Is Smoked Fish Dangerous To Your Health?

Smoking remains a popular food preservation method in this part of the world. Smoking develops a lot of flavours in fish that many people have forgotten that smoking should be for preservation, they just want to get that characteristic smoked fish flavour in their mouth.

What is Food Smoking?

Smoking can be simply defined as the process of flavouring, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to smoke from burning materials. The material most commonly used is wood.

Wood contains three major components — cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, that are broken down in the burning process to form smoke. Typical smoking of fish is either cold (28–32°C) or hot (70–80°C). Hot smoking is what is prevalent around here.

Smoking in this article, refers to the traditional, common smoking process using smokes from burning woods or wood shavings. Smoking was originally carried out on food (including fish) to preserve them. However, since the advent of freezing and other preservation methods, smoking is now mostly done to develop the unique taste and flavour imparted by the smoking process.

So, is the smoking of fish dangerous to human health?

Honestly, there is no straight answer to this caution and one has to tread the line of caution when advising people. One cannot just say smoked fish is dangerous to health. No.

The main potential danger associated with smoking of fish and other foods is PAH. When wood is burned, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)—a class of carcinogens—are formed. These are deposited on foods and are known to cause cancer. 

However, when people talk about whether smoking food is dangerous or not, some forget to consider the dose. Yes, PAHs are dangerous, there is no doubt about that but the dose that we take in will determine if it will lead to the onset of cancer or not.

Generally, foods smoked commercially in a manufacturing facility have been found to contain lower levels of PAHs compared to those smoked in noncommercial settings. An example of the latter is those we buy in many open markets, displayed in the open and wrapped in nylons or papers when we purchase. There is no way to determine the level of PAHs in this unless the necessary tests are carried out.

Since we cannot test those fishes before buying them, we cannot determine if they contain low or the level of dose that is harmful to experimental animals.

It is advisable to eat smoked fish with caution. If you are someone that only enjoys an occasional smoked fish meal—and are not a daily consumer—then PAH from smoked fish and other foods is most likely not a health concern for you.

HEALTHY HEART COULD BEAT COVID-19, SAY EXPERTS

Health experts have reiterated that COVID-19 could be beaten through preventing heart diseases and change of lifestyle. As a result, they emphasise the need to shun such risk factors as smoking, alcohol intake, excessive consumption of fatty foods and salt, as well as sedentary lifestyle, among others. In their stead, people should embrace proper management of such debilitating diseases as hypertension and diabetes, eat healthy food with low salt, low fat and high fibre, maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes twice weekly.

In addition, they urged Nigerians to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, fibre-rich whole grains and fish, preferably oily fish, at least twice a week, nuts, legumes and seeds, as well as eating some meals without red meat. They also recommended low-fat dairy products and skinless poultry.

This call was made at an event organised by Cardiac Community, sponsored by Three Crowns Milk to commemorate the World Heart Day titled: Heart Dialogue 2020, held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Deputy Director, Non-communicable Diseases Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abimbola Oshinowo, explained that heart disease refers to a disorder of the heart, and is part of cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and rheumatic heart disease, among other conditions.

She said: “Heart disease is a form of non-communicable disease, which results from damage to all or parts of the heart, damage to the blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries), or a poor supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart. Some heart diseases are genetic, developed because the person has genes that make him/her susceptible to the disease, while some are congenital, which means the person is born with the heart defect.”

Consultant Cardiologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Dr. Akinsanya Olusegun Joseph, said heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart muscle does not properly pump blood, as it should. “Certain conditions, such as narrowed arteries in the heart, coronary artery disease or high blood pressure gradually leave the heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently,” he said.

Olusegun stated that this year’s theme: ‘Be a heart hero, make a promise’ is a global call for individuals to make a promise that they would live healthy lifestyle and also educate those around them on the importance of healthy lifestyle to ensure that heart-related diseases are reduced in the society.

“Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and help the individual live longer,” he said.

He explained that one of the ways to avert heart failure is by preventing and controlling conditions that cause heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.

He stated that heart failure signs and symptoms include, shortness of breath, when the individual exerts himself/herself or when lying down, fatigue and weakness, swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise, persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged phlegm, increased need to urinate at night, swelling of abdomen ascites, very rapid weight gain from fluid retention, lack of appetite and nausea, difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness, sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up pink, foamy mucus and chest pain, if the heart failure is caused by heart attack.

Olusegun advised people to see their doctors, when they have signs or symptoms of heart failure. However, these signs and symptoms may be due to other possible causes, which include life-threatening heart and lung conditions.

He said: “If you have a diagnosis of heart failure and if any of the symptoms suddenly gets worse or you develop a new sign or symptom, it may mean that existing heart failure is getting worse or not responding to treatment. This may be also the case, if you gain 5 pounds 2.3 kg or more within a few days. So, it is important to contact your physician immediately.”

#STUDY: HOW EXERCISE REDUCES CANCER RISK

New research has suggested that people who exercise early morning may have a reduced risk of developing cancer than those who exercise later in the day. The research, appearing in the International Journal of Cancer, may help inform future research into the timing of exercise as a potential way of reducing cancer risk.

Research has shown that doing recreational exercise can reduce a person’s risk of developing many different cancers. This information is important because of the high number of people who develop cancer and the significant number who die of the disease. For example, in the United States, scientists estimate that by the end of 2020, 1,806,590 people will receive a diagnosis of cancer, while 606,520 people will die from the disease.

Given the large numbers of people who develop cancer, even a change as small as changing the time a person exercises could make a significant contribution to reducing the impact of cancer across the whole population.

As of 2018, 46.7 per cent of adults in the U.S. did not meet the minimum aerobic physical activity guidelines. Increasing physical activity and optimizing when it is most effective might be a possible way of reducing the prevalence of cancer in society.

There is also evidence that a person’s circadian rhythm may have links to their chance of developing cancer. The phrase circadian rhythm refers to the biological processes that affect a person’s sleep-wake cycle.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the level of evidence linking night shift work that disrupts a person’s circadian rhythm as “probably” carcinogenic to humans.

In particular, researchers have linked night shift work to an increased risk of breast cancer. The evidence for prostate cancer remains unclear. Scientists have shown that exercise also has a relationship with a person’s circadian rhythm. According to 2019 research, exercising during the day may help improve a person’s circadian rhythm and lessen the adverse effects of disrupted sleep patterns.

Given that exercise can potentially reduce the risks of cancer and improve circadian rhythms and disrupted circadian rhythms can increase cancer risk, the authors of the new research hypothesized that the timing of physical activity might affect cancer risk.

To test this hypothesis, the researchers behind the present study analyzed the data from 2,795 participants. The participants were a subset of the Spanish multi case-control study (MCC-Spain), which set out to understand factors causing common cancers in Spain and how to prevent them.

From 2008–2013, researchers interviewed the participants to find out their lifetime recreational and household physical activity. An average of 3 years later, researchers assessed the timing of when people exercised.

The researchers looked in particular at the 781 women who had breast cancer and also responded to the questionnaire about their physical activity and 504 men who had prostate cancer and provided data about the timing of their exercise.

The researchers chose the controls in the MCC-Spain study randomly from general practice records. The researchers matched them to people in the study with cancer who were of the same sex and similar age. The controls in this study also responded to the follow-up questions about physical activity and its timings.

The researchers found that physical activity between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. had the strongest potential beneficial effect at reducing breast and prostate cancer.

About seven per cent of the people with breast cancer and nine per cent of people in the control group undertook most of their exercise in the early morning. About 12.7 per cent of people with prostate cancer and 14 per cent of the control group did early morning exercise.

The researchers developed a model that showed that the odds of developing breast cancer were potentially 25 per cent lower due to exercising in the morning compared with not exercising.

However, the statistical confidence of this estimate ranges from a 52 per cent reduction to a 15 per cent increase in risk.

The results show a similar picture of prostate cancer. The model predicted that those who exercised in the early morning had a 27 per cent reduced chance of having prostate cancer than non-exercisers. However, the range went from a 56 per cent reduction to a 20 per cent increase.

People who exercised in the evening, between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., had a 25 per cent reduced risk for developing prostate cancer. However, as with the early morning findings, the evidence is not statistically significant.

The researchers suggest that any beneficial effects of early exercise for breast cancer risk may have links to estrogen. High estrogen levels have associations with an increased risk of breast cancer, and exercise can lower estrogen levels. Further, estrogen production is most active at around 7:00 a.m.

Melatonin may also be a factor. Researchers have shown that melatonin may protect against cancer risk and that exercise later in the day or at night can delay melatonin production.

MEANWHILE, another study has shown that people with cancer who exercise generally have a better prognosis than inactive patients. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found a likely explanation of why exercise helps slow down cancer growth in mice: Physical activity changes the metabolism of the immune system’s cytotoxic T cells and thereby improves their ability to attack cancer cells.

The study is published in the journal eLife.

“The biology behind the positive effects of exercise can provide new insights into how the body maintains health as well as help us design and improve treatments against cancer,” said Randall Johnson, professor at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, and the study’s corresponding author.

Prior research has shown that physical activity can prevent unhealthy as well as improve the prognosis of several diseases including various forms of cancer.

Exactly how exercise exerts its protective effects against cancer is, however, still unknown, especially when it comes to the biological mechanisms. One plausible explanation is that physical activity activates the immune system and thereby bolsters the body’s ability to prevent and inhibit cancer growth.

In this study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet expanded on this hypothesis by examining how the immune system’s cytotoxic T cells, that is white blood cells specialized in killing cancer cells, respond to exercise.

They divided mice with cancer into two groups and let one group exercise regularly in a spinning wheel while the other remained inactive. The result showed that cancer growth slowed and mortality decreased in the trained animals compared with the untrained.

