Coronavirus: COVID-19 resources hub

This page contains information available on COVID-19 relevant to the practice of pathology. Many of the resources were developed during the earlier stages of the pandemic before the roll out of the vaccine programme and when little was known about the impact of infection from SARS-CoV-2.  As the COVID pandemic moves into a different phase and with restrictions and infection rates varying across the UK, the guidance should be amended and applied as necessary in response to local rates and risk from COVID-19 infection.. The clinical risk of departing from any guidance should be assessed and documented.

We have also setup a page for trainees, which contains College guidance and advice about COVID-19 relevant to trainees. 

Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has created a freely accessible COVID-19-related e-learning programme for the UK health and care workforce. The training is free to all and does not require registration or login. 

If you notice any out-of-date information, or are aware of guidance and advice that would be relevant to the membership that we do not currently list here, please contact us at [email protected].

Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care provide the latest information on COVID-19 for health professionals, including guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases.

Updates from the UKHSA about the latest COVID variant and guidance can be found under 'Operational guidance and advice'.

Documents and resources are available by clicking on the drop-down arrow under each heading.

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Clinical guidance and advice

General guidance

Resources: General guidance

#TestingMethods2020

The College, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Bioindustry Association, British In Vitro Diagnostics Association, has setup a sourcing platform to seek new and novel solutions to help deliver 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of April. 

You can register to contribute in seconds, either with your email address or by signing in with your social media account (Twitter, Facebook, Google or LinkedIn). If you would prefer to put your idea forward confidentially to the closed part of this website, you can do that too. 

Please do tell other people who might be able to contribute. You can tweet about the platform using the hashtag #TestingMethods2020.

Resources: #TestingMethods2020

Infection prevention and control 

This webinar shared the latest validation and evaluation data of LAMP and LFDs by the experts who performed the studies and analysis.

Resources: Infection prevention and control

  • Letter: NHS personal protection equipment, 28 March 2020

    This letter from the National Medical Director of NHS England and NHS Improvement, Medical Director and Director of Health Protection of Public Health England and the Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal College about the supply and safety of, and guidance related to, NHS personal protective equipment.

    NHSE and NHSI, PHE and AoMRC March 2020

  • COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC)

    Guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Sustained community transmission is occurring across the UK.

    Public Health England August 2020

  • COVID-19: infection prevention and control

    Guidance from Public Health England on infection prevention and control for COVID-19, including the use of personal protective equipment.

    Public Health England

  • Use of vacuum tubes in pathology – change in guidance

    The previous version of this guidance from HSE regarding the use of pneumatic tubes for the transport of COVID-19 samples has been amended. The prohibition of their use for COVID-19 samples has been removed in this version – the latest edition as of 23 March 2020. All pathology services with pneumatic tubes should now be using this guidance.

    Health & Safety Executive

  • RCPath guidance on the use of POCT equipment in COVID-19-positive patients

    This guidance is based on documentation produced by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust for the use of point of care tests for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. It should be adapted for local use depending on the clinical setting and range of POCT in use.

    March 2020

Histopathology specimens, sections and slides

Resources: Histopathology specimens, sections and slides

Care of the deceased 

Resources: Care of the deceased

Specialty specific guidance

Placental changes of chronic histiocytic intervillositis & COVID-19

Recent cases have been reported which suggest a possible association between maternal COVID-19 infection and placental changes of chronic histiocytic intervillositis, sometimes with overlap with massive perivillous fibrin deposition. If placental examination reveals such pathology immunohistochemical staining to detect SARS-CoV-2 may be indicated.

MBRRACE-UK and our own perinatal leads within the College together with other stakeholders are monitoring the situation. 

Resources: Specialty specific guidance

Operational guidance and advice

Resources: Operational guidance and advice

Devolved nations information

International resources

International resources

Letters and statements

Resources: Letters and statements

College conferences

Resources: College conferences

  • Conferences

    The College aims to make a direct contribution to the further education of pathologists and medical professionals.