Molecular Diagnostics
The laboratory is not currently meeting turnaround times for all of its tests. For specific details of our current turnaround times, please see - Service turnaround time - East Genomics.
Please contact the laboratory for any clinically urgent cases as these may be able to be prioritised and reported within the target turnaround time.
The Molecular Diagnostics department is part of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and is based at the City Hospital Campus. The postal address is:
Genomics and Molecular Medicine (Molecular Diagnostics)
City Hospital Campus
Hucknall Road
NG5 1PB
The Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory offers a PCR-based service with the following applications (DNA, RNA or both):
- Molecular diagnostic testing in tumours from cancer patients (haematology oncology and solid tumours)
- Assignment of prognostic/predictive molecular markers in cancer
- Residual disease monitoring by q-PCR
- Monitoring of engraftment in bone marrow transplant patients by STR profiling (chimerism).
The laboratory can be contacted between 08:45 and 17:00. Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Peripheral blood or bone marrow samples for Molecular Diagnostics and flow cytometry investigations should be collected in EDTA tubes and sent either to pathology reception or directly to the HMDN reception in a Molecular Diagnostics and Flow Cytometry sample bag as soon as possible. Bone marrow samples are sent directly to HMDN with an HMDN request form (paper copies available from the CAS office).
Please clearly state the tests required with full clinical details/reason for the request with the most recent FBC if possible. If same day delivery to the laboratory cannot be guaranteed, the sample can be refrigerated then sent as soon as possible the following day (RNA stability may be affected if >72 hrs).
Molecular tests are also undertaken on histological material – fresh/frozen biopsies are preferable but tests are more frequently conducted on formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) sections and requested through a pathologist. For advice please contact the Molecular Diagnostics department (all appropriate requests can be made using our solid cancer referral form).
Please note: same day, urgent samples must be received by 3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday, unless by prior arrangement with the laboratory. Please highlight high risk specimens on the specimen bag/form and specimen container with details of the risk e.g. high risk microbe. Certain high-risk specimens may not be processed.