FAQs

Get in touch with us to be set up at no cost. After taking a few details from you, we will send you some specially designed transportation boxes and your login details for the portal, and then you are ready to send us cases the next day (or whenever you need us).

When you are ready to receive reports, we talk through over the phone how to download reports.

We will also send a simple contract which is not exclusive and does not require a minimum number of cases to be sent.

For a non-selected general mix of pre-prepared slides, we charge a low fixed fee per case (with a volume discount). The price includes everything: secure courier transport, and reporting on additional levels and immunohistochemistry – so you know in advance how much you will be spending.

If you prefer to send us specific tissue types, we also have a complexity-based pricing model. Get in touch with your requirements so that we can give you a quote.

For reporting from wet tissue or blocks, please get in touch to discuss your needs.

You can send us pre-prepared slides, wet tissue samples or paraffin blocks.

We can report all specialties across histology and cytology including:

• Skin
• GI
• Breast
• Head and Neck
• Soft Tissue
• Liver
• Urology
• Lung
• Gynaecology
• Endocrine
• Paediatrics

We cover many more specialties so if you are unsure please contact us and we will confirm.

We can take as many or as few as you need help with.

Yes, we use your case numbering system to make things easier for you.

Yes, to send us cases you just need to send us the microscope slides (or wet tissue samples) along with your hospital’s medical request form or LIMS printout, and we do the rest.

If we are reporting from pre-prepared slides, we will send you requests for additional levels, immunos or special stains. We can often help if the requested test cannot be undertaken locally.

For reporting from wet tissue and paraffin blocks, Backlogs is responsible for carrying out any further work required.

Yes. In the event that a pathologist’s reports need to reviewed, we can help provide independent expert pathologists to carry this out.

For pre-prepared slides, Backlogs typically reports cases within four working days. We can also prioritise urgent cases.

Yes. Let us know if a case becomes urgent and we will make sure that it is reported faster.

All transport materials are provided, and we send packing instructions to all our new clients. These are also available in our user handbook which you can access after logging in to the reporting portal. Please get in touch if you would like a copy of this.

If you are sending tissue specimens or blocks, please follow the specialist medical courier’s guideline. All transport materials are provided.

Collections can be organised on either a regular or an ad-hoc basis. We find that regular collections often work best for our clients, but we are happy to accommodate your needs. Get in touch with us and we can arrange same- or next-day collection. Please see our user handbook for more details, which is available after logging in to the reporting portal. Alternatively please get in touch to ask for a copy.

The phone number for out-of-hours emergencies is listed in the user handbook, which is available after logging in to the reporting portal. Alternatively please get in touch to ask for a copy.

Yes, Backlogs uses a secure courier with tracking capabilities.

After reporting, we return microscope slides, and/or blocks, and request forms by secure tracked courier.

Cases sent to us are reported by our network of expert pathologists, covering all specialties. The quality of our reporting is central to everything that we do.

All our pathologists:

• Are carefully vetted before they join us.
• Are part of our thorough internal quality assessment process to ensure the ongoing quality of our reports.
• Are collegiate members of the Royal College of Pathologists or equivalent authority.
• Participate in national EQA and CPD schemes.
• Are subject to annual appraisal in accordance with NHS clinical governance.

(NB. We can also arrange for your cases to be reported exclusively by pathologists based in UKAS accredited laboratories).

Backlogs’ pathologists all have professional medical indemnity cover through UK medical defence organisations. Backlogs Limited also holds corporate indemnity insurance.

When you receive a notification email telling you that your report(s) are ready, simply log in to our secure online reporting portal to download reports. We also offer HL7 links, making it even easier to access results.

The portal is very intuitive, and we offer training on how to use it if necessary. Call us up at any time if you need any help accessing a report.

Yes, please get in touch to find out more.