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Immunology and Protein Reference Unit

The Immunology Laboratory and Protein Reference Unit is a specialist service based at St George’s Hospital. It provides a comprehensive diagnostic service for immunology across the South West London Pathology network. The department hosts one of two Supraregional Assay Service Protein Reference Units in England UK and serves an extensive client base nationally and internationally, receiving samples from over 100 referring hospitals.

The Protein Reference Unit was established in 1971 under Professor J.R.Hobbs at Westminster Hospital, London. Professor Hobbs was an expert in the analysis of serum proteins, including immunoglobulins. After a brief relocation in 1992 to the Royal Surrey County Hospital at Guildford, the Protein Reference Unit settled at St George’s Hospital.

The Protein Reference Unit maintains its specialist interest and skills in protein analysis, particularly relating to immunoglobulins, including cryoglobulins and heavy chain disease investigations.

The wide and diverse UKAS-accredited repertoire of tests carried out by the Immunology Laboratory and Protein Reference Unit help to exclude, diagnose and monitor a variety of immunologically-based diseases including:

  • allergy
  • immune deficiency
  • hematological malignancy
  • autoimmune disease.

Expert advice is available from our Consultant Clinical Scientist team around appropriate investigation of clinical problems and the interpretation of results. This includes encouraging the most appropriate use of immunology tests and ensuring our service develops to meet changing clinical requirements.

Latest news

October 11, 2023

Launch of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Alerts for primary care

In line with the national think kidneys acute kidney injury programme, led by NHS England, the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) alert system is being rolled out to cover patients in the community.

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October 10, 2023

SWLP Training Team wins prestigious IBMS poster competition

At this year’s IBMS Congress, members of the SWLP Training Team won the poster competition in the education and training category.

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September 21, 2023

Scopio digital platform introduced at Croydon Hospital for blood film morphology

A new digital platform called Scopio by Beckman Coulter has been introduced at Croydon Hospital for blood film morphology. The new platform can do a full field scan, which means that it is scanning the entire blood film, including feathery edge of the blood film, which is why it is able to look at almost all, if not all, cell types present on that particular film.

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September 15, 2023

A day in the life… Denise Eck, Reception Supervisor

Find out about a day in the life of our Reception Supervisor at Croydon Hospital Denise Eck.

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