Transplantation Laboratory

Services supported include:

Solid Organ Transplantation

The laboratory provides Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) support for:

• Kidney, kidney and pancreas, pancreas and islet cell transplantation programmes
• Cardiothoracic organ transplantation
• Provides a 24-hour on-call service for solid organ transplantation provided by an on-call team consisting of a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist, a technologist and a Clinical Advice Scientist. This service is generally restricted to the solid organ transplant programme.

Haematopoietic Progenitor Stem Cell Transplantation

The laboratory provides Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) support for the HPCT programmes at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trusts and other regional trusts. It is one of the leading laboratories in the country in the application of chimerism monitoring using short tandem repeats (STR) post progenitor stem cell transplantation.

The laboratory also provides

• additional KIR typing and interpretation of results for haploidentical stem cell transplants.
• Graft information and Advisory service to undertake donor selection.

Immunogenetic Testing

The laboratory provides Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) support for HLA-related disease diagnosis and prediction of drug hypersensitivity. The range of tests include –

• HLA-B*27
• HLA-B*57:01 definition

HLA typing of other loci to support the diagnosis of the following conditions-

• Actinic Prurigo (DRB1*04:07)
• Psoriasis (C*06)
• Axial Spondyloarthritis and Uveitis (HLA*B27)
• Birdshot Retinopathy (A*29)
• Narcolepsy (DQA1*01:02 / DQB1*06:02)
• Behçet’s disease (B*51)
• Coeliac Disease (DQB1*02:01 / *03:02, DQA1*05:01 / *03:01)
• Diabetes (DRB1*03:01/DQA1*05:01/DQB1*02:01) (DRB1*04:01,04:02,04:05/DQA1*03:01/DQB1*03:02)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (DRB1*01:01,01:02,04:01,04:04,04:05,04:08,10:01,14:02)

Business Hours:

Opening Hours for routine work:

08.30am – 17.00pm     Monday – Friday

Out of hours, weekends and Bank holidays:

Outside normal working hours, essential cover is provided by an on-call team of consisting of an HCPC register clinical scientists, a technologist and a Clinical Advice Scientist (CAS). This service is generally restricted to the solid organ transplant programme.

The laboratory on call team can be contacted by pager via the hospital switchboard (0161 276 1234) or by Vocera as Tissue Typing if laboratory staff are on site.

Laboratory Key Personnel

Clinical Services:

Laboratory Director:

Prof Kay Poulton PhD, FRCPath – Consultant Clinical Scientist,
Tel: 0161 276 6397
Email: kay.poulton@mft.nhs.uk

Deputy Director:

Dr Helena Lee PhD, FRCPath – Consultant Clinical Scientist,
Email: helena.lee@mft.nhs.uk

Consultant Clinical Scientists:

Dr Natalia Diaz Burlinson DClinSci, FRCPath – Consultant Clinical Scientist
Email: natalia.diazburlinson@mft.nhs.uk

Dr Anna Barker PhD, FRCPath – Consultant Clinical Scientist

Email: anna.barker@mft.nhs.uk

Contact Us

General Enquires

Business and Admin Manager
Judith Spencer
Tel: 0161 276 6397 (all services)
Email: judith.spencer@mft.nhs.uk

Essential Telephone Numbers

Essential Email Addresses

General Enquiries

TransplantationLaboratory@mft.nhs.uk

HPCT & Immunogenetics Support Service Enquires

mft.TransplantationlabHSCT@nhs.net
or

Transplantationlaboratory.HSCT@mft.nhs.uk

Kidney, Kidney-Pancreas and Islet Support Service Enquires

mft.Histocompatibility@nhs.net

Cardiothoracic Support Services Enquires

mft.Histocompatibility@nhs.net

Additional Information

Test requests

Test requests are available through the Transplant Lab tab on HIVE. Details of the correct samples required together with any specific transportation instructions are also available on HIVE. If you require clarification before ordering a test, please call 0161 276 6471 for further advice.

Labelling of sample containers

The Transplantation Laboratory will make every effort to ensure requests are processed in a safe and timely manner, but it is essential that request forms and samples are labelled appropriately and legibly.  The minimum acceptance criteria for request are 4 key identifiers that should include:

• Patient’s name (forename and surname)
• Date of birth
• District number
• NHS number
• Home address of patient

These are all identifiers specific to the patient which help us to confirm identity and are essential.

It is also important to clearly identify the investigations required when completing the request card, please only select the test required and send only the appropriate sample tube.

If you have any concerns regarding this, please ring 0161 276 6471 / 6397 for further advice.

Specimens will not be accepted for analysis if:

• There is insufficient unique identification of the patient i.e. they do not meet the minimum data set for identification
• Incorrect sample type or tube received
• Incorrect transportation conditions mean that the sample is not viable for testing
• Sample is received in a hazardous condition e.g. leaking or sharps attached.
• Mismatch of details between the request form and sample(s)
• The information provided is illegible

Samples that fail to meet the above criteria will be discarded as unsuitable for analysis, and the sender will be informed so replacement samples can be arranged.  The only exception to this is for patients whose identity is anonymous, and they have their own unique identifier.

Transportation of routine samples to the laboratory

All users are advised to refer to P650 Packaging Instruction@ which applies to UN No. 3373 (Diagnostic Specimens) for information on the correct procedures for packaging and transporting samples.  When sending samples to the laboratory it is important to follow the correct courier and postal procedures and ensure the specimens are appropriately packaged.

All specimens should be transported to the laboratory as quickly as possible after collection to avoid compromising the results.

Internal on-site specimens taken within the Oxford Road Complex (ORC) may be transported directly to the Transplantation laboratory via normal porter rounds during the normal working day or by pneumatic pod system to Pod No 805.  Samples should be placed in a specimen bag with the request for transportation around the trust.

Please contact the laboratory on 0161 276 6471 / 6397 if there are specific questions regarding transportation of specimens.

Urgent samples

If a result is required urgently and the sample will arrive during working hours the laboratory MUST be notified by telephone so that we can prioritise your request.

All samples should be packaged and transported as above.

If you need to submit a sample out of normal working hours for testing on-call, please contact the Clinical Scientist on-call via the hospital switchboard (0161 276 1234).

Acceptance Time Limit

Samples taken into EDTA for chimerism analysis must be processed within 24 hours of the sample being drawn and must not be exposed to cold temperatures (<10°C) as this will render them unsuitable for analysis. These ideally should be kept at room temperature whist waiting and during transport to the laboratory.

Clotted samples must be received within 48 hours after the sample was drawn specifically samples for donor specific antibody testing (DSA). Non-urgent clotted samples can be kept overnight at 4°C but must be sent to the laboratory for testing early the next morning.

Samples for crossmatching taken into EDTA or heparin must be received within 24 hours after the sample was drawn and by midday on Friday, to allow adequate time for processing.

There is no time limit for receipt of samples taken into –

• EDTA for HLA typing.
• Dried Blood spots.
• Buccal swabs.

Awards & Recognitions

The Transplantation Laboratory has full accreditation status with ISO 15189:2022 for medical laboratory services (UKAS Reference No 7878) and European Federation of Immunogenetics accreditation (EFI Ref No: 03-GB-009.991).