Year 12 students took part in an exciting and highly informative visit to The Doctors Laboratory at the HALO Building in Euston on 3 February 2026. They were warmly welcomed by Gill from the Outreach Programme, who introduced the organisation, its work (this is a medically led laboratory with a reputation for excellence in providing quality accredited pathology services to the UK and across the world) and the schedule for the day.

The group began with a guided tour led by a senior member of the Blood Science Laboratories, covering both Automated and Manual Blood Sciences. They were particularly amazed by the £8 million state‑of‑the‑art automated blood sample carrier system spanning four floors across and different departments, as well as the sheer volume of work processed daily — around 15,000 samples.

Students then had the opportunity to explore the dark room to view cells under fluorescent light, using high‑specification fluorescent microscopes undergoing mitosis. They were thrilled to witness mitosis happening in real time, perfectly linking to their recent Biology topic.

The visit continued with a tour of the Virology Department and the Infection Sciences Laboratories, where they examined and bravely tolerated, very smelly renal and faecal samples. Here, they were also able to see parasites removed from a patients gut and view scabies under the microscope, this caused great excitement! The group also explored both Level 2 and Level 3 infectious disease zones, gaining insight into high‑level laboratory safety and procedures.

The day concluded with a presentation summarising the visit and outlining routes for degree apprenticeships in Biomedical Science and employment. The Head of Virology was particularly impressed with several students and has offered work‑experience placements to those who stood out. Overall, it was an extremely successful and inspiring trip that gave Year 12 a valuable insight into real‑world biomedical science and future career pathways.