The Biochemical Services Unit (NPSB) is part of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Universidade de Lisboa and provides clinical testing services to the academic community and the general public. The NPSB is also involved in education, especially in course units in the Integrated Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Master’s Degree in Laboratory Medicine, and takes an active part in several fields of scientific research.
The NPSB has human resources accredited by the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Association. It also has the necessary technology and instruments to carry out lab tests in the areas of haematology, biochemistry, endocrinology, immunology and microbiology.
In addition to the Laboratory Medicine Services, the NPSB has two other units providing specialised services:
The Metabolism and Genetics Laboratory (Met&Gen Lab) is coordinated by Isabel Tavares de Almeida. It undertakes the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of hereditary metabolic disorders and provides support for treatment centres in the National Program for Early Diagnosis in Lisbon (Hospital de Santa Maria and Hospital D. Estefânia) and other metabolic disease units at central and district hospitals.
The Liver and Nervous System Biopathology Laboratory (BIOPAT LabTest) is coordinated by Dora Brites. It provides support in the diagnosis of cholestasis of pregnancy and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. It also monitors the intake and efficacy of medication and assists in diagnosing hyperbilirubinemia in newborns and family members (Gilbert and Crigler Najjar syndromes).