Parasitology

The Department of Clinical Parasitology offers an expert clinical advisory and diagnostic parasitology service for the UK.  

The clinical service aims to provide specialist care for patients with parasitic infections at ULCH and around the UK though a weekly parasitology clinic and a designated email and telephone line for clinicians seeking advice.  

Regular multidisciplinary team meetings for rare parasitic infections including echinococcosis, neurocysticercosis, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis provide expert advice to clinicians managing these conditions in a hub and spoke manner, promoting equitable care for patients around the UK.  

Central to this service is the Department of Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, housed at Health Services Laboratories. This, offers a broad range of microscopy, culture, molecular and serology diagnostics for parasites. It acts as a reference laboratory for most hospitals in the UK and Ireland. A senior biomedical scientist is on call 24 hours a day for emergency diagnosis of blood borne parasites.  

The full range of tests is available here https://www.hslpathology.com/services/hsl-parasitology/. Where testing cannot be arranged locally, samples may be forwarded to parasitology reference laboratories around the world. .  

Diagnostic and clinical advice is available to clinicians through the Parasitology team (uclh.parasitologyspr@nhs.net or via telephone through UCLH switchboard).  

Icon link to HSL parasitology (https://www.hslpathology.com/services/hsl-parasitology/) –  

Icon link to Echinococcosis MDT page ( see below)  

Key Personnel 

• Dr Laura Nabarro 
• Dr Gauri Godbole 
• Dr Spencer Polley (link to HSL web page) 

For Laboratory Specimens 

The Department of Clinical Parasitology The Hospital for Tropical Diseases 3rd Floor Mortimer Market Centre  

Mortimer Market London WC1E 6JB Dx Number: DX 6640701 Exchange: TOTTENHAM CT RD 91 WC 

Out of hours, emergency samples should be sent to T8 ward, UCLH following discussion with the on call Tropical Registrar 

For laboratory results or adding on tests:  

HSL/ TDL switchboard on +44 (0) 207 307 9400 and ask for Parasite serology (level 04) or , Parasite microscopy (level 04) 

For clinical advice:  

In working hours (M-F, 9-5) – uclh.parasitologyspr@nhs.net or ask to speak to the Parasitology Registrar through UCLH switch board 

For urgent out of hours queries- call the Tropical Registrar through UCLH switchboard (0203 456 7890) 

For clinic referrals: