Molecular Pathology

Molecular Pathology encompasses a range of robust methods that allow personalised oncology treatment based on molecular characteristics of individual tumours. The current test repertoire includes the analysis of specific somatic mutations, gene rearrangements and protein expression abnormalities in a subset of cancers for which there are targeted therapies available. The goal of the Molecular Pathology service is to produce, in timely fashion, a comprehensive integrated report, incorporating histological, morphometric and molecular genetic information, for use in the multi-disciplinary setting to aid diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to therapy.

 

The Molecular Pathology (Solid Tumour) service is administered through NHS Lothian University Hospitals Division and is fully integrated within Diagnostic Histopathology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. The service has been part of the Scottish Molecular Pathology Consortium since 2013 and provides a comprehensive molecular pathology testing service to the populations of Lothian, Borders, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway.

 

The Molecular Pathology team operates from within the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories on the second floor at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and works closely alongside the Haematology Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Service.

 

The laboratory is open between 09:00 and 17:00 hrs, Monday to Friday. There is no ‘out of hours’ service available and the laboratory is closed on public holidays.  However, investigations may be performed by special arrangement, after discussion with a member of our team.

 

Department of Laboratory Medicine

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

51 Little France Crescent

Old Dalkeith Road

Edinburgh

EH16 4SA