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Histopathology and Cytopathology

The services provided include the routine and specialised examination of tissue samples, diagnostic screening of body fluids and aspirates, routine and diagnostic screening of cervical smears, and autopsies.

About this service

The Histopathology and Cytopathology Department, based at Warrington Hospital, provides a comprehensive diagnostic service, reporting Histopathology, and Non-Gynaecological Cytopathology samples and is based on the first floor of Appleton wing at Warrington Hospital.

 

Warrington Hospital

  • Staff attend two breast clinics and one head & neck clinic each week.

  • Requests are received from theatres, GPs, endoscopy, out-patients and wards

  • Frozen sections are undertaken here – usually pre-booked.

Halton General Hospital

  • Staff attend one breast clinic each week.

  • Requests are received from theatres, GPs, endoscopy, out-patients and wards

  • Pre-booked frozen sections are undertaken here.

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Monday       8:00 am - 6:00 pm  
Tuesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday  8:00 am - 6:00 pm    
Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm  
Sunday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm  

Pathology Department
Warrington 
Cheshire 
WA5 1QG

Telephone: 01925 662542

Fax Number01925 662043

The Histology laboratory examines a wide range of tissue samples.  These could be tiny biopsies removed at a clinic, or larger samples removed in theatres in an operation.  The tissue is dissected to identify areas of interest, or if it is a small sample, all the tissue may be examined.

The tissue undergoes a process which enables us to create very thin sections of tissue which are placed onto glass slides.  The slides are then stained to show the different components of the tissue from which Histopathologists (doctors specialised in the study of cells and tissues) make a diagnosis.  This diagnosis forms a written report which is used by clinicians to treat and manage patients.  The whole process can take several days to complete.

You can view our Senior Doctor profiles in Histopathology here.

Cytology examines cells, such as those in body fluids or obtained by aspirating cells from lumps.  This is called Non-Gynaecological Cytology.

Gynaecological Cytology examines cells from the cervix sampled as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

The fluids examined in Non-Gynae Cytology include urine, pleural fluid, cyst fluid and aspirates from lumps such as those which may occur in the breast.  The samples are spun to concentrate the cells in the sample onto a glass slide which is stained to show the detail of the cells.

Histopathologists make a diagnosis from these stained slides and create a written report for clinicians to treat and manage patients.

The laboratory also performs fertility investigations on semen samples in where a number of complex factors are assessed to produce a written report for clinicians.  These results are used to plan and manage further treatment for patients and their partners if necessary. 

Post-vasectomy analysis on semen samples is undertaken in the laboratory to identify the presence or absence of sperm after a vasectomy.

Cells taken from the cervix when a cervical smear is performed are examined under a microscope.  This is part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, and the technique used to store the collected cells and to prepare them for examination is called Liquid Based Cytology.  The samples are prepared at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and the subsequent slides are examined at Whiston Hospital as part of a consolidated service.

The Mortuary is based at Warrington Hospital.  For all matters concerning a death, please contact the Bereavement Service at Warrington Hospital. The Bereavement Service will advise on the role of the Coroner in the investigation of deaths.  If a Post Mortem investigation is required, small pieces of tissue may need to be sampled and examined in the Histology laboratory.  The Coroner’s office will advise on all aspects of this.

Warrington Hospital