Immunology

Our Immunology department helps to diagnose patients with allergies, defective immune systems and autoimmune diseases. This includes testing for thyroid disease, coeliac disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immunology also performs tests which detect hidden tuberculosis (TB) infection, and there are numerous research programmes underway, looking at allergy, HIV infection, immune deficiency, vaccine responses and immune function.

Our Immunology department provides a molecular service and is working with suppliers to develop an extensive sequencing service to assist in disease monitoring and response to therapies.

Our Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics laboratory performs tissue typing and crossmatching for kidney and bone marrow transplant patients and donors. We test the blood of potential transplant recipients for antibodies and compare them with those of potential donors to avoid rejection of the organ. We also perform the HLA-B27 test to confirm a suspected diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis or reactive arthritis.

This is a regional service, including out-of-hours donor typing, and we work closely with laboratories in other trusts to ensure the on-going support for transplant patients across the region. This extensive programme includes pre-and post-transplant testing, and monitoring of patients.

Please see Specialist Laboratories – Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics

The clinical staff responsible for clinical advice, diagnostic and interpretative services are:

Immunology Lead: Dr Peter Kelleher B.A. M.B. B.Ch. B.A.O: University of Dublin. M.R.C.P. (Ireland) Ph.D. Pathology: Imperial College University of London FRCPath

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Director: Arthi Anand

Urgent Tests

Samples to be performed urgently must be discussed with the Infection and Immunity laboratory within working hours (9.00am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday) on 020331 10130 (in the case of Virological investigations, with a Medical Virologist on 020331 10138 or 020331 10139).

If eligibility for same day testing is agreed, these must be in the laboratory at Charing Cross by the time specified by the lab team (according to details of the test).

Test Add Ons

Add on tests can be requested by contacting the Infection and Immunity laboratory directly by phone within working hours (9.00am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday) on 020 331 10130 or via email to [email protected]