The Histopathology Department Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) provides a comprehensive range of histological and cytological pathological services. These services include the routine and specialised examination of tissue samples (including immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy), diagnostic screening of body fluids and aspirates, and coroner's autopsies.
These services are fully supported and led by Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) registered consultant clinical staff and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered senior biomedical scientists.
Opening hours
The Histopathology Department is open for the routine examination of specimens from 08:30 to 17:30 Monday to Friday and on Saturday for deliveries from 09:00 to 12:00. It also provides an on-call service for renal and liver transplant and out of hours intra-operative frozen section.
Contact details
Departmental Clinical Lead: Dr Michael Eden
Histopathology Manager: Zahrah Rosun
Contact Histopathology and cytology via its Enquiries line
Telephone: 01223 217163
Histopathology service update
The Histopathology and Diagnostic Cytology laboratory has relocated to 1000 Discovery Drive on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
UKAS Accreditation Scope
Histopathology department, including 1000 Discovery Drive location is accredited to ISO 15189:2022 standards. Schedule of accreditation can be found here. (opens in a new tab)
Histopathology turnaround time
Due to a significant increase in the number Histopathology investigations since the end of the COVID pandemic the Cambridge Histopathology laboratory has not been meeting the turnaround time reporting standards to which we aspire:
- 80% within 7 days
- 90% within 10 days
- 95% within 21 days
An improvement programme is on-going and the laboratory continues to work on several initiatives to increase capacity. This includes the use of digital imaging (replacing microscopy) and implementation of new technologies.
Information on the current turnaround time (TAT) performance for all cases is shown below:
| Month / Year | 7 Day TAT | 10 Day TAT | 21 Day TAT | Number of Cases | Total Slides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month / Year January 2026 | 7 Day TAT 75.40% | 10 Day TAT 87.24% | 21 Day TAT 96.88% | Number of Cases 4679 | Total Slides 32096 |
| Month / Year February 2026 | 7 Day TAT 70.83% | 10 Day TAT 83.98% | 21 Day TAT 96.76% | Number of Cases 5025 | Total Slides 34503 |
| Month / Year March 2026 | 7 Day TAT 69.27% | 10 Day TAT 83.42% | 21 Day TAT 96.52% | Number of Cases 6213 | Total Slides 43578 |
| Month / Year April 2026 | 7 Day TAT 64.45% | 10 Day TAT 80.11% | 21 Day TAT 96.83% | Number of Cases 4883 | Total Slides 32823 |
If you require an urgent result, please contact the department via its enquiries line ext. 217163 (if external 01223 217163) or email histopathology so that this can be escalated appropriately.
Fresh tissue for whole genome sequencing (WGS) - RNA later pathway
Overview
RNAlater is available for solid tumour WGS submissions to East GLH or via CUH histopathology. It stabilises DNA and allows safe storage and transport without immediate freezing. Local validation confirms its suitability for WGS workflows.
Requesting RNAlater
Phone 01223 348213 (Section leader) or email here.
We supply 6 x 5 mL RNAlater universals per request.
How to use RNAlater
- Trim tissue to ≤5 mm; immerse in ≥5:1 RNAlater:tissue.
- Storage: RT ≤1 week; 4 °C ≤1 month; for archival, –20 °C/–80 °C indefinitely after overnight at 4 °C to allow penetration.
- After-hours: place fresh tissue in RNAlater and notify Histopathology the next working day.
Where to send external RNAlater samples needing purity assessment
1000 Discovery Drive, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 0AX
Further Information and request form for sending samples to Histopathology in RNA later are available here (opens in a new tab)