Pathology

• Biochemistry
• Haematology and Blood Transfusion
• Histopathology
• Microbiology
• Mortuary
• Phlebotomy and Venepuncture

About Us

The Histology department offers a service covering the collection, processing, evaluation (using a wide range of tissue dyes, histochemical reagents and immunohistochemical antibodies) and reporting of formalin fixed tissues. The department also performs frozen sections on request; andrology studies on both fertility and post vasectomy semen samples and can carry out immunofluorescence techniques on skin samples. A Non-gynae service for the cytological examination of body fluids and aspirates is also available.

The Histopathology service is provided from Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI).

Laboratory address

Histopathology department
New Path Lab
Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Ashton Road
Lancaster
Lancashire
LA1 4RP

Laboratory location

We can be found at the back of the hospital, close to the helipad and adjacent to Medical Unit 2.

Normal Laboratory Opening Hours

The service has a core working day from 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday-Friday. There is no weekend or Bank Holiday service provided. No 24 hour emergency service is provided.

Urgent requests should be made only when the result will affect the immediate management of the patient. Requests for urgent tests should be made to the appropriate extension.

Enquiries and Results

Royal Lancaster Infirmary - 01524 591502/ 591507

Typical Turnaround Time and Validation of Results

We aim to report the results of cases within the following timescales:

• Urgent samples (including breast core biopsies, non-gynae cytology cases (excluding urines & non-suspicious Thyroid Fine Needle Aspirations) and biopsies with clinical details stating a suspicion of cancer) 85% within 7 calendar days,
• Priority samples (including prostate cores, skin punch biopsies for Squamous Cell Carcinoma, cervical cases & cases appropriately marked as being 2 Week Wait / Cancer Pathway) 80% within 10 calendar days
• Routine samples (including skin excisions for non-melanoma skin cancers and resection specimens) 95% within 42 calendar days (although this may be affected by service backlogs)
• Andrology samples (fertility and post vasectomy) 1 working week.

We aim to report results to your clinician within the above timeframes. The Laboratory cannot provide results directly to patients.

There are times when the report may be delayed due to additional investigations or the requirement for a specialist opinion.

Microbiology is a comprehensive clinical and laboratory service that assists with diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The Microbiology laboratory uses culture, microscopy, serological and molecular tests to detect and identify causes of infection, while also testing different antibiotics against infectious bacteria. This enables expert clinical advice to be available for healthcare professionals on infection management, prevention and control.

Key functions of a microbiology service

Diagnostics: Performs a wide range of diagnostic tests on a wide range of patient samples to identify microorganisms causing an infection

Clinical advice: Provides expert advice to healthcare professionals from Consultant Microbiologists on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infections.

Infection prevention and control: Supports infection prevention and control efforts within hospitals and communities, often involving screening for resistant organisms like MRSA.

Antimicrobial stewardship: Advises on the appropriate use of antibiotics to help combat antibiotic resistance.

Surveillance: Monitors and reports on the local and national spread of infectious diseases.

The Microbiology service is provided from Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) and Furness General Hospital (FGH)

To provide both patients and service users with confidence in our service the department is accredited by UKAS to ISO 15189:2022. This is an international standard that specifies requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories to ensure the integrity, impartiality, and accuracy of our services.

Laboratory addresses

RLI Microbiology department
New Path Lab
Royal lancaster Infirmary 
Ashton Road
Lancaster
LA1 4RP

Laboratory location: Royal Lancaster Infirmary. We can be found at the back of the hospital, close to the helipad and adjacent to Medical Unit 2.

FGH Microbiology department
Furness General Hospital
Barrow-in-Furness
LA14 4LF

Laboratory location: Furness General Hospital. We can be found at the front of the hospital, through main entrance, past WRVS shop and first turning on the right

Normal Laboratory Opening Hours

The service is available to serve users during core hours from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday-Friday. There is reduced weekend or Bank Holiday service provided while a 24-hour emergency service is provided.

Healthcare Professionals should make urgent requests only when the result will affect the immediate management of the patient. Requests for urgent tests during working hours should be made to the appropriate extension below. Outside of core hours only clinicians associated with the patient’s care should after consulting appropriate trust guidance contact the Consultant Microbiologist through switchboard.

Enquiries and Results

Royal Lancaster Infirmary - 01524 512408

Furness General Hospital - 01229 491061

Telephone Results Enquiries
Test results are only given out over the phone to Heath professionals, the laboratory is legally obliged not provide patients with results under any circumstances. Additional tests on a sample will only be undertaken at the request of a Health professional who, upon contacting the department will be provided with details on how to request additional test (s) and to supply the clinical justification for it.

Sample transport to the laboratory
Samples should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible on the day they have been obtained. If there is going to be a delay then contact the Heath professional who requested the test or your local laboratory. Please note appropriate laboratory supplied sample containers should be used as unapproved containers could invalidate the test.

Typical Turnaround Time and issuing of Reports
We aim to report the results of cases within the following timescales from the point of receipt into the laboratory, but does not reflect time taken to review by the clinician and to contact the patient

Urgent samples

• Microscopy and/ or cell counts on samples (including Pus / Fluids tissue Respiratory, Cerebral spinal fluid, synovial fluid, ascetic fluid tissue and urine samples from under 5 years of age): 2 hours
• Culture results, provisional results with 24 hours, final report 72-96 hours

Routine samples

• Microscopy and Culture (including Swabs and fluids) final report 72-96 hours
• Urine culture final reports 48-72 hours

Specialist tests

• In some instances, this laboratory will refer samples to a specialist laboratory if the tests are not undertaken here. Final reports 10 days