haematology users' handbook - University College London Hospitals

Haemostasis (page 1 of 6)
2 nd Floor, 60 Whitfield St London W1T 4EU Hours: 09.00 – 17.15 Monday - Friday Tel: 0203 447 8545 / 8549, x78545 / 78549
All Haemostasis tests must be requested/authorised by the Haemostasis SpR (Bleep 7044), Haematology SpR (Bleep 7000) or Haematology Consultant, with
the exception of the following:
• Cardiolipin Antibody testing;
• Plasma Viscosity measurement;
• Thrombophilia Screens from the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery;
• Antiphospholipid Antibody Screens from Rheumatology Outpatients (Professor Isenberg’s Clinic).
Please discuss requests with Haemostasis laboratory staff if necessary, to ensure adequate samples are collected.
• Citrated samples must be adequately filled (a 9:1 blood:citrate sample ratio is required for all citrated samples).
• Tests cannot be performed on underfilled, overfilled, haemolysed or clotted citrated samples.
• Paediatric citrated tubes are issued from the Haemostasis Laboratory to the Neonatal Unit, Paediatric A&E and Phlebotomy Outpatient departments and
can be issued to other locations on request: contact x78549/78545 during routine hours.
• Include clinical details on the request form to facilitate appropriate testing and interpretation of results.
• Send the request form and sample to the laboratory as rapidly as possible; plasma must be processed within 5 hours of venepuncture.
• For very urgent requests, notify the laboratory staff on ext 78549 / x78545 (during routine working hours) or Bleep 7060 (out of hours). .
Test Specimen type Key Factors
affecting
tests
Notes
Reference
Range
Out of hours
service
Time Limit for
requesting
additional
tests from
time of
venesection
Turnaround
time from
receipt of
sample
Antiphospholipid
Antibody Screen /
Lupus Screen
incorporates Lupus
Anticoagulant
testing and
Cardiolipin
Antibody testing
2 x 4.5 ml Sodium
Citrate samples
and
1 x 5ml SST sample
Warfarin,
Heparin and
Rivaroxaban
therapy.
Delayed
receipt of
sample
(Lupus
Anticoagulant
test).
Lupus Anticoagulant testing
is inappropriate when
patients are receiving heparin
therapy.
Contact the
laboratory
regarding
Lupus
Anticoagulant
testing.
Refer to
Cardiolipin
Antibody
testing.
No out of
hours service
Contact the
Laboratory
3 working
days
HAEM-PD-UserHbook V8 Haematology and Blood Transfusion User Handbook Page 20 of 38
Authors: Karen Orfinada (Senior Biomedical Scientist)
Sally McDonald (Senior Biomedical Scientist) Authorised by: Dave Barnett Review Date: August 2015