Who We Are
NHS Dumfries and Galloway Laboratory provides a comprehensive diagnostic testing service for the whole of Dumfries and Galloway, analysing samples from GP surgeries, community care, and hospital care settings.
Services offered
The laboratories are committed providing a high quality, comprehensive laboratory service to our colleagues and their patients for diagnosis, monitoring and management of disease.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway Laboratory services (including mortuary) consist of the following diagnostic testing departments.
- Clinical Biochemistry. Accreditation number 8079
- Haematology Blood Transfusion. Accreditation number 8074
- Cell Science incorporating Microbiology, Histopathology and Mortuary Services. Accreditation number 8077
Laboratory and mortuary services are provided at two sites within the region. The main laboratories and mortuary are based at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Dumfries and a satellite laboratory and mortuary based at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.
Laboratory staff aim to ensure that all samples are processed in line with best practice methods and in an effective and efficient way to minimise the length of time it takes to issue a result.
What We Do
Laboratories offer a wide range of diagnostic tests including but not limited to Blood, Urine, Faeces, Cerebrospinal fluid, STI, Antenatal and Tissue biopsies.
A list of accredited tests is available from the following link.
Resources
Videos from the IBMS of the lab sample journey
- Do you know what happens to your urine sample? Urine
- Do you know what happens to your blood sample? Blood
- Do you know what happens to your tissue sample? Tissue
- Patient tests – link to NHS inform Tests and treatments | NHS inform
- Patient safety – link to UKAS UKAS – The UK Accreditation Body – Creating Confidence
- RCPath – Homepage
- MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency – GOV.UK
Staff
The Laboratory Services are provided by a multi-disciplinary team made up of:
- Consultant Medical Staff
- Clinical Scientists
- Advanced Practitioners
- Biomedical scientists
- Associate Practitioners
- Anatomical Pathology Technicians
- Biomedical Support staff
- Service Managers
- Quality Managers
- Administrative staff
Quality Assurance
Each department is accredited to ISO 15189:2012 (Medical Laboratories requirements for quality and competence) which means they are assessed regularly for continual compliance by United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS).
Each separate department has a unique accreditation number detailed above.
Each examination undertaken by the laboratories has a written protocol.
Full details of accredited test (scope of practice) for each discipline/department are available at:
Contact
Laboratory services are not directly accessible to patients, relatives or carers of those who use the service.
The pathway and communication mechanism for patients, relatives or carers in relation to laboratory or mortuary activity will be via the clinician who is in charge of the patient management.
Complaints/Compliments/Suggestions can be made through the Patient Safety Experience Team dg.patientsservices@nhs.scot