Next, the researchers examined the importance of cytotoxic T cells by injecting antibodies that remove these T cells in both trained and untrained mice. The antibodies knocked out the positive effect of exercise on both cancer growth and survival, which according to the researchers demonstrates the significance of these T cells for exercise-induced suppression of cancer.

The researchers also transferred cytotoxic T cells from trained to untrained mice with tumors, which improved their prospects compared with those who got cells from untrained animals.

To examine how exercise influenced cancer growth, the researchers isolated T cells, blood and tissue samples after training sessions and measured levels of common metabolites that are produced in muscle and excreted into plasma at high levels during exertion.

Some of these metabolites, such as lactate, altered the metabolism of the T cells and increased their activity. The researchers also found that T cells isolated from an exercised animal showed an altered metabolism compared to T cells from resting animals.

In addition, the researchers examined how these metabolites change in response to exercise in humans. They took blood samples from eight healthy men after 30 minutes of intense cycling and noticed that the same training-induced metabolites were released in humans.

“Our research shows that exercise affects the production of several molecules and metabolites that activate cancer-fighting immune cells and thereby inhibit cancer growth,” said Helene Rundqvist, a senior researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and the study’s first author. “We hope these results may contribute to a deeper understanding of how our lifestyle impacts our immune system and inform the development of new immunotherapies against cancer.”

CORONAVIRUS

What is Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is a member of the family Coronaviridae and resembles a spiked ring under the electron microscope. Scientists have named it coronavirus, due to the presence of innumerable crown-like projections forming a halo-like structure. Upon detailed investigations, scientists could establish that the virus uses the spikes to bind to host cells and start reproduction. Structurally, this virus consists of a strand of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) and can cause both severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) like symptoms. The physician and scientist community across the globe have become highly concerned about the outbreak of this infection. Between November 2002 and July 2003, a SARS outbreak in Southern China infected 8098 cases and caused death to 774 individuals. Similarly, a MERS outbreak in September 2012, infected about 124 patients and resulted in 52 deaths in Saudi Arabia

From where did the Coronavirus originate?

Most people speculate that the deadly Coronavirus originated at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. It is a popular market selling fishes, processed meat products, and other living animals including chicken, donkey, goad, snake, etc.

Since coronavirus is zoonotic(i.e. it can be transmitted between animals and humans), it is common among animals. However, in some rare circumstances, it can even transmit to human beings. Bat is the common origin of source. but this time it may be originated from snake as per recent evidences from genetic code analysis. But controversy is there for this outbreak.

What are the different types of Coronavirus?

Until now, scientists have documented six different strains of Coronavirus causing infections in human beings.

229E (alpha coronavirus)

NL63 (alpha coronavirus)

OC43 (beta coronavirus)

HKU1 (beta coronavirus)

MERS-CoV (causing MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

SARS-CoV (causing SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

The first four types of Coronavirus produce mild symptoms, while the last two can cause severe symptoms which can even lead to complications.

But this time it is named as 2019-nCoV by World Health Organization (WHO) for its novelty.

What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?

The coronavirus affects the upper respiratory tract of human beings and causes common-cold like symptoms. Infected people experience a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, and headache. However, if MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV cause infection, then the symptoms become more severe.

Patients experience very high temperature, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and exacerbated asthma in these cases. There are also chances of developing complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, and kidney damage. The mortality rate of MERS-CoV is also much higher than the Novel Coronavirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around three to four individuals out of ten patients succumb to this infection.

How does Coronovirus spread from infected patients to healthy individuals?

Coronavirus is a zoonotic virus originating primarily in animals like bat. However, it can also get transmitted to human beings if they come in direct contact with infected mediator animals. Human-to-human transmission of this virus can occur by contacting the secretions of infected individuals. Cough droplets, sneeze, handshake, or touching clothes and utensils of patients are some common mode of contracting the virus.

Is there any treatment for Coronavirus?

Currently, there is no specific treatment for Coronavirus. In most cases, patients notice an improvement in their conditions on their own. Drinking plenty of fluids, rest, and pain-relieving drugs can soothe the symptoms. However, if symptoms become severe, then doctors can prescribe medications to control the situation based on symptoms. 

How can you prevent the spread of Coronavirus?

Here are some of the ways of limiting the spread of Coronavirus:

- Cleaning hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

- Covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing with a clean cloth.

- Infected person(s) should avoid direct contact with healthy people.

- Cleaning hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

TOILET INFECTIONS IN WOMEN

Toilet Infection does not actually exist as a disease in Medicine; any non-medical person will refer to an infection around the Vagina as toilet infection. This is to enlighten on what they refer to as “Toilet infection”, and the symptoms.
Forms of Vagina “Toilet” Infections:
The two major and popular forms of toilet infections are:
        1) Bacterial Vaginosis
        2) Yeast Infection

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
This is the number one cause of all Toilet(vaginal)infections and out of 100 women that you will find with toilet infections, 50 of them will have Bacterial Vaginosis.This infection is caused by a change in the type of bacteria normally found in the vagina and causes an overgrowth of organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis in the vagina. You can get bacterial vaginosis if you do vaginal douching or you insert intrauterine device (IUD)[the type of material inserted into the uterus(womb) to prevent pregnancy] or if you are pregnant or if you recently got a new sexual partner or if you have multiple sexual partners.

