LTHT Pathology Services are accredited under a single UKAS Lab number 9862
(legal entity – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust).
The scope of our single accreditation schedule (accredited tests) for our services can be found on the UKAS website, 9862 Medical Multiple.
*Please note that the C.difficile ribotyping service is accredited under UKAS number 10883 (legal entity – UK Heath Security Agency, Leeds UKHSA Regional Laboratory).
Update on our Scope of Accreditation
The Pathology Laboratory services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (specifically relating to Blood Sciences, Specialist Laboratory Medicine, and Microbiology) undertook the decision (agreed with UKAS) to voluntarily suspend our UKAS ISO15189:2022 accreditation scope for the specialities being relocated to the new Centre for Laboratory Medicine (CfLM) facility.
This was a proactive and precautionary measure to maximise the resource available to support safe and efficient transfer of operations during the critical transition period. Maintaining our standard assessment schedule during this period would not provide that flexibility. A full UKAS assessment of all services concerned was undertaken prior to being authorised to implement the suspension and the outcome was successful.
We are pleased to announce that following successful assessments, Microbiology and Blood Sciences have been awarded recommendations to reinstate their accredited test scope (please see above for the most recent issue).
The Specialist Coagulation service (part of the department of specialist laboratory medicine) underwent an assessment visit on the 12th of October and reinstatement of the accredited test scope will take place once a formal recommendation from UKAS has been made. Other testing services provided by the department of specialist laboratory medicine will undergo an accreditation reinstatement inspection in early 2027.
Reinstatement assessment visits are scheduled for the remainder of our Microbiology test repertoire (relating to virology testing services), in January 2027.
All pertinent updates to test accreditation status will be clearly communicated via updates to this webpage.
The following continue to apply during the voluntary suspension period:
- All testing will continue under our ISO 15189 2022-accredited single Quality Management System, with full adherence to validated procedures and standard operating practices falling under this remit.
- There will be no compromise in staff competence, equipment calibration, or result quality, which will continue to be internally audited.
- Internal auditing and other key quality assurance measures, such External Quality Assessment scheme participation will continue without interruption to maintain ongoing assurance of result accuracy.
Our Cellular Pathology, Laboratory Genetics and UKHSA services remain accredited with no changes to communicate.
We appreciate your understanding and partnership as we look to conclude this significant period of change, which has allowed us to introduce significant enhancements to service delivery, within a modern, purpose-built facility. Should you require any further details, please contact: [email protected] and use the subject header ‘UKAS accreditation enquiry’.