We passionately believe in offering a world class service through our team of more than 740 dedicated professionals.

Delivering a state of the art diagnostic service

We have a comprehensive list of UKAS accredited tests, and clinical professionals can request our analytical and interpretive services from a range of disciplines.

Microbiology: Sometimes it’s the smallest of things that have all the answers.

Blood Sciences: “750 000 specimens a month, equating to 6 tubes of blood for every person living in Leeds and Bradford”!

SLM: “Providing Specialist Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Haematology, Clinical and Transplant Immunology services locally for LTHT and regionally for referring labs within WYAAT and beyond.”

Clinical Genetics: Finding answers for families in 3.2 billion letters of genetics code.

Non-Gynaecological Samples useful information

All fresh unfixed specimens (i.e. urine, sputum, effusions, cyst contents, bronchial lavage) should be placed in sterile universal containers and sent to the laboratory within four hours. Refrigeration at 4°C is highly effective at reducing degeneration and effusions can be kept satisfactorily in this way for 48 hours i.e. over a weekend. Other samples do not have this lifespan.

Urines
The first morning sample is not ideal because the cells degenerate overnight. The next sample is the sample of choice, preferably after exercise.

Sputums
Sputum should only be sent for analysis if there is strong clinical and imaging suspicion of malignancy. The sample must come from the chest (i.e. not saliva), so physiotherapy may be helpful if the patient does not have a regular productive cough. Overnight secretions accumulated in the bronchi may allow acquisition of a sample first thing in the morning. Samples should be fresh and not the overnight contents of a spittoon.

Bronchial Lavage / Brushings
Lavage samples should ideally be sent in a sterile universal container; if traps are used they should be securely sealed and secured in a transport bag as leaks are common.

Slides for bronchial brushings samples can be obtained from the cytology Laboratory on (0113) 20 66091. Slides should be labelled with the requisite patient identifiers IN PENCIL.

Effusions
A minimum of 5ml of fluid and a maximum of 2 full universal containers per patient is required.

FNA’s (Fine needle aspirates)
FNA samples should be collected into sterile universal containers containing approximately 5ml of CytoRich Rich Red Collection Fluid. The MSDS documentation can be found here: Data Sheet

Universals can be obtained from:

Cytology. Chancellors Wing, SJUH (0113) 206 6091

Samples are stable once in preservative fluid, but should ideally be sent to the laboratory on the day of collection.

CSF’s (Cerebro spinal fluids)
CSF samples should ideally be received in the laboratory within 2 hours of the sample being taken. If you are unable to send samples within the appropriate time frame, a few drops of 10% formal saline should be added to the sample to preserve the specimen.