About Laboratory Medicine – NHS Fife

Laboratory Medicine is part of the Women, Children and Clinical Services Directorate within the Acute Services Division of NHS Fife. It consists of four laboratory departments:

  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Haematology with Blood Transfusion
  • Cellular Pathology (Cytopathology, Histopathology, and Mortuary Services)
  • Medical Microbiology and Infection Control (including Serology, Clinical Immunology, Andrology and Mycology)

The service is led by a Laboratory Director, managed by a Head of Laboratory Services, and each department is headed by a Medical Consultant or a Consultant Grade Clinical Scientist.

Location and Activity

Laboratory Medicine at NHS Fife operates across two buildings on the Victoria Hospital site in Kirkcaldy—the North Laboratory and South Laboratory, and the Mortuary within the Queen Margaret Hospital site in Dunfermline—and carries out over 6 million tests each year.

We provide high-quality, cost-effective diagnostic services to:

  • Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
  • Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
  • Community Hospitals and Services
  • General Practitioners
  • Other NHS Boards in Scotland

All departments within Laboratory Medicine at NHS Fife are accredited by UKAS, and Blood Transfusion also by MHRA, ensuring a robust and reliable diagnostic service.

UKAS Accredited Medical Laboratories:

  • Blood Sciences (Routine Haematology and Coagulation, Blood Transfusion, Routine Biochemistry, Toxicology and Proteins)
    Department of Blood Sciences – a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8815
  • Cellular Pathology (Histopathology, Cytopathology and Mortuary Services)
    Department of Cellular Pathology – a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8816
  • Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology and Serology
    Microbiology Department – a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8844

A list of accredited tests used by the laboratory is available within each Department’s scope of accreditation which can be found on the UKAS website (Search UKAS accredited organisations).  A list of non-accredited tests used by the laboratory is available on request and these will also be identified on individual reports.

Understanding Laboratory Tests

For more information about laboratory tests, including what they are used for and what results may mean, please visit:
👉 Patient Education on Blood, Urine, and Other Lab Tests | Lab Tests Online-UK

This resource is designed to help patients and healthcare professionals better understand the role of laboratory testing in diagnosis and treatment.

Complaints Procedure

Complaints concerning the services delivered by the laboratory may be raised by following the link below:
👉 Feedback and complaints | NHS Fife

Suggestions for Service Improvement

The Laboratory Services are committed to continually improving our services to meet the needs and requirements of our service users. If you have any suggestions on how we can provide a better service, please complete the following survey by copying the link into your browser:
👉 https://forms.office.com/e/KCiuNTrXJJ