The NHSGGC Pathology Department provides a comprehensive diagnostic Histopathology, Cytopathology and Mortuary service for adults and children in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, including the laboratory part of the cervical screening programme for NHSGGC, Grampian, Tayside, Orkney, Shetland, Ayrshire and Arran. In addition, the department supports a number of specialist services, wider managed clinical networks, regional and supra regional services examples of which include Gynaecological, Ophthalmic, Osteoarticular services, West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre, Neuropathology and Paediatric Pathology. Mortuary services are additionally provided for the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal (COPFS) and Police Scotland.
Important Notice: Extended Turnaround Times
The Pathology Department are currently experiencing longer than usual turnaround times due to a backlog in reporting. Our team is working diligently to address this issue and it has been escalated via all appropriate governance channels
Departmental Links
Please use the links below to access specific information for each of our laboratory areas:
Terms of Service, User Manual, Request Forms and other Key Documents
About Us
The NHSGGC Pathology Department is located at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) on the 3rd floor of the Laboratory Medicine and Facilities Management Building.
Laboratory Opening Hours
The Pathology Department is open:
Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday and Public Holidays: 8:00am – 12:00pm
The Pathology Department specimen reception is also open Monday to Friday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm for the receipt and handling of specimens delivered by “late vans” and couriers.
Pathology Contact Details
NHSGGC Pathology Department
Laboratory Medicine and Facilities Management Building (Level 3)
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF
Scotland
UK
For General Enquiries:
Tel: 0141 354 9500 (89487) Option 6
For Results:
Tel: 0141 354 9476 (89487) Option 2
For Technical Enquiries/Sending Specimens:
Tel: 0141 354 9513 (89513)/0141 354 9514 (89514)
For Mortuary Enquiries:
Tel: 0141 354 9357 (89357)
Accreditation
The NHSGGC Pathology department has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), using the ISO 15189:2012 set of international laboratory standards. This assessment provides formal recognition of our ability to provide a high-quality laboratory and clinical service across all our diagnostic specialities (Histology, Neuropathology, Diagnostic Cytology, Andrology, HPV Screening, Electron Microscopy, Post-mortem and Mortuary Services).
Where possible the department participates in national external quality assurance schemes for all testing procedures/medical reporting specialties. Where established EQA schemes are not available inter laboratory comparison or alternative external quality assurance schemes have been set up.
The full list of accredited tests provided by the department can be seen in our schedule of accreditation.
UKAS GEN 6
The Pathology department utilises the Telepath Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Due to the limitations of this software, we are currently unable to fully meet the requirements of the UKAS publication GEN 6 – Reference to accreditation and multilateral recognition signatory status.
This publication sets out the requirements of reports/results released by the laboratory containing the appropriate use of UKAS logos and identifying any tests that are accredited and those that are not. The LIMS currently being utilised within Pathology does not allow us to present the UKAS logo within our reports. Whilst it is possible to enter a small amount of additional text without any difference in formatting at the end of each report, the referencing to the accreditation of tests could potentially interfere or cause the misinterpretation of pathology results (particularly with molecular and companion diagnostic tests such as PD-L1 that already have statements at the end of the reports explaining treatment/scoring decisions and the specific criteria required to be met). Where possible the department is including a small statement at the end of reports if a test used is out of our scope of accreditation.
The Pathology department have risk assessed this. Although we are not able to present this information on our reports the department’s user manual and website present full details of our accreditation, including a link to the UKAS page for our up to date schedule of accreditation and a list of currently out of scope techniques including details of progress made to add them to our scope or reasons for them currently being unaccredited.
A number of investigation techniques carried out by the department are currently outside the scope of accreditation (see table below). This will usually be due to the technique not being performed frequently or being controlled/run by another department. However, the department will complete internal validation and IQC procedures before the implementation of any technique and participate in national external quality assurance (EQA) schemes or alternatives where possible:
NHSGGC Pathology Department Out of Scope Techniques
| Test/Investigation | Internal Validation and IQC | EQA Scheme Participation | UKAS Extension to Scope Status |
| Joint Fluid/Crystal Analysis | Yes | Signed up to Pilot | Not in Scope |
| Mohs clinic (run by Dermatology) | Yes | Not in Scope | |
| Appearance and Viscosity for Andrology testing | Yes | Not for these criteria | Not UKAS accredited parameters |
| Digital Pathology | Yes | Signed up to Pilot | Expected 2025 |
| NUT-1 (ICC) | Yes | Not Available | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| Sarc A4 (ICC) | Yes | Not Available | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| PIN 4 (ICC) | Yes | Not Available | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| FLI & ERG (ICC) | Yes | Not Available | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| Roche Benchmark Southgate’s Mucicarmine (SS) | Yes | Yes | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| PRAME (ICC) | Yes | Not Available | UKAS Assessment in progress |
| E17 (ICC) | Not acquired yet | Expected 2025 | |
| SF1 (ICC) | Not acquired yet | Expected 2025 | |
| Hologic Genius Digital Diagnostics System (Cytology) | In Progress | Expected 2026 |
In some cases we may need to refer work/carry out additional testing not available within the department (for example the double reporting of bone tumours and the referral of additional molecular genetic testing with some breast cancer cases).
All referral centres are subject to review on an ongoing basis and we make sure they are accredited to the relevant bodies and produce results of a similarly high standard to our own.
The one exception to this rule is that we are currently referring triple negative breast cancer cases to NHS Lothian (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh) for PDL-1 (clone 22C3) immunocytochemistry staining. Edinburgh are currently in the process of validating this test and adding it to their scope of accreditation.
Research Use Only Antibodies – Immunocytochemistry (ICC)
A number of the antibody markers in the department’s immunocytochemistry repertoire are designed for research use only. These antibody markers undergo stringent and strict verification testing before diagnostic use and performance is closely monitored via internal and external quality control measures. Here is a list of the research use only antibodies currently in use:
AMH
Amyloid P
a-Syn
ATRX
B-Amyloid (BA4)
BAP-1
BAPP
BetaF1
BOB1
C4D
C5B-9
CA19.9
CD15
CD35
CD42b
CD43 (MT1)
CD45-RO
CD303
CEA (MONO)*
CK3
CK10
CK12
Claudin 4
CMYC
CXCL13
DNAJB9
EBNA-2
GLP-1
Glucagon
GLUT-1
H3K27M
G-34 (Histone H3.3 M)
H B Core Ag
H B Surface Ag
HPV
HSV-1
LAM A2
LAM A5
LAM B1
LAM B2
Neomysin
IgG4
INI-1
K36 (Histone H3M)
LEF-1
MAC-387
MGMT
MTAP
MUC4
NEUN
NF (Neurofilament)
NUT1
P16
P21 (WAF)*
P24
Parvovirus
PAX8
PD1
PHOX2B
Pituitary – ACTH
Pituitary – LH
Pituitary – Prolactin
PLA2R1
SDHB
Serotonin 5HT
SMARCA4
STAT6
Surfactant Apolipoprotein (SP-A)
SV40
TAU
TCR-Delta
Tenascin
Toxoplasma
Villin*
VIP (Vasoctinpolypep)
Ubiquitin
* = a new CE marked (non-research use only) version of this antibody marker is in the progress of being verified for diagnostic use.
For further information on these research use only antibody markers or the departments immunocytochemical (ICC) repertoire, please contact the ICC laboratory (0141 354 9518) or The Advanced Staining Specialty Manager (0141 354 9528).
Laboratory Contacts
Main Laboratory Contacts
| External | Internal | |
| Dr Sylvia Wright – Head of Service | 0141 354 9512 | 89512 |
| Dr Jana Crosby – Clinical Lead | 0141 354 9558 | 89558 |
| Dr Jonathan Salmond – Technology Lead | 0141 354 9561 | 89561 |
| Steven Harrower – Head of Technical Services | 0141 354 9468 | 89468 |
| Suzanne Ferra – Cellular Pathology Operations Manager | 0141 354 9469 | 89469 |
| Nicola Small – Compliance and Transformation Manager | 0141 354 9461 | 89461 |
| Vacant – Quality Manager | 0141 354 9540 | 89540 |
| Robert Cast – Mortuary Services Manager | 0141 451 5815 | 85815 |
| Deborah Brown – Mortuary Post Mortem Manager | 0141 451 5795 | 85795 |
| Vacant – Mortuary Scheduling & Performance Manager | ||
| Bio-repository Office | 0141 354 9490 | 89490 |
| Sarah Gilmour – Office Manager | 0141 354 9568 | 89568 |
| Histology Specimen Reception | 0141 354 9513 or 0141 354 9514 | 89513 or 89514 |
| Cytology Specimen Reception | 0141 354 9524 | 89524 |
| EM Enquiries | 0141 354 9422 | 89422 |
| SCRRS Enquiries | 0141 354 9524 | 89524 |
Consultant Pathologist Teams
The pathologist named first in each team, is the designated specialty representative.
User Feedback, Complaints and Compliments
The department aims to provide a first-class service. If we have failed to meet your expectations, please do not hesitate to contact us, henceforth we can attempt to rectify the situation.
If you wish to discuss a report, please telephone the consultant whose name appears at the bottom of the report, in the first instance. The consultant will be happy to review the case and seek a further opinion within or out with the department as required.
User Feedback Survey
We invite all our users to complete our user survey form. Please return via email to the Compliance and Transformation Manager. The information obtained from this survey will allow us to develop and improve the service we offer. We greatly appreciate the time and effort taken to complete this.
General Comments, Complaints and Feedback
For general complaints/compliments/comments on the service please contact:
Dr Sylvia Wright (Head of Service)
Tel: 0141 354 9558
Mrs Nicola Small (Compliance and Transformation Manager)
Tel: 0141 354 9461
Please click here for further information about the NHSGGC Complaints policy