Specialist services for the investigation of drugs of abuse screening, metabolic laboratory studies and the investigation of trace metals are provided as part of the Department of Specialist Laboratory Medicine in Block 46 at SJUH.
Guidance on our drugs of abuse testing service and result interpretation can be found using this link.
User information – Drugs of abuse in urine (472kB)
Information on all other tests can be found on tests and tubes.
The trace elements service provides a comprehensive service that includes indicators of nutrition and heavy metal toxicity. Information on all tests can be found in tests and tubes. Guidance on sample collection and transport of biopsy samples for tissue copper and iron can be found at the bottom of this page. For urgent requests and for discussion and advice, contact details are given below.
The Laboratory is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
There is no formal commitment to provide an analytical service outside opening hours, but this may be possible following prior discussion with the contacts listed below. If you have an urgent request or enquiry please contact the laboratory on 0113 206 6063.
We are located at St James’s University Hospital site, Block 46, Chancellor Wing
Toxicology, Trace Metals and Metabolic Laboratory
Specialist Laboratory Medicine
Block 46
St James’s University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds, LS9 7TF
Key Contacts
Toxicology, Trace Metals and Metabolic Lab
Clinical Lead
Dr Carys Lippiatt
0113 206 7174
[email protected]
Principal Clinical Scientist
Dr Elizabeth Fox
0113 206 4860
[email protected]
Clinical Scientist
Roger Bramley
0113 206 2034
[email protected]
Advanced Biomedical Scientist
James Booth
0113 206 4204
[email protected]
Advanced Biomedical Scientist
Ganaesh Ramanathan
0113 206 6063
[email protected]
Protocol for the collection and transport of biopsy samples for tissue copper and iron estimation
1. Samples should be collected by needle biopsy.
2. Remove the sample from the biopsy needle as soon as possible to reduce the risk of contamination from the needle. Best results are obtained if the sample is at least 10 mm in length, this will generally give a dry weight of 3-5 mg.
3. Place the sample on a piece of filter paper and moisten with one or two drops of sterile distilled water.
NB: Samples fixed in formalin are unsuitable for analysis.
4. Place the sample and filter paper into a sterile, plain (white topped) universal container. Label the container with the following information:
- Forename and surname in full, no initials
- Date of Birth
- Date of collection
- Hospital number / NHS number / A&E number
5. The sample should then be sent immediately to the local laboratory from where it should be dispatched immediately by taxi to:
Trace Element Laboratory
Block 46
St James’s University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds, LS9 7TF
Tel: 0113 2064760
6. If transport cannot be arranged immediately then the sample must be stored at -20ºC prior to dispatch.