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HSL Website Cookie Policy

When you visit the Health Services Laboratories (HSL) website, with your permission we may send your computer a “cookie”. This is a small file that resides on your computer’s hard drive.

Cookies are small text files, which identify a user’s computer to our server. This does not mean we have access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. Also cookies in themselves cannot identify the individual user, just the computer used.

The HSL website uses cookies to collect user information via a web analytics service provided by Google. This allows us to evaluate, compile reports and help us to improve our website.

For example, we can identify popular areas of the site so that over time we can tailor the information on our site to better meet the needs of our visitors.

You can find out information on how to opt out of Google Analytics cookies.

Google Inc. stores the information collected by the cookie on servers in the United States. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. By using the HSL website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

See Google's Privacy Policy webpage for more www.google.com/intl/en/privacypolicy.html

How to control and delete cookies

HSL will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by HSL websites, or indeed any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you.

Please visit www.aboutcookies.org for a more comprehensive guide to deleting and controlling cookies using your browser.


The importance of a cookie policy

Cookie policies are required by laws such as the GDPR and EU Cookie Law (otherwise known as the ePrivacy Directive). Furthermore, GDPR cookie consent to the cookie policy and the practices it outlines is also required by these EU laws.

While these laws are based in the EU, they apply to all businesses that market to EU consumers. This means that even UK and US businesses who operate outside of the EU, and who have EU customers need a dedicated cookie policy, that also meets the transparency and consent requirements of the Cookie Law