For the “Advances in Laboratory Technology” session, the BHS invited two excellent scientists to discuss novel laboratory techniques that are ready – or almost ready – to enter routine haematological clinical practice. First, Prof. Tiziana Lazzarotto (University Hospital of Bologna, Sant’Orsola – Microbiology unit, Italy) walked us through the new methods for cytomegalovirus diagnosis in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients, particularly in light of the new antiviral therapies. Subsequently, Prof. Jonathan Edgeworth (The Centre for Clinical Infection & Diagnostics Research, United Kingdom) discussed the new applications, challenges and clinical usefulness of the novel Nanopore technique in the diagnosis of infectious diseases in haematological patients.