YEAST INFECTION
This is also called Candidiasis, Genital candidiasis, or Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) or simply Vaginal Yeast infection. This type of Toilet(Vaginal)infections is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. This infection is not restricted to the Vagina alone because itcan spread to other parts of the body such as skin, mucous membranes, heart valves, oesophagus, and other areas. It can cause serious and life-threatening systemic infections inpeople that their immunity is not strong (such as pregnant women, HIV positive individuals, people with Diabetes, or people who takes Steroids).

SIGNS OF TOILET INFECTION
The onset of infection up to the manifestation of the symptoms can take up to months in females, however the general signs and symptoms of toilet infections are:
1) Itching: The commonest sign and can occur at any time. This itching can be so intense that it can make a woman to feel like crying especially if you are in the public. The bad side of it is that, in some women, the itching comes with pain whenever you try to scratch or rub the area which can be very discomforting.

2) Painful Urination and intercourse: Some people experience severe pain especially when urinating or when having sex.
3) Abnormal Discharge: There could be a discharge from the vagina that is not normal from the normal fluid secreted in the vagina that helps to keep it moist. This abnormal discharge is usually noticed when it becomes much, or when it starts smelling or when the colour is abnormal. The colour and smell of the discharge helps in knowing to some extent what type of organism is causing it. So always note the colour when you want to go and see your doctor.

4) Abnormal Menstrual flow: When this becomes too much, it could affect the number of days it takes for your flow to end. It could also affect the amount and the timing.
5) Abdominal Pain: Toilet infections may also cause abdominal pain in some women.

Treatment of Toilet (Vaginal) Infections
Many individuals today have made mess of their predicament by seeking online assistance
 These links are suppose to give you an idea of what to do or expect, they are not meant to replace medical intervention by your physician. Enough of self medication, go and see a certified medical practitioner who will direct you to a certified biomedical scientist/clinical lab scientist for high vaginal swab (HVS)/Cervical Swab to be taken for mcs(microscopy, culture and sensitivity) today!

Complication of “Toilet Infections”
When not treated, or even when treatment seem not to work (mainly because prevention of re-infection is not taken seriously), complications do arise that may lead mainly to Infertility. But when the Immune system is not strong either due to HIV, Diabetes, Pregnancy, or use of Steroids, the infection can be so severe that it can cause death. For pregnant women with toilet(vaginal)infections, without treatment, it can affect your baby to be born with low birth weight, abnormality and may be born prematurely.

Causes of wrong diagnosis of diseases in Nigerian Hospitals by Dr. Bassey

Dr. Bassey Enya Bassey, president of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has identified some of the  reasons that are  responsible for the wrong diagnosis of illnesses in Nigerian hospitals.


You may recall that the popular actor Sadiq Daba was diagnosed in Nigeria to have prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, as well as Leukemia that requires surgical operation. However, in the United Kingdom same conditions- prostrate cancer was said no to have spread and the Leukemia not requiring any surgical operation whatsoever but simple medications to treat.


Many others like late Gani Fawehinmi (the human rights lawyer and activists), late Prof. Dora Akunyili (former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) are a handful whose illnesses were wrongly diagnosed in Nigeria.


Since an estimated 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory test results, Dr. Bassey believes the causes of wrong diagnosis in Nigeria could not be unconnected with the followings:


1. Employment of  wrong professionals to conduct laboratory tests:
The country is faced with situations where wrong professionals are employed to conduct laboratory tests. If a hospital wants to employ laboratotry personnel, they should ensure that the people they recruit are the right personnel.


2. Wrong environment:
The laboratory space in Nigeria is not adequate and where it is adequate does not conform to international standard. If they want to build laboratory they should ensure that the laboratory conforms to specification set by the country.


3. Wrong equipments:
If they want to buy lab equipment, they should ensure that the equipment is up to standard, conforming to the right specification. But that is not happening in Nigeria.

There should be right personnel, right equipment and right environment. So, when you get the right personnel, right equipment and right environment, you are sure that your diagnosis will be up to 98 per cent accurate.


The Way Forward:

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) should setup the Department of Medical Laboratory Service to cater for over 20,000 medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. Once that department is established we will have a command structure, which will translate to getting the right personnel, the right equipment and the right environment. So, if the laboratory does not get it right,. you cannot get it right. No such department exists in the FMOH.

As far back as 2007, some partner organisations came together and identified this weakness and recommended the setting up of National Medical Laboratory Service Policy for the country and part of the recommendation was the setting up of the Department of Medical Laboratory Services in the FMOH. Since 2007 that has not happened.

The absence of this proposed department and the policy have impacted negatively on laboratory services in the country.

Implications of this absence is that:
There is no coordination of laboratory services in Nigeria, which means when you send a battalion to the field nobody is coordinating. So, everybody does what he wants to do and that is not right.

