Dear User of UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations
I am very pleased to tell you that the new website holding UK Standard for Microbiology Investigations is now available at http://www.hpa.org.uk/SMI. The current website with which you are familiar at http://www.hpa-standardmethods.org.uk/ will continue to be available until 23 March 2012 whilst we complete the transfer of the bacteriology SMIs.
Changes to the design and information architecture of the SMI web pages aim to improve accessibility and allow the content to be speedily updated by staff in the Standards Unit. There is no requirement for a password and all the documents can be easily downloaded in PDF without restriction. It is anticipated that laboratories will convert the PDF format to word format when required. An RSS feed for the web pages is in development.
The SMIs on the new website continue to be listed by discipline and we hope the new format will make it easier for you to find the document of your choice along with comments from consultation. Once all the bacteriology documents are completed we will decommission the old website and start to present the documents under syndromes, as well as by discipline. You will also note that the documents are presented in a newly designed template which distinguishes them as microbiology standards rather than laboratory SOPs and gives a more professional look to the publications.
The new web pages on which the SMI documents are displayed are part of the HPA website. An alternative route to the SMI webpages is as follows:
· www.hpa.org.uk <http://www.hpa.org.uk/> > Products & Services <http://www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/> > Infectious Diseases <http://www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/> > Quality Assurance <http://www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/QualityAssurance/> >UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations Home <http://www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/QualityAssurance/UKStandardsForMicrobiologyInvestigations/> .
SMIs are primarily intended as a general resource for practicing professionals in microbiology laboratory in the UK and assist with the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, this new online resource aims also to provide support to clinical microbiologists and commissioners of microbiology services.
I hope you find the new website a useful resource.
Valerie Bevan PhD MA MSc CSci FIBMS MIHM
Head of Department for Standards and Quality
Lead for Equality and Diversity for Microbiology Services
HPA Microbiology Services
Health Protection Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London NW9 5EQ
Tel: 0208 327 6037
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