Document is current

Article History

Received: 10 March 2026

Accepted: 30 June 2026

First Online: 7 July 2026

Declarations

:

: This study used data from routine laboratory practice at NUTH. The Newcastle Joint Research Office [54], a partnership between Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, classifies this project as a service evaluation rather than research. As such, NHS Research Ethics Committee approval and NHS Research and Development approval were not required. As this work involved retrospective analysis of anonymised routinely collected laboratory data with no direct patient involvement, individual consent to participate was not required. Although formal research ethics approval was not required for this service evaluation, all data were stored and utilised in accordance with European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) [55] and UK Data Protection Act 2018. All procedures were conducted in accordance with relevant institutional governance frameworks for service evaluation. As this work was classified as service evaluation rather than research, formal adherence to the Declaration of Helsinki was not mandated.

: Not applicable.

: Patients and the public were not involved in this study design, conduct, or dissemination planning. This retrospective analysis of routinely collected laboratory data did not require patient recruitment or direct patient participation. However, the study addresses a clinically relevant question regarding optimal diagnostic testing that could impact future patient care through improved laboratory efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.

: The authors declare no competing interests.