The haematology department provides a 24-hour quality diagnostic and advisory service to the hospital clinical staff and general practitioners.
A full list of the tests available during the working day and during the on-call period can be found in the test directory.
The laboratory holds training status with Health Professions Council and has training programmes in place for technical staff and specialist nurses.
The laboratory liases with the community to provide a neonatal screening service for the diagnosis of sickle disease and other abnormal haemoglobins.
Request forms
Request forms must be properly completed to comply with medico-legal requirements.
Turnaround times
Many of the haematology tests have a turnaround time of less than 24 hours, but some are batched for cost effectiveness and efficiency and may take a week or more. Haematinic assays are now performed each weekday on site.
Most tests can be performed more quickly than usual if there is a clinical reason. Please telephone the laboratory if you wish a request to be treated urgently.
Out of hours service at St Helier Hospital
Until midnight, runs will be performed approximately every 1 to 2 hours. It is not necessary to phone the on-call person unless results are required immediately, when the person on duty should be contacted via switchboard. After midnight the laboratory staff should be bleeped.
All urgent requests will be processed. The requesting clinician must contact the on-call laboratory scientist to request the test and is responsible for reviewing the results.
There is a member of haematology medical staff available for advice at all times, contactable via hospital switchboard.
Saturday and Sunday mornings: urgent requests only, please. Anticoagulant samples and blood counts should be in the laboratory by 12noon.
Out of hours service at Epsom Hospital
The on-call biomedical scientist is contactable either via the switchboard or bleep (701) 897 from within the hospital.
All appropriate out of hours requests will be processed usually limited to urgent only. Routine work will be processed the following day.
The following investigations are available either by request to the biomedical scientist on call or after consultation with the consultant haematologist on call:
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Full blood count
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ESR
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Glandular fever screen
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Blood film
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Reticulocytes
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Direct antiglobulin test
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Sickle screening test
Bone marrow investigations may be performed but only by agreement of the consultant haematologist.
Regional newborn bloodspot screening service
The department also includes the South West Thames Newborn Bloodspot Screening laboratory. This provides screening for rare congenital, usually inherited, disorders using a bloodspot sample. The laboratory follows guidelines produced by the UK Newborn Screening Programme Centre. For more information contact http://newbornbloodspot.screening.nhs.uk
