Pathology

Pathology Services are provided under the division of Diagnostics and Cancer Services. The laboratories provide services to primary and secondary care throughout the west of Northern Ireland.  The laboratories thrive on technology advancements and educating/teaching young students/professionals either entering or furthering a career within Pathology.  Laboratory staff continuously works alongside universities in providing the highest level of education and guidance.

Currently there are two acute hospital sites:-

• South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen
• Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Londonderry

The Pathology Department encompasses disciplines such as: Clinical Biochemistry, Point of Care, Haematology/Blood Transfusion, Microbiology, Histopathology and Cytopathology and their main services are described below.

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• Clinical Biochemistry (all acute hospital sites)

  The Clinical Biochemistry departments are based at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen and Altnagelvin Hospital. The department offers a full diagnostic service to users in hospital and primary care. Specialist tests are referred to regional and supra-regional laboratories

• Point of Care Testing (all acute hospital sites)

  Point of Care Testing (POCT) is defined by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as “any analytical test performed for a patient by a healthcare professional outside the conventional laboratory”.

  Our laboratory healthcare professionals perform a number of such tests such as glucose and ketone level determination, blood gas analysis, urine dipstick, glycated haemoglobin, cardiac troponin T and urine pregnancy testing.

  POCT is quality managed by the laboratory based POCT Team.

• Haematology and Blood Transfusion (all acute hospital sites)

  The Haematology and Blood Transfusion departments are based at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen, and Altnagelvin Hospital. The department offers a full diagnostic service to users in hospital and primary care. Specialist tests are referred to regional and supra-regional laboratories.

• Microbiology (Altnagelvin site)

  The Microbiology department is based at Altnagelvin Hospital. The department offers a full diagnostic service to users in hospital and primary care. Specialist tests are referred to regional and supra-regional laboratories.

• Cellular Pathology (Altnagelvin site)

  The Cellular Pathology department is based at Altnagelvin Hospital and consists of Cytopathology, Histopathology, and Andrology laboratories.   A Mortuary (body store) is located in Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen.

• Laboratory User Manuals

  Cellular Pathology User Manual

  Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory User Manual

  Haematology – Blood Transfusion Laboratory User Manual

  Microbiology Laboratory User Manual

• Mandatory Laboratory Request Minimum Acceptance Criteria (MAC)

  You comply with the following MAC requirements when sending any sample for examination.

  Click here for MAC requirements and an audio guide

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Locations where this service is delivered

• Altnagelvin Area Hospital
• South West Acute Hospital

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Contacts