News & updates 2016

Change to dihydrotestosterone reference ranges due to change at referral laboratory.

Correction/clarification to Biochemistry and Haematology opening hours.

Change to progesterone ranges due to manufacturer's introduction of new method.

Change to lipase reference range.

Clare Reynolds is the new Head of Service for Microbiology and Infection.

Jackie Armitage is the new Head of Service for Blood Sciences.

Virology laboratory: possible delay in results

There will be some delays in chlamydia and N.gonorroheae screening and molecular diagnostic testing services due to unprecedented, unplanned staff absence and instrument downtime. Please be reassured that staff are doing everything they can to resolve this issue and will be prioritising so that the most urgent samples are dealt with first.

Paediatric reference ranges for Haematology have been reviewed. Please note from 26 July 2016 the paediatric reference ranges for full blood count will be updated to include more age sub-divisions. Please contact Sue-Ying To, Section Manager Haematology on Trust email with any queries.

Change in method: MPO and PR3 antibody.

We have changed methods for detection of MPO and PR3 antibody. The new method is faster and can be run more regularly, whilst retaining the excellent diagnostic performance of the current method.
The new reference ranges are:
MPO antibody:  6 IU/mL or more is positive
PR3 antibody:   5 IU/mL or more is positive
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in case of queries.

New revision of "Model rules for porters, couriers and messengers who need to carry samples."

Oligoclonal bands information updated to reflect current referral/ turnaround times.

Addition of preliminary report time for neonatal blood cultures.

Amended turnaround times for renin, aldosterone and 5HIAA.

New reference range for galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (Gal-1-PUT).

Comment about reference range applicability added to faecal elastase.

Infliximab and adalimumab added.

B₁₂ and folate entries moved from haematology to biochemistry tables.

New revision of referral laboratory request form for chromosomes (karyotype).

Lolinogram changed to fluid balance profile.

New page: Information for patients and carers.

Addition of toxicity-potentiating factors to digoxin entry.

*** INTERFERENCE IN OESTRADIOL METHOD ***
Due to the risk of cross reactivity, the BSUH routine oestradiol assay should not be used when monitoring estradiol levels in patients being treated with fulvestrant (Faslodex®).

Fulvestrant will increase the apparent concentration of estradiol in women being treated with this drug. If treatment with fulvestrant has been altered or discontinued as a result of falsely elevated estradiol results an alternate method which is not expected to show cross reactivity to fulvestrant should be used to measure estradiol concentrations and assess the menopausal status of the patient.

Please contact the lab to arrange testing by alternative method if indicated.

CTX updated (correction to decimal places in reference ranges)

FGF-23 updated.

Correction to B₁₂ units (does not affect numerical results)

Frontier Laboratory Management contacts updated.

Vitamin B₁ (thiamine), B₂ and B₆ - amendment to whole blood light-protection requirements.

Amendment to lower limit of serum potassium reference range.

Change to PLA2R antibody referral laboratory.

Updated reference to Trust policy in Taking Blood Cultures (was TCP 024, now C063).

Change to cholinesterase reference range.

D-dimer - samples must be no more than 4 hours old for add-on requests.

Addition to B₁₂ entry: If B₁₂ status is in doubt suggest test plasma homocysteine and serum methylmalonic acid.

Non-HDL cholesterol upper limit is 2.8 mmol/L, or 2.5 mmol/L if on statins.

Clarification to CTX; although the sample type has changed to EDTA (revision 2015.064), a clotted sample is still required for a paired urea and creatinine.

Change of referral site for valproate.

Zika Virus
Please direct any enquiries about testing for Zika virus to Dr Mohammed Osman Hassan-Ibrahim, Consultant Virologist and Microbiology Laboratory Lead.

Due to an instrumentation change the reference ranges for the following tests will be changing shortly: alpha 1 antitrypsin, C3 and C4, IgE, kappa free light chains and caeruloplasmin. The reporting units for caeruloplasmin will also change from mg/L to g/L. IgG subclasses will be referred to an external laboratory.

Additional information added to faecal occult blood listing.

Changes to D-dimer reporting at PRH
The D-dimer will now be reported as μg/ml FEU (Fibrinogen Equivalent Units) and the reference range will change to <0.5 μg/mL FEU. The laboratory will continue to provide an interpretation for the result, i.e. 'Normal Result' or 'VTE cannot be excluded'.

This change will take effect from the 25 January and will only apply to the PRH site for the time being.

This change is due to new analysers at the Coagulation Laboratory which enable quality improvements and an expanded repertoire of tests. Quantitative D-dimer assay result can be reported as either concentration of D-dimer or as FEUs, depending on the calibration method. The two numerical values are easily convertible to each other, since the mass of one unit of FEU equals approximately half of one D-dimer unit (D-DU). For example, 0.5 µg/mL FEU = 0.25 µg/mL D-DU.

If further information is required please contact Shawn Cotton, Specialist Section Manager for Coagulation on 01273 696955 ext 4306.

Changes to paediatric TFT reference ranges from 13.1.16.

Lipid profile updates - NICE CG181 recommends that patients no longer have to fast for routine lipid profile assessment.

FBC, iron, transferrin, vitamin D and TFT added to geriatric admission profile.

Toxicology (drug abuse) updated.

Plasma viscosity updated (referred test)