In this section
Specimens for cytology are not allowed to be transported via the pneumatic tube system.
The transport of the specimens to the department is undertaken by the respective hospital transport portering teams and associated transport links from the Wythenshawe, Oxford Road, Trafford General, and Tameside sites. North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) are sent by courier. Dedicated barrels are provided, by the histology department, as the secondary packaging for use to transport the samples. The primary packaging being the container the specimen is in. Urgent samples, e.g. CSF, may be delivered to the department ad hoc; these should be transported in an appropriate container, with a tightly fitting lid. The transport containers should be labelled as Diagnostic Specimens – UN3373 and have the department name and telephone number to ensure the containers comply with transport regulations. Barrels and transport bags are disseminated to the appropriate Diagnostic Cytology laboratory post-delivery.
Specimens should not be transferred to the department without appropriate packaging. All specimens should be received with a documented tracking sheet as appropriate detailing the patient identifiers, specimen type and where the specimen has been taken. These tracking sheets are checked on arrival in the department and returned to the department or area the specimen was taken from for staff to record that the specimen has been received safely in laboratory.
Transport of samples on site at MFT occurs twice daily with specimens delivered at between 8.00-10am and 12-2pm, and additionally at Oxford Road Campus between 3-4.30pm, Monday – Friday.
Transport of the Tameside samples occur twice daily. The transport collects specimens from theatres, endoscopy and then pathology before leaving pathology at 9.30 am and 3.30 pm. This transport also delivers samples from GP surgeries within the Tameside borough. This transport also delivers supplies from Wythenshawe Site back to Tameside for the relevant theatres and clinics.
For specimens received from hospitals where there is not a routine transport service arranged, a courier service is used. This includes specimens transported from Stepping Hill Hospital and independent providers. Transport between Wythenshawe Histopathology, Withington Community Hospital, and Oxford Road Campus is in place at regular intervals throughout the day to ensure timely transport of specimens to be processed at each site.
Samples from all sites should be delivered to Histopathology specimen reception in the clinical sciences buildings at Wythenshawe or Central Specimen Reception at Oxford Road Campus so that appropriate staff can accept these and ensure all specimens are accounted for. Delivery of specimens should be Monday – Friday between 8.00am and 5.30 pm unless by prior arrangement as there are no staff on site over the weekend to accept specimens into the department.
Any fresh specimens (not delivered in preservative for diagnostic cytology specimens) should be delivered directly to a member of laboratory staff to ensure processing is undertaken quickly with no degradation to specimen.
If you have any queries or should extra transport be required for any reason please contact the Trust transport department via switchboard.
Samples received from both Trusts are recorded using a paper-based system and in some cases electronically. Please ensure such records are completed before dispatch of samples.
For paper-based requesting, only specimen request forms provided by cytology should be used to request specimen testing. These forms should not be photocopied, for a supply of forms, please contact the laboratory.
Samples from the GP surgeries within the Greater Manchester District are delivered to the main pathology reception areas and then collected by histology staff on an ad hoc basis. Dedicated portering services pick up and deliver some samples at the Oxford Road site. Some of these samples are requested electronically others are accompanied by handwritten request forms. For paper-based requesting, only specimen request forms provided by histopathology should be used to request specimen testing. These forms should not be photocopied, for a supply of forms, please contact the laboratory.
If samples from Wythenshawe/Oxford Road sites cannot be accepted due to failing the specimen acceptance criteria please follow Specimen Acceptance Policy.
All specimen and/or request form amendments need to be documented, a specimen amendment form may be used. If amendments are not addressed within seven calendar days, then an incident will be raised in Ulysses.
For some external clinics we will accept corrections to patient detail discrepancies via email, e.g. Tameside, Christie.
Please be aware that a final report will not be issued until the necessary amendments have been made (although specimens may be processed should there be a clinical urgency or risk in specimen degradation should processing be delayed). Failure to amend the specimen request form of specimen pot in a timely fashion will lead to a delay in the final report and if the specimen is not amended in 7 days, a Ulysses record will be raised.
All specimens should be transported in the relevant fixative or transport medium as indicated below in section 7 All specimen pots should be tightly sealed and transported using specimen bags, where appropriate. The request card should be placed in the pocket of the specimen bag, and the pot inside the sealed bag to ensure the safety of all staff.
All specimens sent via Royal Mail should adhere to the packaging guidance available on the Royal Mail website. It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure that specimens are appropriately labelled and packaged.
(Last reviewed February 2025)