Operators of laboratory services recruit any type of person they want to be in the laboratory; there is no right equipment because the people who make recommendation for equipment that are supposed to be in the laboratory are not laboratory scientists ‘ab initio’; there is no right environment because the environment we find ourselves as laboratory scientists is very hostile.

Causes of wrong diagnosis of diseases in Nigerian Hospitals by Dr. Bassey

Dr. Bassey Enya Bassey, president of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has identified some of the  reasons that are  responsible for the wrong diagnosis of illnesses in Nigerian hospitals.


You may recall that the popular actor Sadiq Daba was diagnosed in Nigeria to have prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, as well as Leukemia that requires surgical operation. However, in the United Kingdom same conditions- prostrate cancer was said no to have spread and the Leukemia not requiring any surgical operation whatsoever but simple medications to treat.


Many others like late Gani Fawehinmi (the human rights lawyer and activists), late Prof. Dora Akunyili (former Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) are a handful whose illnesses were wrongly diagnosed in Nigeria.


Since an estimated 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory test results, Dr. Bassey believes the causes of wrong diagnosis in Nigeria could not be unconnected with the followings:


1. Employment of  wrong professionals to conduct laboratory tests:
The country is faced with situations where wrong professionals are employed to conduct laboratory tests. If a hospital wants to employ laboratotry personnel, they should ensure that the people they recruit are the right personnel.


2. Wrong environment:
The laboratory space in Nigeria is not adequate and where it is adequate does not conform to international standard. If they want to build laboratory they should ensure that the laboratory conforms to specification set by the country.


3. Wrong equipments:
If they want to buy lab equipment, they should ensure that the equipment is up to standard, conforming to the right specification. But that is not happening in Nigeria.

There should be right personnel, right equipment and right environment. So, when you get the right personnel, right equipment and right environment, you are sure that your diagnosis will be up to 98 per cent accurate.


The Way Forward:

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) should setup the Department of Medical Laboratory Service to cater for over 20,000 medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. Once that department is established we will have a command structure, which will translate to getting the right personnel, the right equipment and the right environment. So, if the laboratory does not get it right,. you cannot get it right. No such department exists in the FMOH.

As far back as 2007, some partner organisations came together and identified this weakness and recommended the setting up of National Medical Laboratory Service Policy for the country and part of the recommendation was the setting up of the Department of Medical Laboratory Services in the FMOH. Since 2007 that has not happened.

The absence of this proposed department and the policy have impacted negatively on laboratory services in the country.

Implications of this absence is that:
There is no coordination of laboratory services in Nigeria, which means when you send a battalion to the field nobody is coordinating. So, everybody does what he wants to do and that is not right.

Operators of laboratory services recruit any type of person they want to be in the laboratory; there is no right equipment because the people who make recommendation for equipment that are supposed to be in the laboratory are not laboratory scientists ‘ab initio’; there is no right environment because the environment we find ourselves as laboratory scientists is very hostile.

AIMS PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION GUIDELINES

The AIMS Professional Examination

The AIMS Professional Examination is a written short answer paper of three (3) hours, conducted twice a year in March and September in a number of venues in Australia and overseas.

The examination consists of the following sections:

·         Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

·         Haematology 22 marks

·         Medical Microbiology 22 marks

·         Transfusion Science 22 marks

·         Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

All sections are compulsory. To pass the Examination candidates must obtain a total of 50% or more, with a pass of at least 50% in each section. Completed examinations are not released under any circumstances

Applicants who are successful in the Examination will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

Please note:  If you have not completed stage 1 of your assessment of professional skills and qualifications then you are not able to apply for the professional examination.

AIMS Professional Examination Application Deadlines

You must apply in writing to sit the AIMS Professional Examination using the application form which will be provided in the examinations pack once stage 1 has been completed in your assessment of professional skills and qualifications.

Closing dates to receive this application form are:

1st December for the March Examination

1st June for the September Examination

Applications to sit the Examination must be received no later than 4pm on the specified date.

You should receive notification of your examination and venue by:

·         The second week of February (for March examinations)

·         The second week of August (for September examinations)

If you do not receive notification by 15th February (March examination) or 15th August (September examination) please contact AIMS immediately.

English Language Requirement

All applicants must submit a valid IELTS report form showing an overall band score of 7.0 or better (Academic or General). AIMS consider an IELTS report to be current for three (3) years from the date of issue.

AIMS also accept the following English language assessments as equivalent to an IELTS overall band score of 7.0: TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points).

The only exemption to this rule is if you have already provided AIMS with a valid IELTS, TOEFL, or Pearson PTE Academic test report which accompanied your application for Assessment of Professional Skills and Qualifications. If this is the case then you do not need to supply it for a second time provided the application for the AIMS Professional Examination is received within three years of the date of your assessment.

Photographs

Please attach one (1) passport sized photograph to the application form.

Fees

All Fees are in Australian Dollars and are non-refundable. Visit the AIMS website for current fees.

