This Health Information Privacy Policy explains how ExamenLab Ltd collects, uses, and protects your personal and health information when you submit a biological sample for testing or use our products and services.
What health information we collect
To provide our diagnostic services, we collect and process personal and health information about you, which may include:
- Your name, contact details, and date of birth
- Health information provided by you or your clinician
- Biological samples submitted for testing
- Test results and related diagnostic data
- Information required for quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and clinical governance
Some of this information is classified as special category personal data under UK data protection law.
How we use your health information
We use your personal and health information to:
- Perform and report diagnostic testing
- Ensure test results are accurate, clinically appropriate, and of high quality
- Support communication between healthcare professionals involved in your care
- Investigate and respond to queries, incidents, or complaints
- Train and supervise our staff to maintain professional standards
- Plan, manage, and improve our services
Where possible, we minimise the use of identifiable information and use anonymised or pseudonymised data.
Research and service improvement
We may use anonymised health information for research, audit, and service improvement purposes.
Any research involving identifiable health information will only take place where legally permitted and, where required, approved by an appropriate Research Ethics Committee.
Legal basis for processing
We process your personal and health information in accordance with UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our legal bases include:
- Provision of diagnostic testing and related services
- Compliance with legal and regulatory obligations
- Reasons of public interest in the area of public health
- Your explicit consent, where required
You may withdraw consent at any time, although this may affect our ability to provide certain services.
Confidentiality and sharing of health information
All Examen staff and contractors are under a legal duty of confidentiality.
We only share your health information with:
- Authorised Examen personnel
- Healthcare professionals involved in your care
- Trusted third-party service providers who support our operations, under strict data protection agreements
- Regulatory or legal authorities where required by law
How long we keep your health information
We retain personal and health information only for as long as necessary to meet clinical, legal, regulatory, and quality requirements. Retention periods are defined in line with healthcare and regulatory standards.
Your rights
You have the right to:
- Access your personal and health information
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
- Request restriction or erasure of information in certain circumstances
- Object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with how your information is handled.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Health Information Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:
Data Protection Officer
ExamenLab Ltd
Unit 10G, Weavers Business Park
Linfield Road
Belfast BT12 5GH
Email: contact@examenlab.com
Telephone: +44 (0)28 9023 8915