Early in my career, after gaining my Fellowship of the Institute through the Special Examination in Microbiology, I was finally eligible—at least on paper—to apply for senior laboratory roles. At the time, relocating for promotion was common, and like many others, I was prepared to move for the right opportunity.
One vacancy stood out: a role in a beautiful part of the UK, roughly two hours away—too far to commute, but certainly worth considering as a move. As was often the custom then, I wrote to the head of department to request an informal visit to the laboratory. Those visits mattered. They gave candidates a chance to assess the department and equally allowed the department to decide whether to invite someone back for formal interview.
I still remember that visit vividly: snow on the ground, the final walk up to the hospital, and the anticipation of stepping into a new laboratory environment. I was welcomed by the Chief Technician in Microbiology and then introduced to the Consultant Microbiologist. The conversation was going well—until we discussed out-of-hours work. The consultant explained that medical staff would come into the lab to examine cerebrospinal fluid samples themselves, carrying out cell counts and Gram stains. It struck me as unusual.
Back in my own laboratory, I asked our consultant why clinicians would need to come in and verify CSF results for themselves. His answer was direct: that kind of practice usually reflects a lack of confidence in the laboratory’s results. I withdrew my application the same day. That moment has stayed with me throughout my career. More than any policy, process, or performance target, it reinforced a simple truth: quality is not just about technical competence—it is about trust. When people trust your work, they act on it with confidence. When they do not, every result is questioned.
For me, that experience became a lasting reminder of why high standards in the laboratory matter so much, and why delivering reliable, high-quality work must always remain at the heart of what we do.
Peter Kerfoot MSc FIBMS
June 2026