How to Lodge Your Examination Application

Send by post your completed application form together with the required attachments (see below) and submit to:

Postal address: Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

PO Box 1911

MILTON QLD 4064 AUSTRALIA

Courier address: Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

Unit 7 / 31 Black Street

MILTON QLD 4064

AUSTRALIA

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

ü  Complete application form with the declaration signed

ü  Complete payment information or enclose a cheque / money order or draft

ü  Attach a valid IELTS, TOEFL, or Pearson PTE Academic certificate

ü  Attach one (1) passport sized recent photographs

Results

It will take up to ten (10) weeks to receive your professional examination result. Results will be given as either a PASS or FAIL. Exact marks will not be given.

Further Information

Email: contact@aims.org.au

Website: www.aims.org.au

The AIMS Professional Examination

The AIMS Professional Examination will be held in centres in Australia and other countries twice yearly, in March and September.

The examination is a three (3) hour short answer paper and is set at the level expected of a professional medical scientist with at least two years post graduate experience. All questions must be attempted.

The examination is divided into five sections:

·         Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

·         Haematology 22 marks

·         Medical Microbiology 22 marks

·         Transfusion Science 22 marks

·         Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

To pass the AIMS Professional examination, candidates must obtain an overall total of 50%, with a pass of at least 50% in each section.

Major Areas of Knowledge

The major areas of knowledge expected of candidates are as follows:

Clinical Chemistry

An understanding of the underlying techniques utilised and methodology behind the measurement of common chemistry anylates and their clinical utility including:

- Blood gas and electrolytes measurement

- Urea, creatinine, and creatinine clearance, uric acid

- Glucose, glucose tolerance, HbA1c

- Liver function tests

- Lipid analysis

- Thyroid function tests

- Adrenal function tests

- Plasma proteins and protein electrophoresis

- Specific plasma proteins e.g. CRP

- Principles of enzyme assays.

- Enzyme tests e.g. amylase, creatine kinase

- Calcium, phosphates, magnesium

- Bilirubin including neonatal bilirubin measurement

- Myocardial function tests.

- Common tumour markers e.g. Prostatic specific antigen, CEA

- Basic virology tests now performed in core lab settings

- Point of care testing

Microbiology

- A basic knowledge of infectious diseases and organisms most commonly associated with these diseases. There will be a greater emphasis on bacterial diseases, but some knowledge of parasitic, fungal and viral disease is also expected.

- Collection, handling and processing of samples including the minimal criteria for acceptance of samples

- Presumptive identification of major groups of bacteria based on microscopic and colonial morphology on a variety of common media and the use of key basic identification test such as catalase, oxidase and atmospheric growth requirements.

- Principles of major methods of susceptibility testing i.e. disc diffusion, agar dilution and broth dilution and the relationship between breakpoints, MIC and susceptible/resistant categories.

- General principles of Quality Control.

- Microscopy:

o Function and maintenance of a modern binocular microscope, including setting up and using for bright field, phase contrast and darkfield microscopy.

- Staining techniques:

o Gram stain

o Ziehl Neelsen

- Knowledge of Normal Flora (indigenous flora) of major body sites or absence of normal flora in sterile body sites.

Haematology

- Principles of automated cell counting

- Macrocytic anaemia

- Microcytic anaemia

- Normocytic anaemia

- Myeloproliferative disorders

- Lymphoproliferative disorders

- Production of erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets

- Iron metabolism

- Intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation pathways and methods of testing

- Bleeding disorders

- Anticoagulant therapy and methods of monitoring this therapy

- Natural anticoagulants

- Fibrinolysis.

Immunohaematology / Transfusion Science

- Antibody structure and function

- Antibody production

- Blood donation testing

- Blood components

- Blood group systems

- Antibody detection and identification

- Pre transfusion testing

- Quality assurance in the blood bank laboratory

- Antigen/ antibody interaction.

Histopathology and Cytology

- Preparation of specimens for light microscopy including fixation and tissue processing, decalcification technique and general staining methods such as Haematoxylin and Eosin stain, Van Gieson stain and Masson`s Trichrome stain.

- Normal histology especially basic tissue types

- Histochemical methods as applied to light microscopy such as PAS and Perls` Prussian Blue for Iron.

- Fixation of cytological specimens

- The Papanicolaou staining technique

- The cytological features of inflammation and neoplasia in cervical smears

- Normal cell types in cytological specimens

Laboratory Safety and Quality Control

- Safe handling of biological specimens

- Safe handling of hazardous chemicals

- Sterilisation and disinfection procedures

- Handling of infectious specimens

Principles of quality assurance and quality control

- Basic charting and rules for rejection of results.

- Simple statistical evaluation. Reference ranges methodology – parametric and non parametric

- The role of internal quality control and external quality assurance

- Uncertainty of measurement

Basic Laboratory Procedures and equipment

- Normal and Molar solutions

- Basic laboratory calculations

- Basic laboratory equipment and its appropriate use

- Spectrophotometry

- Immunoassay

Recommended Reading List

Any edition of the texts below from the last 10 years would be suitable

1. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 10th Ed.

