A YOUNG girl from Devizes who suffers from leukaemia became a trainee scientist for the day when she was taken on a private tour of the pathology laboratory of the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Suki Corbett, six, got to test her own blood samples as part of the visit organised by charity Harvey's Gang.

Suki is part way through two and a half years of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, after being diagnosed at the age of four in January 2017.

Harvey's Gang is dedicated to giving seriously ill youngsters trainee scientist tours around pathology labs. Suki said: “It was so interesting visiting the lab, everyone was really nice. I loved testing my own blood and working out my blood type.”

She was nominated for the tour by her CLIC Sargent paediatric oncology nurse specialist Sarah Fay when she saw how curious Suki was about her blood tests, often asking where the blood went and what happened to it.

On the tour, Suki was given her own mini lab coat and ID badge, booked in and labelled her own blood samples and watched as the machines whizzed and whirred processing them.

Next she tested her sample to discover what blood type she was, looked at samples through a microscope and had a race with a scientist to fill up and then empty a pipette. The tour was topped off with a goody bag and certificate.

Suki was accompanied on the tour by her mum Rachel who said: “Very early on in treatment Suki expressed an interest in finding out what happens when her bloods are 'sent to the lab'.

"She was so excited when a visit was organised especially for her. The whole morning was fascinating and Suki was in her element learning about blood types, some of the many stages of testing and looking at cells under a microscope.

"Everyone in the lab was so welcoming, they devoted so much time and attention to her, it really was a privilege to have such an in depth tour. It's undoubtedly one of the highlights of our many hospital visits in recent years.”