Image caption Entamoeba histolytica in the gut cause dysentery. A cheap drug, which is already prescribed for arthritis, could fight amoebic dysentery, according to researchers in the US. They were testing old drugs to see if any killed the dysentery bug. Tests on animals, published in Nature Medicine, showed that auranofin was 10 times more effective than the best drug currently available.
This represents a decision from the European Court of Justice in 2003 ruling that the then current UK VAT exemption for medical services was too wide. It introduced a âpurpose testâ to determine whether a medical service should be VAT exempt. What is the âpurpose testâ? The European ruling means that if the principle purpose of the medical service is the protection, maintenance or restoration of individualâs health it will remain VAT exempt. Thus core medical services (whether provided through the NHS or privately) remain free from VAT liability.
It is used to separate blood from the serum. Tubes with a red stopper are used to collect serum to test for routine donor screening or infectious disease. It contains a clot activator. Tubes with orange or gray/yellow tops are used to test serum that is needed right away. It contains a rapid clot activator known as thrombin.