pathology services handbook - St George's Healthcare NHS Trust

5.5 HAEMATOLOGY TESTS: SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS, SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, FACTORS AFFECTING TEST
PERFORMANCE & TURN-AROUND TIMES
TEST SPECIMEN
BOTTLE,
MINIMUM
VOLUME and
Full Blood Count + platelets
Film/Differential;
Malarial Parasites
Reticulocytes,
Sickle Test*, HPLC
Haemoglobinopathy
screen*,
.
FORM
Lavender EDTA
6 ml
Or paed pink top
bottle 0.5ml
Minimum volume
required is 1.5mL
if taken in 6.0mL
tube
Multidisciplinary
request form
FBC sample will
be used
Monospot. Lavender EDTA
6ml
Multidisciplinary
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS Factors that may affect
performance of the test or
interpretation of results
Films ( including malaria ) can only
be made on FBC samples on day of
venepuncture
Malaria requests must be
accompanied with details of area
travelled and prophylaxis taken
Reticulocytes may be requested on
samples up to 72hours old.
Please check for previous results.
For HPLC Haemoglobinopathy
screen in a male partner, please
give full name and date of birth of
partner on request form and use
mother’s hospital number with
‘/PNR’ suffix.
For at risk infants, identify both
parents on request form. Include
mother’s hospital number for crossreference
as part of summary.
May be added to FBC requests on
samples up to 72 hours old.
May be added to FBC requests on
samples up to 72 hours old.
Sickle test is not valid for infants
under 6 months of age. If child
at risk of haemoglobinopathy,
request HPLC
Haemoglobinopathy screen.
Transfusion will interfere with
haemoglobinopathy screening
and sickle results.
Pathology Services Handbook v3.2.2 - February 2013 41 of 81
Usual turn around times
FBC A&E 1 Hour
Urgent 2Hours
Routine 3Hours
Film 2-3 Days
( Mon – Fri )
Malarial parasites 2 Hours
Sickle test urgent 1 hour
Routine 48hrs
Haemoglobinopathy screen
72 hours
48 hours