University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) has one of the country’s leading clinical laboratories, which provides world class support to clinicians and researchers. The laboratory service covers all UHB sites.
Services
Laboratories cover the following areas:
- Clinical biochemistry
- Clinical haematology
- Microbiology (including virology, serology and mycology)
- Cellular pathology (including histopathology, cytology and molecular pathology)
Experienced medical doctors and scientists run the laboratories, which feature state-of-the-art equipment to automate multiple processes so that thousands of samples can be tested every day.
Our laboratories hold Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd (CPA) and work to recognised quality standards.
The Trust is also a major supplier of laboratory services for universities and other health organisations in Birmingham and the West Midlands, both for clinical diagnostic and research purposes.
The range of tests available at UHB covers most clinical investigations. A small number of tests are carried out by specialist laboratories at the University of Birmingham and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
Results
Clinical Laboratory Services is fully connected to other UHB systems. This means tests can be carried out quickly, using an automated vacuum-tube system to send samples to the laboratory. Results can be accessed quickly, as soon as they have been entered into the system.
Clinicians and appropriately accredited researchers can access test results via the Trust’s informatics network, using desk-based computers or hand-held tablets located on every ward.
Commercial research support
UHB’s clinical laboratories have well-established protocols for handling the testing of specimens for commercial research. This includes a central contact point for researchers and close co-ordination with the Trust’s Research and Development Management infrastructure to ensure adequate resources are in place to undertake the necessary testing.
Laboratory activity in commercial trials normally involves safety monitoring to ensure that trials of new drugs or treatment regimes are not having a negative impact on a patient.
Typical safety monitoring tests include:
- liver and renal function
- full blood count and coagulation
- pregnancy testing of potential trial participants
- blood glucose
The scale of facilities and laboratory staff expertise means the Trust can provide almost all standard clinical tests.
Non-commercial research support
Clinical Laboratory Services works closely with the Research and Development Management team to ensure research is planned with the necessary resources provided for laboratory support.
This includes protocols to finance and provide any:
- extra equipment
- consumable supplies
- staff training or new procedures for non-standard testing or frequency of testing
This means the laboratories are flexible in their ability to provide the necessary testing services in support of research.
Contacts
Clinical leads for laboratories:
- Haematology – Charles Percy, Consultant Haematologist
- Microbiology – Nim Wickramasinghe, Consultant Microbiologist
- Molecular Pathology – Phillipe Taniere, Consultant Histopathologist
- Cellular Pathology – Shalini Chaudhri, Consultant Histopathologist
- Clinical Chemistry, Immunology and Toxicology – Alex Lawson, Clinical Scientist
Please direct any questions about the availability of laboratory testing or details of methodology and process management to Craig Webster, Director of Pathology.
Last reviewed: 28 April 2021