haematology users' handbook - University College London Hospitals

Completion of the request form
Please use the appropriate request form for the tests required and ballpoint (indelible) ink pen to complete the form.
• Please provide the patient’s full name, hospital number and date of birth.
• Please provide the date and time of sample collection and relevant clinical information to facilitate sample processing and the interpretation of results.
• Please use a separate Blood Transfusion request form for Blood Transfusion requests; Group & Save, Crossmatch, Kleihauer, DAT.
• Please ensure that the destination of the report, the name of the requesting/responsible clinician and a contact bleep/telephone number for the
responsible clinician is provided to enable laboratory staff to notify the clinician regarding unsuitable (urgent) samples and to relay and/or discuss urgent
or grossly abnormal results.
• Please tick the box next to the test(s) requested; if a required test is not listed, write it clearly into the “Additional Tests” section.
• Please tick the appropriate box when the patient is anticoagulated (on warfarin or heparin).
• If possible please provide clinical details.
Please ensure that adequate samples are taken for the tests requested and that each sample is labelled correctly. Contact the relevant laboratory for clarification
of sample requirements if required.
Sample Collection (phlebotomy)
The sample collection policy for staff trained in phlebotomy [Haem-PD-BloodSampColl] and guidelines for sample labelling are available on the UCLH Intranet
and can be sent electronically to GP practices.
Sample Labelling
• Please label samples clearly with hospital number, first and last name and date of birth using a ballpoint (permanent/indelible) ink pen. The NHS number
may be used in place of the hospital number for GP and non-UCLH Trust patients.
• Samples for a Group and Save (including an antibody screen) and Crossmatching must be hand written with four correct points of ID. Please include the
time and date of collection and the signature of the person collecting the sample.
• A minimum of three points of identification must be provided for all other samples.
NOTE: Samples received broken/leaking, inadequately labelled, aged, clotted, haemolysed or otherwise unsuitable for testing will not be processed; an
appropriate comment will be entered onto the computer system. If the requested tests are urgent, laboratory staff will attempt to notify the ward/clinician.
HAEM-PD-UserHbook V8 Haematology and Blood Transfusion User Handbook Page 8 of 38
Authors: Karen Orfinada (Senior Biomedical Scientist)
Sally McDonald (Senior Biomedical Scientist) Authorised by: Dave Barnett Review Date: August 2015