Opening hours
Monday to Friday
West Park
9am-5pm
Last routine specimens by 4pm
St Helier Hospital
8.30am-5pm
If you have an urgent specimen, please inform laboratory staff by phoning extension 2527 from within the hospital. Semen samples must be received in the laboratory before 3.30pm Monday to Friday.
Saturday
West Park
9am-12noon
Restricted service
Last routine samples must arrive at the pathology department at Epsom Hospital by 11am or at the laboratory by 11.30am
St Helier
Only urgent specimens are processed, and must arrive by 10am
Contact the laboratory on ext 2527 from within the hospital beforehand.
Out of hours emergency service
Tests are available by arrangement with microbiology staff, via the hospital switchboard, after 5.00 pm Monday-Friday, and for weekends after 12.30 pm Saturday.
Specimens are considered to be urgent where an early diagnosis would be beneficial to the management of the patients’ treatment. Medical advice can be obtained from the consultant via the Hospital switchboard. Results will be telephoned.
Out of hours specimens include:
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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with suspected meningitis.
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Fluids pus, tissue from patients with septic arthritis or osteomyelitis
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Surgical wound swabs or pus from operations
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Ascitic fluid from bacterial peritonitis
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Hepatitis B surface antigen if for immediate dialysis or kidney donors
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Hepatitis C antibodies; from patients for immediate dialysis or kidney donors.
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HIV antibody testing for women presenting in labour with no booking blood result
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Other specimens may be requested particularly by paediatricians, e.g. urgent urine cell-counts, NPA for RSV
Please include relevant clinical details to ensure that appropriate investigations are performed on each specimen. Current or intended antimicrobial therapy should be stated on the request form.
