In 2018, a total of 13,781 samples were analysed for 595,562 analytes, a 7% increase in the number of samples submitted for analysis and a 14% increase in the number of analytes tested for compared to 2017. There was an unexpected 12% increase in the number of samples submitted for the Coroners Service, with a ~20% increase in samples in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2017. This had a very negative impact on the timeliness of the service provided during the year, which will not improve until additional staff and equipment resources are assigned in 2019.