Pathology practitioners use and manage a very wide range of medicines and medical devices. This page has been specifically adapted to the needs of pathology practitioners. It includes guidance, safety alerts and links to educational material to assist pathology practitioners in the safe use and management of medicines and medical devices.
Latest news and hot topics
09 Feb 2012 | Medical Device Alert: Reagents requiring manual handling for use in combination with Cobas c501/502 analyser manufactured by Hitachi (MDA/2012/004)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued because the use of insufficient volumes of reagent may lead to a false negative result leading to patient harm.
12 Jan 2012 | Drug Safety Update: January 2012 (Volume 5, Issue 6)
Drug Safety Update is essential reading for all healthcare professionals, bringing you the very latest information and advice to support the safer use of medicines.
11 Jan 2012 | PIP breast implants: Letters to professionals from David Nicholson and Chief Medical Officer
The Chief Executive of the NHS Sir David Nicholson, and Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies have written to health professionals with updates on PIP breast implants.
06 Dec 2011 | Agency’s first elective prize for medical students awarded
A medical student with a special interest in hip replacement surgery, Ashley Matthies, is the recipient of the Agency’s first Trainee Doctors Advisory Board (TRAB) elective prize. The prize, worth £500, was introduced for the first time this year.
28 Nov 2011 | Medical Device Alert: Blood glucose analyser manufactured by HemoCue AB (MDA/2011/107)
This Medical Device Alert has been issued in relation to the Blood glucose analyser, Glucose 201+, as there is potential for missed hyperglycaemia if you are using this machine with outdated software.
Drug Safety Update (DSU)
Go to the articles from Drug Safety Update related to pathology
Interactive education modules
Annually many patients and staff are injured needlessly by medical devices that are either used incorrectly or badly maintained. These injuries are often due to user error or poor systems of work, not the device function or design. In these education packages we have tried to give a generic overview of some of the devices that have been reported to us as problematic.
We have produced a series of educational packages that are simple to use, informative and should take no more than thirty minutes to work through. They have all been developed by MHRA staff, some in conjunction with and endorsement by royal colleges and some attract CPD points. They provide valuable dos and don’ts when using and operating medical devices.
Links to further information
Lab Tests Online (external link)
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency - Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (external link)
Royal College of Pathologists (external link)
Updates to your inbox
Reporting of adverse incidents or adverse drug reactions
Any actual, suspected, potential or avoided adverse event should be reported. Further examples of cases which should be reported are available in the sections below. If in doubt, please report. You can help us by reporting adverse incidents. These reports enable us to identify medical devices and medicines that are of concern and allow us to take appropriate action.
What should I report if I suspect a medicine is associated with an adverse reaction?
Please complete a Yellow Card to report suspected adverse reactions to prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal remedies. For further information, please see www.yellowcard.gov.uk (external link).
Please clarify what a medical device is and what I should report?
Please see our section on reporting safety problems.
Medical Device Alerts (MDAs)
Report counterfeit medicines and devices
If you have been offered what you suspect to be counterfeit products, or have seen them for sale or have bought them we would like you to tell us.
If you have any concerns or information that may assist us in tracking down those responsible for counterfeit medicines and devices you can:
- email the Enforcement Group at counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk
- ring our 24 hour dedicated hotline on 020 3080 6701
- write to us at Counterfeits, The Intelligence Unit, MHRA, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ.
Find out more about counterfeit medicines and medical devices
Guidance and publications
Go to the guidance and publications relevant to pathologists
One Liners
One Liners is a short, news sheet for healthcare professionals which highlight problems with medical devices. It is a review of user issues that have been brought to our attention and are generally reports of continuing misuse of simple medical equipment.
All medical devices can fail but an increasing number of incidents reported arise out of user problems or poor practices. The aim of the One Liner is to briefly detail some of these problems in an attempt to make users more aware of what can go wrong - it is all too easy to take equipment for granted.
