Our Pathology department performs diagnostic investigations that involve examining a wide range of specimens. The clinical laboratory helps in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases and medical conditions.
A team of Phlebotomists at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI) have undertaken a Listening into Action project to streamline and improve Phlebotomy services at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust which means they are seeing more patients each day.
- 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.