Alex Liversidge

The chromosomal make up of an individual (genotype, usually 46, XX or 46, XY) determines the appearance of the external genitalia at birth. From this, the assignment of female sex or male sex is made when a child is born. This is sometimes referred to as biologic sex and in Western cultures is binary, a person belongs to one category or other with no other options. In contrast, gender is an internal and personal perception of one’s identity. It is a more subjective, cultural attitude – ‘femaleness’ or ‘maleness’. A person is described as cisgender if their gender corresponds with the sex assigned to them at birth. However, transgender individuals do not identify with the gender or sex they were assigned at birth.

Recent reports from the Higher Education Careers Service Unit identify that approximately 45% of employers feel that scientific graduates lack the appropriate skills. While the Government White Paper: Skills for Jobs has clearly identified a skills gap impacting the country economically. To address these problems, degree courses need to be structured to match employers’ needs to increase the number of quality applicants available for recruitment. This is especially important since the interest in STEM courses with clear career pathways is expected to increase after the Covid-19 pandemic. In biomedical science the only approved method of study to become a Biomedical Scientist is by attainment of an IBMS accredited degree or equivalence. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) thrive with a diverse teaching staff. The inclusion of practitioners to create module content in a real-world, clinical context complements the efforts of colleagues with a traditional academic research approach. This collaboration is a critical component of developing an accreditable course. The recruitment of graduates at a local and national level can be stifled if a local HEI does not offer an IBMS-accredited degree; accreditation is typically only approved for courses with direct practitioner involvement.

During erythropoietic stress (e.g., acute anaemia) the reticulocyte count in peripheral blood normally increases as the bone marrow responds to increased erythropoietin stimulation of erythroid precursors. The efficiency of this process is an indicator of the patient's bone marrow response. This study assesses the utility of the immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF) as a useful parameter of anaemia type, which may inform the decision to treat with red cell transfusion. Moreover, it investigates the value of using IRF as an inexpensive, non-invasive and objective indicator of a patient's bone marrow response. EDTA-treated venous blood specimens were collected from in-patients with a haemoglobin value <100 g/L and analysed to establish the absolute reticulocyte count and IRF using the ABX Pentra 120 Retic analyser. Based on the clinical information provided, the specimens were divided into those with chronic anaemia and those with acute anaemia. Statistical analysis of results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between IRF and haemoglobin level. Importantly, IRF was also found to show a more significant correlation with haemoglobin level than did the absolute reticulocyte count. Furthermore, this correlation was stronger in patients with acute versus chronic anaemia. Thus, this information may aid clinicians in their decisions to recommend blood transfusions for patients with certain types of anaemia.