I am an Associate Practitioner at the Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust's own Microbiology department. My duties involve not just the maintenance of analysers which rapidly help diagnose patients, but also the handling and analysis of various types of patient samples. My notable fields of work include the MALDI-TOF analyser, analysis of MRSA specimens and the routine care of patient specimens in areas such as Serology and Enterics- a BSL 3 laboratory.I am a 2022 graduate of University of Portsmouth, having acquired a 2:1 in BSc Biomedical Science, and have shown particular interest in the fields of Microbiology, Biosciences and Histopathology. Through my degree and through my work in pathology (during my full-time employment and my placement year), I have developed many key laboratory skills including diagnostic testing, and techniques such as Gram-Stains and microorganism culturing. Using both advanced techniques and cutting-edge technology in the university's laboratories and QA's own, my practical skills and laboratory practice have been greatly enhanced.