Quality – Paediatric Histopathology

Paediatric Histopathology is fully accredited by the ISO15189:2022 accreditation standards. Our UKAS Medical Laboratory Reference Number is 8648. The department participates in regular exhaustive assessments to maintain its accreditation status. The department is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).

The department is committed to deliver a quality service to our users and continual improvement. A quality management system is utilised to ensure all documents, processes, quality records and clinical material are controlled to LMCD (Laboratory Medicine Care Division) policy. Processes and systems are regularly audited to identify non-conformities and quality improvements.

External Quality Assurance (EQA)

The department participates in the following external quality assurance schemes:

UK NEQAS for Cellular Pathology Technique

• General Cellular Pathology
• Specialist Technique – Tissue Diagnostic
• Renal Pathology Methods
• Direct Immunofluorescence (DIF)
• Muscle histochemistry
• Frozen sections
• Mega blocks
• Bone marrow trephine

UKNEQAS for Immunocytochemistry and In Situ Hybridisation

• General pathology
• Lymphoid pathology

UKNEQAS for Cytogenomics (CEQAS)

Data protection

The department complies with trust, DLM and departmental policies relating to the handling, use and protection of personal information (IMT-POL-15 Management of Data and Information).

• We only ask for information that we need to allow interpretation of results
• We protect the information and ensure only those staff who need to see the information can access it
• We share the information only when we need to for patient care, for example sending the information to another laboratory for testing
• We don’t store information for any longer than is absolutely necessary

• More information

Uncertainty of measurement

In clinical laboratory testing there are potential uncertainties that can affect test results, such as poor specimen collection or transport, patient related factors or other interfering factors. The laboratory examination process itself is subject to some degree of variability and our department regularly monitors this by the use of internal quality control and participation in external quality assurance schemes.

In accordance with the RCPath guidance, an assessment of the uncertainty of measurement will be carried out for any measurement that is included in the diagnostic report if it is deemed to have actual or potential “direct clinical impact.”

Where weights and measurements are part of an overall description and do not impart prognostic or predictive value, an assessment will not be carried out.

Patient consent

It is the responsibility of the requesting clinician to ensure that any objections or restrictions expressed by a patient to the use of their tissue are clearly recorded on the request card.

For samples submitted from external locations, it is the responsibility of the referring Trust to ensure consent for testing is in place, please be aware that evidence of consent may be required prior to sample testing.

It is the responsibility of the requesting clinician to ensure that any objections or restrictions expressed by a patient to the use of their samples are clearly recorded on the request card.

Retention and storage of pathological records and specimens

The department retains pathological records, specimens, blocks, slides and associated material in accordance with current Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) best practice recommendations on the retention and storage of pathological records and specimens, and in line with Trust/DLM policy.

Retention, retrieval and disposal of material are managed to maintain traceability, integrity and confidentiality of clinical material and records, supporting ongoing patient care, repeat or additional testing where appropriate, audit, quality management and ISO 15189:2022 requirements.

Specific retention periods are defined in local departmental procedures and may vary depending on the type of material, clinical need, legal/HTA requirements and any agreed research or biobanking arrangements.

(Last reviewed August 2026)