Helpful information
Laboratory hours, urgent samples, how to use the service, and clinical advice.
Laboratory hours
The laboratory department is open 8am to 5pm. Out-of-hours results are available on 020 7307 7373.
Urgent samples
It is helpful if requests for urgent samples can be discussed with the Senior Management Team prior to sending. Please contact the laboratory on cytology.reporting@tdlpathology.com in the
first instance.
Use of service/Information required
Request forms must include 3 patient identifiers (this can be patient’s full name, date of birth,
hospital number or reference number). Samples will not be processed without a request form.
TDL Request forms do not include the information required for NHS requests for cervical cytology and should not be used for NHS requests. For further information on NHS requests please contact hsl.csl.queries@nhs.net.
Appropriate clinical information providing previous treatment/histological diagnosis is essential to ensure correct management recommendations can be given in the patient report. Tick boxes are provided to assist you.
The specimen container must be clearly labelled with patient details. Forms and samples which
are mismatched will result in the sample being returned to the sender for correction.
Sample takers are requested to check the expiry date of the vial prior to taking the sample. The laboratory is unable to process samples if the expiry date has passed.
Clinical advice
The Consultant Cytopathologists work together to provide clinical and technical advice, including recommendations for follow-up, HPV testing and management of complex cases. TDL will provide recommendation for patient management, but not undertake to provide a direct referral. No result will be entered onto the NHS CSP database and will therefore not be part of an individual’s NHS screening record. Failsafe and management of the patient and their follow up, including referral for colposcopy where indicated, would need to be arranged by their referring clinician. To contact the department directly, please call 020 7307 7387 or email cytology.reporting@tdlpathology.com.
Gynaecological Samples
The Cytology department processes cervical samples directly referred from all sectors of practice – Health screening, Occupational health, GP’s, Consultants, Colposcopy units, Clinics, Hospitals and other Laboratories.
Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) is processed using the Hologic ThinPrep system. Information for sample takers is available by contacting the department. Important: the head of the cervical broom must NOT be left in the vial.
The use of lubricant interferes with LBC sampling and may result in an inadequate sample. Use of lubricant is NOT recommended as it can affect the processing quality of the sample. Supplies of ThinPrep vials are available by contacting the Laboratory Service Centre on 020 7307 7373.