Join the ACB MG

What do I get when I join the ACB MG?

test tubes at biology lab The ACB Microbiology Group aims to promote and advance the science of medical microbiology and to develop and maintain the highest professional standards, and is the Professional Body for Clinical Scientists in microbiology. It is officially recognised by several healthcare organisations including the Department of Health, the Scottish Office Home and Health Department, the Department of Health and Services Northern Ireland and the Royal College of Pathologists.

As an ACB MG member you will enjoy several benefits:

Access to the approved ACB MPC-organised training scheme for registration with the Health Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (Route 1 or 4-year route), training manuals and standards.
Advice and support from the ACB MPC Education Chairs and Representatives if you are not on a training course but still wish to register as a Clinical Scientist (Route 2 or 6-year route).
Access to training curricula for membership of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination (Higher Specialist training).
Access to free training events organised by the ACB MPC, such as the annual Training Day for 4 / 6-year route and Higher Specialist trainees.
Free membership of the trade union Federation of Clinical Scientists
Subsidised fees for award of the Association of Clinical Scientists Certificate of Attainment required for Health Professions Council registration.
Reduced rates for the annual ACB Focus and bi-annual MG Scientific Meetings and other special events.
Eligibility for award of bursaries to attend meetings and the chance to win prizes for articles written for the ACB News and offered papers at our bi-annual MG Scientific Meetings.
The right to vote at Annual General Meetings and stand for election to the MPC or any other ACB committee, to help shape new developments important to the careers of all Clinical Microbiologists.
ACB News, the monthly ACB magazine with general news, meeting reports and situations vacant, now with a new microbiology section.
Free Annals of Clinical Biochemistry – the bi-monthly journal of the ACB containing reviews, original articles and case reports; members are welcome to submit microbiology articles

Meeting bursaries and prizes

Meeting bursaries
The ACB offers bursaries to support its member’s participation in or attendance at scientific meetings and specialist training. Bursaries can include registration, travel and subsistence costs. Preference is given to trainees, although all grades can apply, to those presenting at the meeting and to members with no other sources of funding. To qualify, applicants must have been members of the ACB (or the preceding ACM) for at least two years.

A bursary application form is available on the Members only page.

Christine Philpot Memorial Prize
The Christine Philpot memorial prize was established to honour Dr Philpot, one of the founder members of the Association of Clinical Microbiology who showed tremendous dedication to that Association and it’s Council. It is an annual award for a scientific article such as a research paper, case study or review on any medical microbiology subject written specifically for ACB News. The prize is open to trainees, and articles will be judged by the ACB MPC and awarded first prize of £250 or second prize of £100 and published in the next issue of ACB News. The closing date for the award is 30^th November of every year.

Articles should be written in Arial or Times New Roman font, not less than 12 point, with double spacing and should not exceed six A4 pages including references. They must be entirely the work of the ACB MG member submitting them, and papers printed or in press in another journal are not acceptable as they will infringe copyright. Entries should be sent as Microsoft Word documents to the ACB News Associate Editor Dr Derren Ready.

Offered papers
The ACB MG also awards prizes for offered papers at its biannual Scientific Meetings. The prizes are open to all members employed at AfC Band 8a or below (or equivalent), although preference is given to trainees. Papers will be judged by the ACB MPC, and a prize of £100 plus travel expenses will be awarded for both an oral and a poster presentation.

The incorporation of offered papers into the Scientific Meeting is subject to the structure of the programme. If announced, details on the submission of papers will be given along with information on the next Scientific Meeting on the Meetings and Events page.

How do I join the ACB MG?

The ACB has four categories of membership that can be applied for:

Ordinary Membership – health professionals with an interest in Clinical Biochemistry and/or Laboratory Medicine in the UK and Ireland. They have voting rights and are eligible for election to Council, receive all the publications of the ACB and receive discounted rates for meetings of the Association. Membership of the Federation of Clinical Scientists is included free.
Federation Membership – persons engaged in the practice of an allied laboratory medicine but for whom Ordinary membership is inappropriate can apply for membership of the Federation of Clinical Scientists. They do not have voting rights and are not eligible for election to Council, but do receive ACB News and discounted rates for meetings of the Association.
Student Membership - undergraduates or wholly grant-supported post graduate research students resident in the United Kingdom. They do not have voting rights and are not eligible for election to Council, but do receive all the publications of the ACB and discounted rates for meetings of the Association.
Overseas Membership – persons fulfilling the criteria for Ordinary membership but who are working overseas. They receive the same benefits as Ordinary members.

There is no membership category for trainees, who should apply for Ordinary Membership or Federation Membership if this is more appropriate. As the subscription fees for Ordinary members is dependent on salary level the fee for trainee members will generally be lower than that for a non-trainee member.

To join please download the membership application form from the ACB website. This form also gives information on the organisation of the ACB, qualification criteria for each membership category, the current subscription fees and a Direct Debit mandate. There is a £5.00 discount for members who pay their subscriptions by Direct Debit. Please state with your application that you would like to become a member of the Microbiology Group, and you will then be notified of relevant information from the ACB MG.

If you have any enquiries about new or current memberships please contact the ACB Administration Office using the details on the Home page.

How do I renew my ACB membership?

Membership renewal is due on January 1^st of each year. Payment by cheque is due on this date whilst direct debits are collected in February or March after notification has been given. Please note that, if you are accepted for membership of the ACB after August 31^st within any year, your subscription will cover the period until December 31^st of the following year so you will not be asked to renew your membership in the first January.

The ACB Administration Office will contact you to renew your membership and to ensure that the membership information we hold for you is accurate. Every effort will be made to contact you on a number of occasions, but if you cannot be contacted your membership will lapse. Because of this, and to ensure you receive other communications throughout the year, the ACB has to have up-to-date contact details for you so please keep the ACB Administration Office notified of any changes to details.

If you have any enquiries about new or current memberships please contact the ACB Administration Office using the details on the Home page.

Corporate members and meeting sponsorship

The ACB offers Corporate Membership to Companies or Bodies who supply goods or services to Clinical Laboratory Medicine. Corporate Members receive all the publications of the ACB, discounted rates on the hire of a modern suite of conference and meeting rooms in central London and the option of participating in exhibitions organised by the ACB such as the internationally renowned ACB Focus. For further details please contact the ACB Administration Office using the details on the Home page.

The ACB MG would like to support and thank Corporate Members (2010) of the former Association of Clinical Microbiology: