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From the day you were a
newborn baby a biomedical scientist will have
carried out tests on your health. Anytime you
have visited hospital when ill or had a sample
taken from you by a doctor or nurse these would
have been analysed by a biomedical scientist without
whom it would not be possible to diagnose illness
and evaluate the effectiveness of the necessary
treatment.
 Doctors
treat their patients based on results of the vital
tests and investigations that diagnose often serious
and life threatening illnesses such as cancer,
AIDS or diabetes.
Without biomedical scientists departments such
as Accident & Emergency and operating theatres
could not properly function. The many roles of
support by biomedical scientists for A & E
and theatre surgery includes tests for emergency
blood transfusions and blood grouping as well
as tests on samples from patients who have overdosed
on unknown substances, or may have leukaemia or
are suspected of having a heart attack.
The successful performance of this key role in
modern healthcare relies on the accuracy and efficiency
of work by biomedical scientists because patients'
lives and the treatment of illness depend on their
skill and knowledge.
Cancer, diabetes, toxicological study, blood transfusion,
anaemia, meningitis, hepatitis and AIDS are just
some of the medical conditions they investigate.
They also perform a key role in screening cervical
smears, identify viruses and diseases and monitor
the effects of medication and other treatments.
Scientists learn to work with computers, sophisticated
automated equipment, microscopes and other hi-tech
laboratory equipment. They employ a wide range
of complex modern techniques.
What career opportunities
are there?
Biomedical science is a continually changing,
dynamic profession with long-term career prospects
including management, research, education and
specialised laboratory work. Biomedical scientists
mostly work in National Health Service laboratories.
Some examine and foodstuffs and water for Public
Health Laboratory Service to make sure they are
suitable for human consumption. Others work in
the National Blood Authority providing support
to hospital blood banks and the Blood Transfusion
Service. Biomedical scientists working for the
Medical Research Council carry out research in
the medical and biological sciences to help preserve
health and combat and control disease.
Biomedical scientists are also employed in a variety
of roles including the veterinary service, the
Health and Safety Executive, university and forensic
laboratories, pharmaceutical and product manufacturers,
Her Majesty's Forces and various government departments.
There are also opportunities for biomedical scientists
to use their training and skills in healthcare
posts and projects around the world. They are
involved in voluntary work in developing countries
on behalf of international bodies such as the
World Health Organisation and the Voluntary Service
Overseas.
Biomedical science represents an opportunity to
put scientific knowledge into practical use and
perform a key role within medical healthcare that
offers career satisfaction for many in the profession.
Biomedical scientists learn skills and gain qualifications
that can be transferred all over the UK and can
be recognised worldwide.
How do I become a biomedical
scientist?
Modern pathology and biomedical laboratory work
involves complex and diverse investigations that
require an in-depth scientific knowledge of anatomy,
physiology and pathology. Like many other professions
a biomedical scientist will need to complete a
university degree course. University entry qualifications
usually include 'A' Level biology and chemistry
and GCSE mathematics or equivalent.
BSc biomedical science degrees at Honours level
are designed for students to receive basic scientific
knowledge and training.
What happens next?
After obtaining an honours degree, a graduate
will require a minimum of a year's in service
training. All biomedical scientists working in
a NHS laboratory must, by Act of Parliament, be
State Registered and will be required to submit
a logbook of their training to the Council for
Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM).
The practical experience needed for State Registration
is often incorporated into sandwich degree honours
courses.
After graduating biomedical scientists then go
on to specialise in one of the following laboratory
disciplines:
Medical Microbiology - disease-causing
microorganisms are isolated for identification
and for susceptible to antibiotic therapy. Diseases
diagnosed in this way include meningitis, food
poisoning, and legionnaire's disease.
Clinical Chemistry -
scientists analyse blood and other biological
materials to assist the diagnose of, for example,
diabetes. They carry out toxicological studies,
test kidney and liver functions and to help monitor
therapies.
Transfusion science -
biomedical scientists support hospital blood banks
and the blood transfusion service. They prepare
blood transfusions and plasma fractions to administer
to patients and are responsible for ensuring that
the blood groups of both donors and patients are
compatible.
Haematology - involves
the study of the morphology and physiology of
blood to identify abnormalities within the different
types of blood cells. Such tests are necessary
to diagnosis different types of anaemia and leukaemia.
Histopathology -
tissue samples from surgical operations and autopsies
are processed for microscopy using specialist
techniques.
Cytology - this discipline
is best known for its work in screening cervical
smears but it also provides a non-gynaecological
service. Like histopathology specialised techniques
are used to prepare and study samples of cellular
materials.
Virology - specialists
test for infections such as rubella, herpes simplex,
hepatitis and HIV and also screen selected populations
at risk from virus disease. Rapid diagnosis is
particularly important in this discipline in order
to prevent the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Immunology - deals
with the conditions of the body's immune system
and its role in infectious diseases, parasitic
infestations, allergies, tumour growth, tissue
grafts and organ transplants. This discipline
is particularly important in the monitoring and
treatment of AIDS.
 The
education and training of biomedical scientists
is a process, which continues throughout their
career in order to ensure that skills and knowledge
are kept up to date with the ever changing and
expanding role of the profession.
Scientists learn to work with computers, sophisticated
automated equipment, microscopes and other hi-tech
laboratory equipment. They employ a wide range
of complex modern techniques.
If you like some more information then contact
the Institute of Biomedical Science through their
website on www.ibms.org
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