SWGLH Quality

The South West genomic Laboratory Hub is committed to providing a service of the highest quality.

Information on accreditation, quality assurance including turn around times,  user feedback and complaints procedures can be accessed below

Accreditation

 

Bristol Genetics Laboratory (BGL) and Exeter Genetics Laboratory (EGL) are UKAS accredited medical laboratories numbers 9307 and 8092. UKAS assesses against the International Standard for medical laboratories, BS EN ISO15189:2012. Further information on accreditation is available via the UKAS website.

Details of activities that are currently provided under the scope of accreditation can be found at:

  1. BGL Schedule of Accreditation

  2. EGL Schedule of Accreditation - link to follow

In certain circumstances laboratory tests will be performed outside the scope of accreditation. This may arise when new services are introduced, for which UKAS accreditation is yet to be awarded. Application for extension to the laboratory scope will be submitted, however, whilst accreditation is pending the test continues to be performed to the same rigorous internal quality control standards and protocols as accredited tests. It should be noted that elements of the Whole Genome Sequencing service are undertaken by an external provider and are, therefore, provided outside the laboratory’s UKAS scope of accreditation.Methods that are currently pending accreditation are as follows:

Unaccredited Tests
Activity Comments
DNA / RNA extraction from FFPE, and RNA extraction from blood using the Maxwell RSC 48

New instrumentation and methodology.

Extension to UKAS accredited scope currently in progress.

Genotyping using Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and Melt-Curve Analysis

New methodology.

Extension to UKAS accredited scope currently in progress.

Assessment of copy number alteration (CNA) profiles using SNP microarray

New methodology.

Extension to UKAS accredited scope currently in progress.
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 system, Biomek i7 instrumentation and DNAnexus hosted bioinformatics pipelines (TSO500 assay)

New instrumentation and methodologies.

Extension to UKAS accredited scope currently in progress.
Automated slide staining and washing for Fluorescence in situ Hybridisation (FISH) using the Abbott VIP2000 processing unit

New instrumentation.

Application to UKAS for extension to scope of accreditation pending submission.
DNA methylation-based classification of central nervous system tumours using MethylationEPIC Array

New processes.

Application to UKAS for extension to scope of accreditation pending submission.
Solid Tumours Salvage Pathway testing for common actionable variants using Agena MassARRAY analysis

New methodology.

Application to UKAS for extension to scope of accreditation pending submission.
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Roche solid tumour panel

New panel.

Application to UKAS for extension to scope of accreditation pending submission.
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Roche haemato-oncology panel

New panel.

Application to UKAS for extension to scope of accreditation pending submission.

External Quality Assessment

The SWGLH participates in a comprehensive range EQA schemes provided by the following:

UKNEQAS / GenQA

EMQN

 

Where a formal EQA scheme is not available, arrangements for an informal sample swap testing scheme are made with another accredited laboratory.

Target Turnaround Times

The SWGLH is working towards 90% compliance with national reporting time guidelines stated in the table below:

word table with text information SWGLH turn around times

 

 

Cancer Genomic Turnaround Times

Below are the turnaround times (TAT) for the Cancer Genomic Services at the South West Genomic Laboratory Hub (SWGLH).  Cancer Genomic Services for the SW GLH are delivered from the Bristol Genetics Laboratory. Unless otherwise stated TAT is measured in calendar days from the date of sample receipt at Bristol Genetics to the point at which a result is returned to the requestor.

Further information on requesting a test can be found at SWGLH Sample and Test Information. 

Solid Tumour Genomics

Please contact nbn-tr.SWGLHcancer@nhs.net for further information.

 
Category Sub-category NHSE Target TAT (Days) Compliance with Target Average TAT (Days) [Jan '23 - Aug '23] Current TAT (days) 
Large Cancer Panel (DNA)   21 96% 13 11
  Lung Cancer Panel 21 99% 12 11
Cancer Fusion Panel (RNA)   21 64% 19 13
DPYD   5 100% 1 0
Targeted analysis (e.g. MGMT methylation, MSI)   14 90% 9 10
  BRAF (V600E) targeted analysis 14 100% 5 7
  ctDNA testing (EGFR) 14 91% 8 14
FISH   14 82% 11 8

 

Haematological Malignancy Genomics

Please contact Haem Duty Scientist nbn-tr.haematooncology@nhs.net for further information.

 
Category   NHSE Target TAT (Days) Compliance with Target Average TAT (Days) [Jan '23 - Aug '23] Current TAT (days) 
Very-Urgent haemato-oncology e.g. inv(16),t(8;21), PML-RARA, BCR-ABL1   3 80% 2 2
Urgent molecular haematology e.g. FLT3   14 100% 3 2
Urgent Karyotype   14 78% 9 11
  AML Karyotype 14 94% 8 8
Urgent FISH   14 97% 8 6
Routine Karyotype   21 40% 24 15
Routine FISH   21 82% 14 11
Routine Molecular Haematology e.g. JAK2 V617F   14 89% 10 8
  BCR-ABL1 monitoring 14 95% 10 9
Large Cancer Panel (DNA)   21 78% 17 13
  AML Panel 21 89% 14 9
  CLL NGS Panel (TP53) 21 100% 14 13

User Feedback

As the SWGLH , we strive to fulfil the requirements of all our service users and conduct regular user surveys. We are always happy to receive comments and feedback from our service users, please use the contact details below . This drives continual improvement and ensures that our service meets the needs of both referrers and patients.

If you would like to provide feedback please email us mailto: nbn-tr.geneticsenquiries@nhs.net

Complaints

We would like to assure our service users that complaints are taken very seriously and are fully investigated. The SWGLH laboratories respond to complaints in line with their respective Trust complaints policies and procedures. Further information can be found via the links below:

NBT Complaints Procedure

EGL Complaints Procedure

This page was last updated 09/08/2023

SWGLH Quality

Whole Genome Sequence request need advice?

Contact us - fingers on a telephone number pad

If you require further information regarding genomic testing please contact the laboratory

Tel:0117 4146168 or mailto:nbn-tr.bglexportscientist@nhs.net

If you require support for navigating the pathway including completion of paperwork please contact the Genomic Healthcare Practitioners

email rduh.swgenomicpractitioner@nhs.net