pathology services handbook - St George's Healthcare NHS Trust

CONTENTS
Section Title Page No.
1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND GUIDANCE 7
1.1 Order Comms 7
1.2 Request Forms 7
1.3 Sample Labelling 7
1.4 Infection Risk from Blood or Other Body Fluids
1.4.1 Procedure for obtaining blood samples from low risk patients 8
1.4.2 Procedure for obtaining blood samples from suspected or known “high risk” patients 9
1.5 Pathology senior management 10
1.6 Laboratory opening hours 10
1.7 Emergency investigations 11
1.8 Out of hours 11
1.9 Specimens 11
1.10 Central pathology reception 12
1.11 Specimen collection and transport 12
1.12 Timetable for issuing of reports 12
2 PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES – Times/procedures 13
2.1 St. George’s hospital 13
2.1.1 Outpatients and general practitioner requests 13
2.1.2 Inpatients 13
2.2 St John’s therapy centre 13
3 CELLULAR PATHOLOGY 14
3.1 Laboratory Opening Hours 14
3.2 Consultants And Senior Staff 14
3.3 Enquiries - Working Hours 14
3.4 Out Of Hours Advice And Requests 15
3.5 HISTOPATHOLOGY 15
3.5.1 Submission Of Histopathology Specimens 15
3.5.2 Request Card 15
3.5.3 Procedure For High Risk Specimens: 15
3.5.4 Specimen Problems: 15
3.5.5 Routine Histopathology Reports 15
3.5.6 Rapid Histopathology Diagnostic Service 16
3.5.7 Availability And Clinical Advice: 16
3.5.8 Out Of Hours Advice And Requests 16
3.5.9 Consumables Available 16
3.5.10 Reference Centres 16
3.6 CYTOPATHOLOGY 17
3.6.1 Submission Of Specimens 17
3.6.2 Urgent Specimens 17
3.6.3 Instructions For Completing Requests Forms 17
3.6.4 Specimen Labelling Instructions 17
3.6.5 Sample Transportation Instructions: 18
3.6.6 Procedure For High Risk Specimens: 18
3.6.7 Specimen Problems: 18
3.6.8 Availability And Clinical Advice: 18
3.6.9 Out Of Hours Advice And Requests 18
3.6.10 Consumables Available 18
3.6.11 Non-Gynaecological Cytology 19
3.6.12 Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology 19
3.6.13 Table Of Specimen Types 19
Cont’d
Pathology Services Handbook v3.2.2 - February 2013 3 of 81