Clinical expertise from some of the UK’s leading specialist laboratories

Clinical expertise from some of the UK’s leading specialist laboratories.

We provide high quality, innovative laboratory medicine, including diagnostics, prognostics, screening, and long-term condition management.

Our state-of-the-art laboratories house a repertoire of over 650 routine and specialist laboratory tests conducted by skilled and highly trained staff.

We deliver advanced and accurate test results within a rapid timeframe.

SYBP encompasses all pathology disciplines from a partnership of five Acute Trusts:

Our services

Specialisms include cellular pathology, microbiology, virology, clinical chemistry (including toxicology), immunology (including proteins) and haematology (encompassing blood transfusion and coagulation).

Our coagulation department is a haemophilia reference centre and designated international haemophilia training centre.

Our clinical chemistry service hosts one of only three gestational trophoblastic disease services in the UK.

Our immunology hosts one of only two national protein reference units.

Our histopathology incorporates routine and specialist work, including neuropathology, diagnostic cytology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, mortuary and autopsy services.

We also host services such as the UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) and North of England Pathology and Screening Education Centre (NEPSEC).

Haematology

Utilising state of the art equipment, our haematology services provide a wide range of routine and specialist tests, all supplemented by expert clinical advice. In addition to our efficient, high throughput laboratories, our specialist services include the Haemato-Oncology Diagnostics Service (HODS) incorporating our Flow Cytometry laboratory, offering wide ranging testing including but not limited to leukaemia/lymphoma diagnostics, minimal residual disease analysis, subsets and FMH testing. The Haemolysis Laboratory at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital provides specialist haemoglobinopathy screening services including definitive identification of haemoglobin variants by mass spectrometry. We also offer red cell enzyme screening and assay services, and plasma viscosity measurement.

Coagulation

Based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, our specialist coagulation service offers a comprehensive range of haemostasis tests. This includes a weekday service for thrombophilia testing including genetic tests for FV Leiden and the prothrombin allele, and antiphospholipid testing. The 24/7 service is available for samples referred in from outside South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and includes the following: clotting factor assays for intrinsic and extrinsic factors; assays to monitor extended half-life FVIII and FIX products; emicizumab levels; Von Willebrand Factor testing; HIT; ADAMTS-13 activity for TTP diagnosis; testing for acquired haemophilia including human and porcine FVIII Inhibitor testing.

Chemistry

SYBP has one of the UK’s most comprehensive chemistry catalogues. In addition to the extensive repertoire delivered by our high-quality, high-throughput routine laboratories, SYBP is home to a number of highly specialised adult and paediatrics services. All services are supported by expert clinical advice. These include:

Inherited metabolic disorder services
Tissue culture services
Newborn screening services
Vitamin testing including A&E, B1, B6 and Vitamin C
Toxicology services including post-mortem and clinical investigations, and substance misuse services
Trace metals including copper, zinc and selenium
Radioimmunoassay for choriocarcinoma
Specialist urine testing including catecholamines, metanephrines and 5HIAA /VMA
Faecal calprotectin and faecal elastase testing services

Immunology

The Sheffield Protein Reference Unit (PRU) and immunology department, based at the city’s Northern General Hospital, offers a comprehensive diagnostic immunology, immunochemistry, allergy, and pre-natal screening service and has a long-standing expertise in specialist protein measurement including tumour markers. The department has a healthy track record for development, enabling it to stay at the forefront of the discipline, and meet the ever-changing needs of its users. With support from a strong and nationally recognised clinical team, the department is a UK leader. For more information, visit pru-sheffield.org.uk

Microbiology

A comprehensive service within a modern laboratory setting. Specialities include bacteriology, virology, Molecular microbiology, mycology, environmental screening and parasitology. Our bacteriology laboratories employ cutting-edge technology across the SYB region. Amongst our extensive repertoire are rapid encephalitis diagnosis, molecular screening for enteric illness and advanced orthopaedic infection screening. We are embracing the latest sepsis guidelines by adopting 24-hour loading of blood culture bottles, whilst also utilising the most rapid methods available for identification and susceptibility testing of pathogens.

Histopathology

Comprehensive diagnostic and interpretative services for users locally and further afield. This includes both routine and specialist histology encompassing neuropathology, diagnostic cytology, oral and maxillofacial pathology, electron microscopy, mortuary and autopsy services. In addition to an large immunohistochemistry testing repertoire, we also offer molecular tumour profiling using PCR platforms (idylla) for single gene targets, supporting faster integrated diagnostics to inform patient treatment options. We are a referral centre for the South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and North Derbyshire Cancer Alliance Network, a part of the national Choriocarcinoma Screening Service, and also the highly specialised Ophthalmic Pathology Service (NSOPS).

Virology

A vast array of molecular and serological testing, providing regional and national services. Specialist services include the testing of blood borne viruses using dried blood spot samples from prisons and outreach services, and the provision of a reference service for the confirmation of syphilis. A demonstrable track record of keeping at the forefront of the science. New and innovative methods include the introduction of Beta D Glucan testing, Hepatitis D virus serology and the provision of an extended molecular CSF viral panel, all of which directly contribute to improvements in patient services.