Division of Haematological Pathology
About us
The Division of Haematological Pathology is part of the Department of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science at Stellenbosch University. The division functions from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) located on the 9th floor at Tygerberg Hospital and is led by Prof Zivanai Cuthbert Chapanduka.
Our division provides a quality diagnostic service to Tygerberg Hospital and its referral network within the Cape Town Metropolitan area and parts of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. We provide full blood counts, differential leucocyte counts and peripheral blood smears, malaria diagnostics, coagulation testing, platelet function testing, maternal antibody testing, flow cytometry, body fluid cell analysis and a full bone marrow examination service. Our laboratory maintains international quality standards and is accredited in accordance with ISO15189 standards by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
The Division of Haematological Pathology works closely with the Division of Clinical Haematology in the Department of Medicine and the Division of Paediatric Oncology in the Department of Paediatrics to provide comprehensive diagnostic care to patients with benign and malignant haematological conditions, ranging from haemophilia and sickle cell anaemia to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The training and teaching of specialist haematopathology registrars, other postgraduate students and undergraduate students is a priority for our academic staff. We pride ourselves in guiding our registrars through their registrar programme, actively involving them in day to day working and management of the laboratory, providing them with opportunities for professional development in seminar presentations and research opportunities, and actively engaging them at divisional pathology rounds around our state of the art multi-header microscope.
In addition, the division prioritises research and is actively involved several research projects. It is a requirement for all registrars to perform research as a part of their MMed degree. We encourage all research outputs to be published in peer reviewed journals and encourage engagement at conferences to showcase those outputs.
Our medical scientists are involved in research to expand the molecular understanding of haematological disease and cancer drug resistance. They also perform diagnostic molecular testing for myeloproliferative neoplasms, AML and thrombophilia for NHLS haematology. Dr Carmen Swanepoel, our principal medical scientist, also supervises Masters in Pathology and PhD science students.
The Division of Haematological Pathology at Stellenbosch University strives to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that prioritises teamwork, professional growth and quality service.
