Pathology

Laboratory Director
Please contact Annette Davis-Green
01709 424023

Business and Service Manager
Annette Davis-Green
01226 432787 (Barnsley) or 01709 424023 (Rotherham)

Quality Manager
Dan Firth
01226 432289 (Barnsley) or 01709 424008 (Rotherham)

Departmental key contacts are available on their respective webpages.

The responsibility for requesting a laboratory service or test lies with an authorised and trained practitioner (normally a Clinician). It is the responsibility of the requester to ensure that the identity of the patient is confirmed and that all samples are correctly labelled and request forms are completed to agreed standards in accordance with the Laboratory Medicine Sample Acceptance Procedure, failure to do so may result in the sample being rejected.

Urgent requests

Procedure for requesting urgent tests are located within departmental handbooks, located on their respective webpage.

Preparation for the patient and consent requirements

Certain tests require patient consent to be given due to the nature of the testing and the consequences of the results. Any genetics testing requested must have the patient’s informed consent prior to taking the sample. When the electronic order is generated, it is understood that the Doctor named on the form has discussed the consequences of the results with the patient and obtained consent. Any manual forms must be signed by the Doctor to indicate that consent has been obtained. Any special considerations for the preparation of a patient or requirements for the sample are provided in the departmental handbooks located on the department’s webpage. Please refer to the information in the handbooks prior to taking samples.

Specimen collection

Before collecting patient samples please refer to the department user handbook for information on the type and amount of the sample required and the sample container including any additives if required. The handbook will also outline any special timings for the sample and instructions for the inclusion of clinical information relevant to or affecting sample collection, test performance or result interpretation (e.g. history of administration of drugs, fasting sample).

Blood samples must be collected in line with the local Venepuncture procedure. The person collecting the sample should be identified on the request form and sample.

Order of draw

1. Native blood
2. Citrate blood
3. Heparin blood
4. EDTA blood
5. Fluoride blood

The table below outlines the different types of anticoagulant and sample volume requirements for the tests listed in the test repertoire table. The information in the test repertoire table refers to 1 x adult or 1 x paediatric sample unless stated otherwise.

Please note that any deviation from the established collection procedures may result in potential rejection of samples. Where the sample is deemed as precious, testing may still be performed but additional comments will be added to the result to communicate the potential risk from sample deviations.

Completing the request form

Samples for Blood Sciences and Microbiology can be requested using electronic ordercomms systems (Meditech and CiniSysICE). The use of electronic ordercomms reduces the number of sample rejections as it prompts for mandatory information required by the laboratory to carry out testing and it also speeds up the sample receipt process.

Handwritten request forms must comply with the Laboratory Medicine Sample Acceptance Procedure.

Requesting the clinician and location

Please ensure that the clinician and requesting location are completed and legible on the handwritten request form. Failure to do so may lead to a delay in processing.

Please note that abbreviations may result in the incorrect clinician or location being selected and as a consequence, the results for the patient may be sent back to another clinician.

Whilst the laboratory staff make every effort to minimise errors, staff can only book samples into the system with the information they are provided with.

Clinical information

Clinical details should also be included on the request. These can be significant to the results obtained and, in some cases, insufficient clinical details may mean that the request is rejected.

'Danger of infection' stickers

Samples from patients with blood borne virus diseases constitute a particular hazard to laboratory staff. All infectious or potentially infectious specimens and their accompanying request forms should be clearly marked with 'Danger of Infection' stickers. The range of investigations available on such specimens may be limited. Please contact the laboratory for further information.

Sample storage prior to transport

Users of Pathology should note that timely transport of samples to the laboratory is important in ensuring the quality of the test results. GP and community users must ensure that samples are collected and transported on the next available collection. Blood samples must not be refrigerated prior to transport.

All specimens must be transported to the laboratory on the day they are taken. Any delays in specimen transportation, for example, delays due to adverse weather conditions, may affect the integrity of the sample which can lead to unreliable test results.

Chemistry

All Chemistry gel tube sample tests will be affected. Samples delayed over 12 hours cannot be processed.

Blood Glucose specimens in fluoride tubes and HbA1C specimens in EDTA tubes may be stored in a refrigerator overnight.

Haematology

Full blood count specimens in EDTA tubes may be stored in a refrigerator overnight.

Microbiology

All urine, swabs etc may be stored in a refrigerator overnight.

Histopathology

Specimens may be stored overnight at room temperature.

Transport from wards and other areas within the Trust

Pathology specimens are potentially infectious and hazardous. Care must be taken to minimise the risks to staff when transporting specimens in the Air Tube chute system or in metal transport boxes. The collection and transportation of samples are also critical factors affecting the quality of results. It is essential that users of the service adhere to the Sample Transport Procedure for Wards.

Samples from patients with blood borne virus diseases constitute a particular hazard to laboratory staff. All infectious or potentially infectious specimens and their accompanying request forms should be clearly marked with “Danger of Infection” stickers. Do not send samples labelled as danger of infection in the air tube system.

Transport from community premises (GPs) and other sources outside the Trust

Samples that are transported by road using hospital transport vans or taxi must comply with the Sample Transport for the Community Procedure in order to comply with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Act.