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Diagnostic pathology services

Our laboratory offers a diagnostic pathology service which includes a range of diagnostic approaches run by certified pathologists and residents.

Notice - The Diagnostic Pathology Service will be closed during the Christmas period, from Monday 22nd December 2025 to Monday 5th January 2026 inclusive. All services (except Cytology) will reopen on Monday 5th January 2026. The Cytology service will resume on Tuesday 13th January 2026 Our administrative and technical support staff are also unavailable, so any submissions posted during that time can only be processed after the resumption of normal services. For any more specific inquiries regarding our services over this period, please email vpadmin@liverpool.ac.uk

 

Please note that over the Christmas period, whilst the Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service is unavailable, the Small Animal Teaching Hospital and Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital will be open and staffed, running an emergency service throughout that period, including treatment of any inpatients that require ongoing care etc. The hospitals will not accept carcases for post-mortem examinations, however.

Every service is highly integrated and performed by qualified academic and technical staff. Students are routinely exposed to the case material as part of the teaching experience at the University of Liverpool.

The material obtained by the diagnostic pathology service is used for both undergraduate and postgraduate training and research in veterinary pathology, as this is a fundamental purpose of our activity.

  • We can perform post-mortem examinations on any animal species. We accept submissions from veterinary surgeons.

  • A forensic post-mortem includes examination of all major organs, chain of custody of the body and a histopathological examination. We accept submissions from veterinary surgeons.

  • The farm animal post-mortem service at Leahurst is an Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) partner post-mortem examination provider. Please contact us to arrange the submission of a carcass.

  • We regularly perform post-mortem examinations for local zoos. We accept submissions from zoos and safari parks for animals up to two tonnes in weight.

  • We can examine surgical biopsies and cytology samples. Please complete our form to submit a case.

  • We offer a range of diagnostic immunohistology services, for the identification of tumour cell origin, prognosis and tumour grading, and the demonstration of infectious agents.