This paper reports on a study that begins to address the paucity of research around the religious motivations of Muslim carers of family members with dementia. Seven carers were recruited for interviews from the British Pakistani Muslim community concentrated in the Midlands and North of England. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically using an iterative collaborative methodology. The findings suggested that the Muslim faith plays a pivotal role as a support mechanism for individual carers and their families, but the wider faith community and its leaders did not typically offer support and could impede access to external care. This was a result of cultural pressure and lack of awareness both among religious leaders and the community as a whole. The study concluded that the inequality in access to dementia services may be constructively addressed if service providers engage with these faith concerns in the community and religious leaders to meet the needs of Muslims of British Pakistani origin.

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An analysis of blood specimen container leakageSince the study which we recently reported (Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1978, 31, 888) we have modified the fluorescein test for leakage from closed containers in order to take account of the rheological differences between aqueous fluid and blood. The reagent that we now use consists of 10 volumes of blood in 1-5 volumes of ACD, to which are added 25 g/l of sodium fluorescein (uranine). A sufficient volume of this is pipetted into the bottom of the container in order to cover the capped section when it is inverted. After capping securely, the container is immersed upside down into a tube containing water, and it is left at 37°C for two hours and then at room temperature (20 + 2°C) for a further two hours. The container is removed from the water, which is then examined by ultraviolet light for any traces of fluoresceinate as an indication of leakage.This modified test is more relevant than the aqueous leakage test for blood specimen containers. Using this modification, we have found no leakage in batches of containers of several different types which we had previously reported as unsatisfactory. This does not, of course, affect the observations on spontaneous discharge, which remains a serious problem with all types of container.

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