James Versalovic Editor in Chief 2011 American Society for Microbiology.

2. Practical Haematology. 6th Ed.

Dacie and Lewis Churchill Livingstone.

3. Medical Laboratory Haematology

Hall and Malia Butterworths.

4. Technical Manual. 10th Ed.

American Association of Blood Banks.

5. Textbook of Diagnostic Cytology

The New South Wales Institute of Technology Information and Publications unit.

6. Cellular Pathology 2nd Ed.

Cook,D.J 2006 Scion Publishing

7. Difiores Atlas of Histology with functional correlations 10th Edition

Eroschenko,V.A 2005 Lippincott

8. The Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry

Tietz, Saunders Saunders

9. Clinical Chemistry

Kaplan Mosby- Williams Publishers.

10. Essential Guide to blood groups

Daniels and Bromilow Wiley Page 7

MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA AS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA AS A MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST/BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST

OVERVIEW.

Applicants wishing to apply to migrate to Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician under the General Skilled Migration visa categories will need to have their skills assessed by AIMS. AIMS will assess applicants as "suitable" or "not suitable" for the nominated occupation against the requirements it has established.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection Australian Skills Recognition Information website (http://border.gov.au/ ) also provides information on working as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician in Australia.

Medical Laboratory Science / Laboratory Medicine in Australia

In Australia, most of those engaged in medical laboratory science are employed in public hospitals or private diagnostic pathology laboratories. There are two levels of practice:

Medical Laboratory Scientists are normally employed in diagnostic clinical laboratories, and they work in the field of laboratory medicine. They conduct medical laboratory tests on blood, body fluids and tissues and apply knowledge and methodology from various scientific disciplines to assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease. Responsibilities include the quality and reliability of test results and may include interpretation of these results and the development of new test procedures.

Medical Laboratory Technicians perform or assist with laboratory tests on blood, body fluids and tissues in medical and pathology laboratories under the direction of medical laboratory scientists and operate diagnostic and monitoring equipment used in support of health professionals.

Employment in Australia

As in most countries, the practice of a profession in Australia requires evidence of an appropriate level of education and practical experience. There is no statutory registration of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Australia.

Successfully migrating to Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician is no guarantee of employment in Australia as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician.

The AIMS assessment Process

AIMS can provide advice only on applying for a skills assessment. All other questions relating to migration should be directed to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP).

Applicants’ skills and qualifications will be assessed by AIMS to determine whether they are suitable for the applicant to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician. AIMS will assess applicants as "suitable" or "not suitable" for the nominated occupation against the requirements it has established. An applicant’s skills assessment must be included with their visa application to the DIBP, and applicants must be prepared to show DIBP all the documentation they have relied upon when seeking a skills assessment. Applicants should keep a certified copy of their skills assessment and all other relevant documentation for their own records.

Please note that all applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis and this information is provided for guidance purposes only. The assessment committee determines the eligibility of the applicant to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician.

To be assessed as a Medical Laboratory Technician

The minimum requirements for a Medical Laboratory Technician are that an applicant has completed an award in medical laboratory science assessed as comparable to an Australian diploma from a Technical and Further Education College, based on the AEI Country Education Profile criteria, plus a minimum of two years diagnostic medical laboratory experience within the five year period immediately prior to applying for assessment OR registration with the New Zealand Medical Laboratory Science Board.

Applicants who do not qualify to sit the Professional Examination or who fail to pass the Examination may also be classified as a Medical Laboratory Technician.

To be assessed as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

The assessment process for Medical Laboratory Scientist is in two stages and usually includes a written examination (the AIMS Professional Examination).

Stage 1: Document assessment

The first stage is a document-based assessment. Applicants who hold an AIMS accredited degree will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and will not be required to take the written examination. It is the responsibility of all prospective applicants who hold an AIMS accredited degree to ensure the subjects completed comply with the AIMS accredited pathway in order to gain assessment as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or Professional membership of AIMS. These requirements are stated in the AIMS accreditation report held by the university. Prospective applicants should contact the program co-ordinator at the University for Advice on these requirements.

The skills and qualifications of applicants who do not hold an AIMS accredited degree will be assessed individually to determine eligibility to sit the Professional Examination.

Applicants who have an acceptable science degree (equivalent to Australian Qualifications Framework level 7 or 8) and two years post graduate professional experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory within the five year period immediately prior to applying for assessment will usually be assessed as eligible to sit the Examination.

An acceptable science degree is one with subjects relevant to pathology that meets the AIMS minimum requirements and is assessed as comparable to an Australian bachelor degree based on the AEI Country Education Profile criteria.

