HSL Advanced Diagnostics Results

Reports are returned by email to the requesting site only. A paper copy of the report is also sent out with stained slides. HSL is accredited to the NHS Digital standard DCB1596 for secure email and can send and receive email to and from NHS Mail addresses without the need for additional encryption systems. All other emails distributing patient results and information use encrypted email.

Turnaround times

HSL Advanced Diagnostics is always looking at ways to improve the turnaround times (TATs) without compromising diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. TATs are closely monitored by the laboratory management on a regular basis, and this information is available to service users upon request. 

Please note that stated turnaround times are in working days and are dependent on:

• Day of receipt of tissue block or pre-cut slides.
• Test with or without interpretation.
• Arrival time in laboratory (all FISH requests must arrive in the laboratory by 12:00 for TAT calculation to begin on that day, otherwise it will begin from the following working day).
• Courier or standard post (please send by at least 1st Class Royal Mail or Special Delivery).

Stated TATs are based on receipt of sample in lab to sample/result leaving the HSL-AD.

Laboratory and do not include postal/courier delivery times to and from the lab. All requests involving interpretation are sent by encrypted email.

Downtime

There are times where instrument downtime may result in delay of slides being processed and returned. Such occurrences are very rare, and all major engineering tasks required for our IHC instruments and department are carried out during weekend periods. In the event of downtime, all customers will be contacted directly and will be informed of any situation with expected turnaround times.