she spent considerable time with us seeing practice earlier in her veterinary career. Residencies are a central part of the ethos of TDDS and the learning process is definitely twoway!

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David Buckeridge gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists, having passed Part 2 of the qualifying examination early this year. Next stop final board exam, Ames, 2014.

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Julie Vickers passed Part 1 of the FRCPath certifying examination in April this year and will sit the second part early next year as well as accompanying David and Alice to Ames to the US Boards in 2014.

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Emma Dickey is resuming her full-time duties at TDDS as our Equine Consultant and Resident in Clinical Pathology, having given birth to a daughter in April this year. Congratulations, Emma and husband Ross.

We continue to provide pathologist support for our sister laboratory VLSI, in Cork and have recently introduced a new direct pathology line for VLSI clients. This is in addition to the TDDS “Path Line” and should help to ease congestion. This direct line of contact between clinicians and pathologists is vital to the way we work. The duty is shared equally by all of our pathologists but you may, of course, speak to any of us on request. We hope that you find this service useful. From our point of view regular discussion of cases with clinicians and regular feedback are essential. Yours sincerely A.G.Torrance Director and Cofounder TDDS