Sixth Formers visit to pathology labs

As part of Pathology Week at the BRI, a group of 6th formers were offered an afternoon exploring the pathology labs. Our trip started with an introductory talk about different careers that our group were hoping to follow. For example, doctors, dentist, nurses and midwives. We met the head pathologist and she spoke to us about the different careers that can stem from pathology. Specialists then gave us talks on histopathology, haematology and microbiology before going into the pathology lab. We saw different types of tissue samples, including lungs with benign and malignant tumours, a very bad case of gallstones, and even an amputated hand with a tumour. We learned how to create slides from the initial tissue samples and how to find different diseases by looking at slides through a microscope. We looked at a range of slides through a microscope hooked up to a television so we could all see the different diseased cells on the screen. We were also taken on a tour of the biochemistry lab and were shown how chromatography is used to test blood for different levels of substances such as proteins, glucose, and drugs. It was an invaluable, if slightly gruesome, experience that taught us what pathologists really do.

BRI pathology labs on the web

By Clare Shere, Hannah Owen, Steph Clark and Melissa Smith.