News & latest updates 2025

Advance notice: the referral laboratory will no longer be offering CART and Chromogranin B testing and will remove them from the gut hormones profile from Nov 2025.

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Myeloma screen page has been removed - component tests are listed as a test collection in ICE as is MGUS monitoring.

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Mortuary-related content has been removed from this site - please refer to UHSussex intranet and UHSussex public site for mortuary information.

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New revision of Blood Sciences supplementary request form for tests on samples already in the laboratory.

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Amended PTH reference range.

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Calcium (urine) updated - clarification of requirements for different calcium excretion parameters.

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Updated NICE reference for NT-proBNP and added NICE cutoff and link for acute heart failure.

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Update to taking blood cultures (correction to anaerobic bottle volume).

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Instruction for arranging dry ice courier for referred tests added to Biochemistry tests available.

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Addition of Minimum Requesting Override form.

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Updating reference range sources and/or interferences for biochemistry automation tests: rheumatoid factor, salicylate, SHBG, testosterone, theophylline, total protein (serum), TPO antibody, troponin-T, uric acid (serum), uric acid (urine), vancomycin.

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Updating reference range sources and/or interferences for biochemistry automation tests: ethanol (blood), ferritin, FSH, gamma GT, haemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, magnesium (serum), magnesium (urine), NSE, NT-proBNP, paracetamol, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, phosphate (serum), phosphate (urine), pleural fluid biochemistry, potassium (serum), potassium (urine), sodium (serum), sodium (urine), progesterone, prolactin, protein (urine), protein:creatinine ratio, PSA.

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Pathology supplies updated - new order forms.

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Addition of consent information to blood & blood products page. Amendment to FFP and cryoprecipitate storage temperature.

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Update to instructions for drug testing.

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Serum methylmalonic acid (serum) reporting comments have been amended.

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Addition of reference range source to globulin.

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Addition of information on ALEX to specific IgE (allergy) tests page.

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Added serum ascitic albumin gradient (SAAG) to ascitic fluid (biochemistry).

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Updating reference range sources for biochemistry automation tests: LH, oestradiol.

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Updating reference range sources for biochemistry automation tests: iron studies, plasma lactate, LDH, serum urea, urine urea.

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Updated reference ranges for complement function.

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Amended turnaround time for CSF ACE

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Cutoff time for receipt of cryoproteins has been amended.

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Amended turnaround times for vitamin A and vitamin E.

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We have been informed by our referral laboratories that essential fatty acid testing is no longer available.

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Notice of upcoming reference range change for erythropoietin.

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New method and ranges for infliximab. and adalimumab.

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Free T4 reference range for 11 to 19 year age group has been adjusted - see TFT

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Minor updates to Chlamydia trachomatis/ Neisseria gonorrhoeae test and some tests on virology and microbiological serology turnaround times pages.

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Updated reference range for digoxin.

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Updated Microbiology content including Pertussis Bordetella pertussis) and CSF microbiology turnaround times.

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Updated reference range sources for a number of biochemistry automation tests and minor amendments to interference information for some analytes (in bold): 25-hydroxyvitamin D, AFP, albumin (serum), ALP, ALT, AMH, ammonia, amylase (serum), amylase (urine), AST, B12, beta HCG, beta-2 macroglobulin, bicarbonate, bile acids (serum), bilirubin (conjugated), bilirubin (total), CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, calcium (serum), calcium (urine), carbamazepine, CEA, chloride, ciclosporin, CK, cortisol (serum).

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C. difficile testing update - see faeces microbiology

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Porphyrins (blood, plasma, urine) updated.

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Updated contacts for Environmental Microbiology Unit (EMU)

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Repairing broken/ outdated links in karyotype and lipid profile.

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Addition of note about centrifuged samples for fetal maternal haemorrhage 

Amended turnaround times for organic acids (urine) and VLCFA.

Paediatric reference ranges introduced for B12

Turnaround time amended for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, testosterone, SHBG, and oestradiol (not assayed at weekends).

Update to BCR-ABL

Updates to Cellular Pathology and Histopathology pages.

Non-UKAS accredited tests for Blood Sciences have been marked "Please note this test is not currently UKAS accredited."

Turnaround times added to Environmental Microbiology Unit (EMU) page.

Update to electron microscopy information.

Link to Pharmacy guidance updated for amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, vancomycin.

Updated carboxyhaemoglobin and methaemoglobin to reflect current GEM analyser.

Updated turnaround times for NMDA receptor antibodies and potassium channel antibody.

T-SPOT TB assay page updated.

Clotted blood (gold cap tube) replaces lithium heparin as preferred sample for paediatric blood copper and zinc.

New test page for CSF leukaemia immunophenotyping

New revision of Summary of actions to be taken on abnormal results (Haematology)

Note added to genetic test handled by Biochemistry that all samples require a paper copy of the request form to be provided with samples, even if electronic forms have been sent to the analysing laboratory.

9 December 2024

Update to Haematology opening hours.

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4 December 2024

New revision of Biochemistry Telephone Action Limits document (update to revision number but contents and telephoning policies have not changed).

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2 December 2024

Links to SE Genomic Hub pages updated for DNA/ genetic testing, haemochromatosis genetics, familial hypercholesterolaemia genetics, cystic fibrosis genetics, Gilbert syndrome genetic testing and Wilson disease genetic testing.

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