Latest news and updates

National Pathology week 2nd – 8th November 2026

National Pathology Week 2026 – Welcome to the Lab

The Pathology team will be celebrating National Pathology Week, 2–8 November 2026, under this year’s theme, ‘Welcome to the Lab’.

National Pathology Week is an annual celebration highlighting the vital contribution pathology makes to healthcare and patient care.

To mark the occasion, we would like to offer short tours of our laboratory to primary and secondary care colleagues. These tours will provide an insight into what happens behind the scenes and the important role pathology plays in patient diagnosis and treatment. Tours can be arranged at a mutually convenient time.

If you are interested in visiting the laboratory, please email Hannah Spavin at [email protected] to arrange a suitable time.

We would also like to highlight our Pathology website, where you can find more information about our services.

Finally, the Pathology Alliance is hosting a programme of national online events throughout November. Further details can be found on the Royal College of Pathologists’ National Pathology Week webpage.

Updates to Free T4 assay (26/03/2026)

On 26th March our fT4 assay will be updated to a newer formulation that is less susceptible to interference from biotin. Results between old and new assays are comparable, with a slight (2%) increase in results in some patients. This shouldn’t change anything on ICE and any results on the new assay should continue on the same line as the previous assay when in cumulative results/graph view.

As part of this change, we’ll also be updating our fT4 reference range to 8 – 18 pmol/L for adult patients (currently 7.9 – 14.4 pmol/L). A comment will be added to all results for a short period to highlight the changes.

Please contact Biochemistry clinical team if you have any queries regarding this: [email protected]

Urine sample collection communication (04/03/2026)

Urine monovette containers are the first-choice container for random/spot urine samples to be sent to Pathology.

For Biochemistry requests (e.g. urine microalbumin) this is the yellow monovette. We are now supplying these as 8.5 ml monovettes instead of 10 ml monovettes, please use up any remaining supplies of 10 ml monovettes.

For Microbiology requests (e.g. urine culture) this is the green top monovette (containing boric acid) The concentration of boric acid is inhibitory to bacteria if the urine volume is below 10 mL

For instructions on using these containers see our website: Pathology – Urine samples – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

If patient cannot use a monovette e.g. due to lack of dexterity or less than 10 ml urine available, sending samples in urine universal is acceptable, but these should only be used when necessary. Please note that for urine culture requests these samples without preservative need to be received within 4 hours of collection, or up to 48 hours if refrigerated.

Please do not send urine in any other containers e.g. green topped collection pot or sputum pots