An acceptable science degree should include FULL units (not part units) of the following subjects:

Ø  Human Anatomy

Ø  Human Physiology

Ø  Chemistry

Ø  Biochemistry

Ø  Immunology

Ø  General Microbiology

Ø  General Pathology

Ø  Human Molecular Biology

and should include at least two (2) of the following professional subjects:

Ø  Clinical chemistry

Ø  Haematology

Ø  Medical microbiology

Ø  Transfusion science (Immunohaematology)

Ø  Histopathology/Diagnostic cytology

Pharmacy and biotechnology degrees are not normally acceptable degrees, but some units of these degrees may be acceptable.

Stage 2: The AIMS Professional Examination

Applicants assessed in stage one as eligible may apply to sit the Professional Examination. This is a written short answer paper of three (3) hours, conducted twice a year in March and September in a number of venues in Australia and overseas.

The examination consists of the following sections:

Ø  Clinical Chemistry 22 marks

Ø  Haematology 22 marks

Ø  Medical Microbiology 22 marks

Ø  Transfusion Science 22 marks

Ø  Histopathology/Cytology 12 marks

Total 100 marks

The Examination is set at the level expected of a professional Medical Laboratory Scientist with at least two years post graduate experience. All sections are compulsory. To pass the Examination candidates must obtain a total of 50% or more, with a pass of at least 50% in each section.

Applicants who are successful in the examination will be classified as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

If assessed as eligible to sit the AIMS Professional Examination, applicants must apply in writing using the application form (which will be provided in the examinations pack once stage 1 has been completed).

Closing dates to receive this application form are:

1st December for the March examination

1st June for the September examination

Applications to sit the examination must be received no later than 4pm on the specified date.

Compulsory Requirements for All Applications

All documentation must be certified

Correctly certified supporting documentation

A certified copy is a photocopy that has been stamped and signed by a suitable certifying officer (as stated below) who verifies that they have sighted the original document and that the photocopy that they are certifying is a true copy of that original.

Each photocopied page of all documentation must be certified on the face and must show clearly the words "certified true copy of the original", the signature of the certifying officer and the name and address or provider/registration number of the certifying officer. It must be possible from the details provided for AIMS to verify the certifications by contacting the certifying officer if necessary.

Who does AIMS accept to certify my documents?

Documents certified in Australia may be certified by a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public.

Documents certified in a country other than Australia must be certified by a Notary Public or an official of an Australian Embassy or Consulate.

Please note that AIMS WILL NOT accept any other form of certification. If incorrectly certified documents are provided with an application it WILL NOT be processed and the fee will NOT BE refunded.

All applicants submitting an application for assessment of their professional skills and qualifications whether seeking the classification of Medical Laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Technician are required to provide:

1. English Language Requirement

A valid IELTS report form showing an overall band score of 7.0 or better (Academic or General). AIMS consider an IELTS report to be current for three years from the date of issue.

AIMS also accept the following English language assessments as equivalent to an IELTS overall band score of 7.0: TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points).

2. Completed signed application form

3. Supporting documentation

Must include all qualification certificates (or statements of completion issued by the educational institute in which the qualification was obtained) and all corresponding academic transcripts (showing FULL subject names).

4. Photographic identification

Applicants must provide a certified copy of their passport.

5. Work experience (if applicable)

Evidence of postgraduate professional experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory (a verification letter from an employer/past employer stating job title, hours of work, duties required and the dates of employment, on company letterhead).

6. Three (3) passport sized photographs signed on the back

Optional Documents that can be provided

1. Licences / Registrations

Evidence of current or previous licences held

2. Record of completed educational courses

3. Evidence of continued education in the workplace

How to Lodge an Application:

Send three (3) certified sets of documents: (one (1) originally certified set and two (2) duplicate photocopied sets)

Checklist:

·         Completed signed application form

·         Qualification papers and academic transcripts (showing full subject names)

·         Photographic identification (e.g. passport)

·         Evidence of professional work experience (verifying dates of employment)

·         Evidence of registrations / licences

·         Valid IELTS Test Result (or TOEFL (95 points), and Pearson PTE Academic (65 points))

·         Record of educational courses completed

·         Three (3) passport sized photographs signed on the back

Submit to:

Postal address:  Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

PO Box 1911

MILTON QLD 4064 AUSTRALIA

Courier address:  Australian Institute of Medical Scientists

Unit 7 / 31 Black Street

MILTON QLD 4064

AUSTRALIA

Reviews and Appeals:

An applicant who believes that his or her case has been wrongly assessed may seek a review of the assessment. The application for the review must be in writing, and should include the reasons for seeking the review. There is no charge for this review, which is conducted by the committee that made the original assessment.

If, after the review, the applicant still believes that he or she has been wrongly assessed, the applicant may appeal the assessment. The appeal must be in writing, stating the reasons for the appeal, and including additional documentation (if relevant). The appeal will be conducted by a committee other than that which conducted the original assessment. A fee of AUD200.00 is payable for the appeal.

Further Information:

Email:  contact@aims.org.au

Website:  https://www.aims.org.au/

For complete information and processes, please visit the official webpage of Australian institute of medical scientists: https://www.aims.org.au/services/assessment-options/medical-laboratory-scientist