Estimated turnaround times, excluding ICC and other further work:
| Band | Estimated turnaround time |
|---|---|
| Band A | 80% reported within 7 days from collection date, including 2WR cancer related, Nuffield, Woodlands and private |
| Band A | Complex specimens – Up to 3 weeks |
| Band AB | 80% step down for 2WR cases, reported within 14 days from collection date |
| Band B | 80% reported within 14 days from collection date |
| Band C | 80% current TAT for band C is 6-8 weeks |
Bandings by specimen
| Specimen | Band |
|---|---|
| Urgent reporting required including close MDT date | A |
| 2 week rule cases | A |
| Clinical suspicion of cancer | A |
Breast
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Breast needle core biopsy | A |
| Mammatome | A |
| Breast resection for tumour | A |
| Benign breast lump | C |
| Breast reductions | C |
| Gynaecomastia | C |
ENT
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Post nasal space biopsy | A |
| Suspicion SCC, lymphoma or other tumour | A |
| Vocal cord biopsy | A |
| Laryngeal biopsy | B |
| Papilloma | C |
| Tongue biopsy (without indication of early MDT meeting) | C |
| Nasal polyps | C |
| Tonsil (benign) | C |
Gastro-intestinal endoscopy
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Urgent or 2WR | A |
| Endoscopic biopsies querying malignancy | A |
| Endoscopic biopsies – 2WR step down B | AB |
| Acute colitis | B |
| Adenoma | C |
| Barrett’s | C |
| Crohn’s / Ulcerative colitis / inflammatory bowel disease | C |
| Endoscopic polyps | C |
| Gastritis | C |
| Oesophagitis | C |
| Endoscopy (“Endoscopic Diagnosis” – normal / coeliac / micro-absorption) | C |
Gastro-intestinal other
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Urgent or 2WR | A |
| Liver biopsy (where malignancy is suspected) | A |
| Appendix (where a tumour is suspected) | B |
| Tumour resections | B |
| Liver biopsy (non-malignant) | B |
| Peritoneal biopsies | C |
| Proctitis | C |
| Anal fistula | C |
| Appendix routine | C |
| Gall bladder | C |
Genitourinary
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Renal biopsy | A |
| Prostatic biopsy | A |
| Bladder biopsies | B |
| Bladder chipping | B |
| Cystectomy | B |
| Kidney (tumour) | A |
| Penectomy | B |
| Penile biopsy (tumour) | B |
| Testicular tumours | B |
| Urethral biopsy (not polyp) | B |
| Radical prostatectomy – please see comment below | Unassigned Band B |
| Prostate chippings | C |
| Circumcision (foreskin) | C |
| Epididymal cyst | C |
| Kidney (non-cancer) | C |
| Testicular cyst | C |
| Urethral polyp | C |
| Vas defererns | C |
Radical prostatectomy
This type of sample is categorised as unassigned band B. These bands have a 12 week turnaround time from collection as per the clinical protocol
Gynaecology
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| LLETZ “Diagnostic” | A |
| LLETZ “See and treat” | B |
| Cervical biopsies | A |
| Endometrial samples for PMB | B |
| Ovarian biopsy for cancer | B |
| Products of conception (suspected molar) | B |
| Uterus for endometrial / cervical cancer | A |
| Ecotopic pregnancy | C |
| Other endometrial samples | C |
| Endometriosis | C |
| Fallopian tube | C |
| Ovary (non cancer) | C |
| Products of conception (unless suspected molar – band B) | C |
| Uterus for menorrhagia & prolapse | C |
| Vulval cyst | C |
Lung
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Pleural biopsy | A |
| Bronchial / lung biopsy | A |
| Lung for tumour | A |
| Wedge lung biopsy for tumour of fibrosis | B |
Lymphoreticular
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Lymph node biopsy / biopsy for lymphoma | A |
| Maltoma / MALT lymphoma | A |
| Spleen (where lymphoma is suspected) | A |
| Sentinel lymph node | B |
| Thymus | B |
| Spleen (rupture) | C |
Obstetrics
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Placenta | C |
Oral surgery
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Buccal mucosa (without indication of early MDT meeting) | C |
| Tongue biopsy (without indication of early MDT meeting) | C |
Ortho and soft tissue
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Bone, including head of femur (tumour) | B |
| Soft tissue (tumour) | B |
| Schwannoma (non-neuropathology) | C |
| Bone (not tumour) | C |
| Bursa | C |
| Exostosis | C |
| Ganglion | C |
| Head of femur (non-tumour) | C |
| Lipoma | C |
| Morton’s neuroma | C |
| Osteomyelitis / Infection | C |
| Synovial biopsy | C |
Skin
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Skin IF | A |
| Wider excision of melanoma | A |
| Indeterminate pigmented lesion | B |
| Lentigo maligna | B |
| Melanoma | B |
| SCC – punch/incisional biopsy/curettage – diagnostic specimens | A |
| SCC – excision specimen | B |
| SCC – wider excision | B |
| BCC – punch/incisional biopsy/curettage – diagnostic specimens | B |
| BCC – excision specimen | B |
| BCC – wider excision | B |
| Dysplastic naevus – excision specimen | B |
| Dysplastic naevus – wider excision | B |
| Actinic / solar keratosis | C |
| Bowen’s disease | C |
| Keratocanthoma | C |
| Melanocytic naevi | C |
| Vasculitic rash | C |
| All other skin rashes | C |
| Benign pigmented skin lesions | C |
| Cyst, NOS | C |
| GP skins for non-cancerous lesions | C |
| Seborrhoeic keratosis | C |
| Wider excisions (not stated above) | C |
| Alopecia – Case referred to Source BioScience for reporting | C |
Neuropathology biopsies
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| All biopsies / resections | A |
Other
| Specimen type | Band |
|---|---|
| Temporal artery biopsy | A |
| Post mortem tissue | B |