Blood, sweat and tears may not sound like a pleasant combination but it is what hospital staff have to deal with on a daily basis.

But rather than mopping up the unsavoury liquid, microbiologists spend their time analysing it.

Kishore Solanki, head of microbiology at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, and his team are responsible for examining and evaluating anything from the tiniest piece of human tissue to an entire organ.

They are the disease detectives of the hospital.

Mr Solanki said: "We are like the pit-stop crew in Formula One racing. The patients and doctors are the cars and drivers, but we do vital work behind the scenes.

"I enjoy the variety and challenges involved in the job. You never know what the patient will come in with.

"Now that people are travelling further around the world they are bringing back more unusual infections."

As with many hospitals, the GWH has staff shortages in its pathology department. People do not need a degree to follow a career in pathology, but should have science A-Levels. For more details call the hospital's human resources department on 01793 604020.