General Request Information

This page contains information relating to the request, sample collection and sample transport. for full details please refer to policyto the right.

Users should be aware that each request accepted by the laboratory for examinations is considered an agreement between the laboratory and the requestor.

To ensure samples and form can be uniquely linked to a patient and historical data Pathology Operates a ZERO TOLERANCE protocal for all samples, the minimum labelling for the form and sample is as below, any sample not meeting this criteria WILL be REJECTED. (with the exception of precious samples as named in the protocol to the right)

MINIMUM IDENTIFICATION FOR THE FORM:

Routine samples 

• Full name (Forename and Surname)
• Date of birth
• Hospital Number or NHS Number (this must match the sample)
• Source/ Location of request
• Requesting Clinican
• Dateof Collection
• Time of collection

For confidential samples

• Unique coded identifier may be used in place of patients name 

 Addressograph labels may be used on request forms, hospital number, gender and signature of collector mandatory for transfusion related requests

MINIMUM IDENTIFICATION FOR THE SAMPLE:

Identification required which matches those on the request form is

• Full name or other unique coded identifier
• Hospital number or NHS number
• Date of birth

For confidential samples:

• unique coded identifier
• DOB

 ALL Transfusion and HLA/Tissue typing specimens MUST be hand written and MUST include:

full name, date of birth, hospital number, date/ time of sample collection, signature of collector

Samples are transported to laboratory internally via personal delivery or pneumatic tube delivery, externally via Trust transport (samples required to be proceesed on another site will be delivered by internal transport at regular intervals during core hours).

Samples referred to external laboratories are transported either via Trust transport or Royal Mail or TNT. Pathology transport is audited on an annual basis.