The Pathology Laboratory of the Health Authority serves the majority of the population of the Cayman Islands. Specimens are received from Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

Approximately 400,000 laboratory requests are received every year. The laboratory operates on a 24-hour service seven days a week. The associated Phlebotomy service operates Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm and on Saturdays from 8:30am to 12:30pm.

Services are offered in Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, Blood Banking, Serology, Cytopathology, Histopathology and Autopsy Pathology.

Staffing includes a highly qualified team of experienced Medical Technologists, Histotechnologist, Cytotechnologist, supporting clerical staff a Laboratory Supervisor and a Consultant Pathologist.

An Electrocardiograph service is also provided. Although the vast majority of tests can be performed locally more exotic investigation are referred overseas to certified reference laboratories. Overseas tests include certain Viral tests, TB culture, Mycology exotic Chemistry assays and Immunohistochemistry.

Quality Assurance is paramount and all laboratory division participates in a variety of external schemes. The laboratory strives to be the leading establishment and centre of excellence in the Caribbean committed to ensuring the highest quality services with appropriate up to date technology, according to International Standards and to produce accurate, reliable and timely results within the limits of available resources, utilising the skills and dedication of a committed team.

Forensic Laboratory

The Forensic laboratory provides much needed local forensic testing services and assists in criminal and other legal investigations through the examination of physical and biological evidence.

The service includes the analysis of drugs in urine (forensic toxicology), examination of street drugs, assessment of evidence in relation to serious crimes such as sexual assaults and murders, crime scene investigation, fire debris analysis and postmortem toxicology. The staff operates with a pager service for out-of-hours issues.

Morgue

The morgue provides both a temporary resting place and a facility for medical investigations to determine cause of death. It comprises a waiting/reception area, a resting chamber (with capacity for six bodies) and a twin table modern autopsy room with a glass-screened observation gallery.

Autopsy examinations (approximately 30-40 a year) are undertaken normally at the request of the Coroner but they can also be requested in cases where there may be a public interest or privately by concerned families. They are performed typically on unexplained deaths (as required by the Coroner) but autopsies may still be done in other cases where there is a need to clarify the cause of death.