Welcome

The North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub, Central Laboratory Leeds incorporates Molecular Genetics, Cytogenetics and a Molecular Oncology Diagnostic Facility. The laboratory is supported by the Translational Genomics Unit. The service is based at St James’s Hospital and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

What We Do

The laboratory provides genetic analysis for inherited and acquired diseases in accordance with the new National Genomic Test Directory and working as a part of the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub.

The Laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.9862.  A copy of the Leeds Genetics Laboratory accreditation schedule is available on the UKAS website. Tests not UKAS accredited

This website is aimed primarily at health workers as an information resource.

North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub, Central Lab Service Change Notification

Notices to users

1. Reinstatement of UKAS Accreditation to ISO 15189:2012 Standard

Letter to users: Reinstatement of UKAS Accreditation (August 2023).

2. Partial suspension of UKAS accreditation for molecular genetics activities 

Letter to users: Partial Suspension of UKAS Accreditation (February 2023).

3. Genomic services turnaround time performance

Letter to users: Delays to NE&Y GLH genomic testing services (February 2022).

4. Genomic services backlogs

Letter to users: Genomic services backlog communication (January 2022).

For a combination of reasons centred around significant national and local reconfiguration of genomic services and the impact of COVID creating challenge with staffing levels and supply chain, the laboratory has not been able to sustain backlog recovery and many of our current services are not being reported to the turnaround time guidelines that you may normally expect.

We continue to work together with our partners in the North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub to manage recovery plans to rectify this and improve performance; however it will take several months before a significant improvement is apparent for some services.

Please do contact the laboratory:

• • before sending a sample if you are uncertain whether a genetic test is suitable
  • if a sample you have already sent becomes clinically urgent; we will work to re-prioritise
  
  

  5. Switching interim panels to WGS July 2021

  Letter to users: Switching interim panels to WGS (July 2021).
  
  

  6. Brexit COVID communication

  Letter to users: Brexit COVID communication (April 2020).
  
  

  7. Notice to users - coronavirus disease COVID-19 (virus SARS-CoV-2) - impact on genomic/genetic services and sample acceptance

  Our current service is significantly affected

  • Sample acceptance
  • We are unable to process samples from patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; samples from such patients should only be taken and sent to the laboratory once their COVID-19 symptoms have resolved.
  • Samples from patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection will be held and only processed once there is confirmation of a negative coronavirus test result.
  • Please ensure that any samples taken from patients with known SARS-CoV-2 infection or suspected COVID-19 symptoms are clearly labelled as such. Failure to do so may place our staff at risk.
  • We regret that we are also unable to accept any buccal swab, oral or saliva samples of any kind currently. Any such samples received will be rejected by the laboratory.
    
    
  • The order of priority for genomic services will continue to be:
  • Tests for oncology patients
  • Prenatal diagnostic tests
  • Diagnostic and carrier tests which impact current pregnancies or treatment
  • Urgent newborn diagnostic tests
  • Newborn screening
  • All other testing

  See the current Service User Letter for further details: COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan

  Supplementary advice for "Extremely Vulnerable" patients can be found on the Clinical Genetics site.

  Other services may be delayed. Please contact us where there is particular clinical urgency.