Laboratory Medicine

Laboratory Medicine Services

The Laboratory Medicine Unit provides 24 hour comprehensive diagnostic and clinical services to primary and secondary care across NHS Grampian and tertiary services to colleague Boards including NHS Orkney, Highland, Western Isles and Shetland covering the following disciplines:

  • Pathology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Haematology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Services are delivered from two locations on the main acute site and several smaller satellite laboratories. A full range of services is delivered from

  • The Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Link Building at Foresterhill, Aberdeen, and
  • The Polwarth Building, Aberdeen University Medical School also at Foresterhill.

Other limited or clinically specific services are available from:

  • Dr Grays Hospital, Elgin,
  • Sexual Health Service, Health Village, Frederick Street, Aberdeen,
  • Diabetic Clinic, David Anderson Building Aberdeen,
  • Cytology at Clinic E, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Services are also delivered to a wide range of users across primary care and secondary care, including the two acute hospitals in Grampian, CTAC centers, Hubs, and around 73 GP practices.

The laboratories currently provide a range of regional services. For example, the Clinical Biochemistry Department provides Tumour Marker, QFIT and Myeloma Screening services for NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland as well as Sweat Testing Analysis for Cystic Fibrosis for NHS Highland. The Pathology Department also provides a comprehensive Histopathology and Cytopathology service to NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland. Cervical Cytology service for NHS Highland and the Western Isles is also provided by the department. The Microbiology service provides specialist bacteriology analysis and is the main provider of Virology testing for NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.  The Immunology Laboratory provides a regional diagnostic Immunology service to the Grampian and Moray areas, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland as well as operating as a tertiary reference centre within Scotland for selected Immunology tests. The Haematology Department fully participates in the AnteNatal Screening Programme for Haemoglobinopathies and Thalassaemia delivering the service for NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland. These laboratory services are provided solely at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Laboratory Medicine Department.

Laboratory Accreditation

All laboratories within the Laboratory Medicine Unit are UKAS accredited medical laboratories.

  • NHS Grampian Haematology – 8137
  • NHS Grampian Pathology – 8138
  • NHS Grampian Immunology – 8139
  • NHS Grampian Microbiology - 8140
  • NHS Grampian Genetics – 8141
  • NHS Grampian Biochemistry – 8142

For more information regarding the scope of accreditation please see: Search UKAS accredited organisations

Comments or Complaints

If you would like further information regarding Laboratory Medicine or are unhappy with any aspect of the service you receive please contact the Laboratory Medicine Quality Manager by phone, e-mail or letter (see appropriate details below). We will try to answer your query or resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

If for any reason, you would prefer not to speak to a member of staff, you can contact a member of the NHS Grampian Feedback Service about making a complaint: Feedback and Complaints (nhsgrampian.org)

Address:

Glenn Ross
Laboratory Medicine Quality Manager
Room 16
Laboratory Administration Annex
Orange Zone
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
AB25 2ZD​

Telephone: 01224 553891

E-mail: glenn.ross@nhs.scot 

Laboratory Medicine Operating Hours

Clinical Biochemistry

Emergency/Urgent Samples

The main laboratory at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the satellite laboratory at Dr Gray's Hospital are continuously staffed.

Receipt of Non-Urgent Specimens

  • Monday to Friday: 8.45am-5pm
  • Saturday: 9am-12.15pm                      

Dr Gray's Hospital Elgin

Emergency/Urgent Samples

The laboratory at Dr Gray's Hospital is continuously manned, providing core tests for Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology. A limited Microbiology service is also available. Blood Transfusion samples are analysed offsite by Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Non-Urgent Samples

  • Monday to Friday: 8.45am-5pm
  • Saturday & Sunday: 7.45am-7.45pm

Any tests not undertaken at Dr Gray's are sent to the relevant Laboratories at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for processing. A daily courier service uplifts the routine samples via Dr Gray’s Laboratory to the relevant Laboratories. Urgent or emergency samples not undertaken by Dr Gray’s Laboratory or samples requiring urgent referral to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for additional tests are sent via Dr Gray’s Laboratory to the relevant Laboratories at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Haematology

Emergency/Urgent Samples

The main laboratory at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the satellite laboratory at Dr Gray's Hospital are continuously manned, providing core tests.

Non-Urgent Samples

The full diagnostic service is available from 8am-5pm Monday to Friday and a screening and advisory service at other times.

Immunology

  • Monday to Friday: 8am-5pm
  • There is no Saturday or out of hours on call laboratory service.

Medical Genetics

  • Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm (there is no out of hours service)

More information can found on the Genetics laboratory website: www.nhsgrampian.org/medicalgenetics

Medical Microbiology (including Virology)

The laboratory service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The full diagnostic virology service is available Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm with a limited service at other times

Mortuary

  • Monday to Friday: 8am-5pm
  • Saturday: 8am-1pm

Pathology - Histopathology/Cytopathology

The Pathology Department operates between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday and between the hours of 8am and 12 noon on a Saturday. The department is closed on a Sunday. Please note there is no out of hours diagnostic service.

Information for Healthcare Professionals

Further information regarding specific laboratory contact details, specimen submission requirements and examination influencing factors, individual test information, specialty testing, reference laboratories, policies and guidelines, phlebotomy services and guidance documents can all be found within the laboratory users handbook. This can be accessed by all NHS Grampian staff using the following link: Laboratory Medicine Intranet Page (networked devices only)

Further information for patients

As a patient, should you require further information or clarification regarding specific laboratory contact details, specimen submission requirements (requesting and collecting), individual test information (including reporting times), specialty testing, factors affecting examinations, reference laboratories, policies and guidelines, phlebotomy services, patient consent and guidance documents then these should be discussed with your healthcare provider. 

Requirements for patient consent

The health professional requesting the examination is responsible for ensuring that, before they start any testing, the patient has been given sufficient time and information to make an informed decision, and has given consent for the investigation.

 

Published: 17/10/2024 14:59