News & updates 2020

31 December 2020

Update to DPD deficiency - see report for variants tested for.

Amendment to heparin assay (Anti-Xa) - BSUH no longer using tinzaparin.

28 December 2020

Change to alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes range (adult female total ALP only).

23 December 2020

On the 23rd December 2020 the biochemistry laboratory will be changing the method used for serum LDH analysis. This is due to the production of the current assay being discontinued by our supplier. You can expect results to be approximately 50% lower compared to the previous assay. There will be a comment on all reports highlighting that the test has been run using the new assay and there will be new reference ranges in use.  Please exercise caution when comparing results from the new assay to previous results.

Advance notice of equipment upgrade in biochemistry, Jan 2021.

A new inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer is being installed for our trace metal analysis. There will be a disruption to the service whilst this new piece of equipment is installed so turnaround times for serum copper, zinc and lead may be increased throughout January. Please contact the laboratory if any analysis is urgent.

16 December 2020

Amendment to  time limit for sample processing for D-dimers.

15 December 2020

New revision of Biochemistry telephoning ranges, downloadable under Reporting Results here.

9 December 2020

Upndate to JC virus testing page.

Information on VitaPCR test added to COVID-19 molecular testing page.

Due to equipment failure there are currently delays to the turnaround times for serum and urine osmolality results as they are being referred to an external laboratory.

Please consider the necessity of your requests and only request if clinically urgent.  Where possible, please also try to send samples during routine hours. Consider also sending a fluoride oxalate sample for glucose measurement to allow for calculation of serum osmolarity where appropriate.

Addition of calculation equations to serum osmolality page.

7 December 2020

From 14/12/20 the NSE service provided for ITU will be extended to cover weekends. Please contact the laboratory in advance if sample will be sent at the weekend.

16 November 2020

7th October 2020

National issues with Roche pathology supply chain - urgent requirement to reduce Blood Sciences Pathology requests

Pathology services at BSUH use the pharmaceutical company Roche as the main supplier of pathology equipment and consumables. The supplies from Roche are used for the analysis of a large number of routine pathology blood sciences tests.

On Tuesday Roche reported a national disruption to the supply chain, and issues with any orders that are due to be filled. At BSUH this has led to a temporary shortage in some of the chemicals we use to process test results. Roche are working urgently to resolve this.

Within the trust we are doing everything we can to reduce the impact on our patients, including working locally with other NHS organisations to share stock.

Action for service users

In the first instance, we ask that departments where possible, immediately reduce their requests for blood tests by delaying tests for routine monitoring and considering clinical need. This will help pathology labs to manage the initial phase of this issue and means a wider pathology service can be available until the issues are resolved.

However, if the issues persist we will implement a contingency plan to prioritise inpatients with acute needs. More information will be shared with you if this becomes necessary.

12th October 2020

Minor change to CA15-3 reference range.

Update to interferences for TPO antibody.

5th October 2020

Information on DPD deficiency testing added.

New revision of patient instruction leaflet for post vasectomy specimens.

Microbiology & Infection content updated.

15 September 2020

Change to reference ranges for urine cortisol due to a change in provider at the referral laboratory.

Turnaround time for faecal occult blood (FIT test) reduced to 2 days.

11 September 2020

Change to reference ranges for P1NP due to a change in provider at the referral laboratory.

2 September 2020

Advance warning of change to LDH method.

The current LDH assay is being phased out by the manufacturer by the end of December 2020. The new LDH assay is expected to produce results approximately 50% lower than the current method.

Removal of references to cervical screening service - no longer provided by Frontier Pathology.

New revision of Pathology Specimen and Request Form Labelling Requirements.

18 August 2020

The reference ranges for P1NP will be changing from September 2020 due to a change in provider at the referral laboratory.

17 August 2020

Content added to coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular testing page.

10 August 2020

Addition of test indication information to the following haematology tests: bone marrow aspiration, ESR, FBC, G6PD screen, glandular fever screen, Heinz bodies, malarial parasites, plasma viscosity, pyruvate kinase (red cell) and reticulocytes.

27 July 2020

22 July 2020

Download for the request/ consent form for NHS & Social Care staff has been added to the anti-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 antibody testing) page.

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20 July 2020

Normal OPD Phlebotomy hours resumed at PRH - click here.

New revisions of ICE Desktop application forms.

7 July 2020

New revision of Haematology document "Summary of actions to be taken on abnormal result" - downloadable here.

New revision of Pathology Stores Request Form, including updated email address.

30 June 2020

Updates to turnaround times for several tests referred to Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services, plus:

Elastase (faeces) - addition of information regarding stopping pancreatic supplements prior to test.

Methotrexate - change of sample type, plus clarification that test is only needed in monitoring drug clearance in high dose IV therapy.

26 June 2020

Clarification of type of clotted blood requested for toxicology investigations (acute overdose and screening for drug use).

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 antibodies) added.

New page for LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies added.

New referral site for NMDA receptor antibodies, LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies and potassium channel antibody.

Update to coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Mobile replaces office extensions for Sarah Bastow, Head of Blood Sciences (see contacts).

New target ranges for anticoagulation - see heparin assay (Anti-Xa).

APTT and prothrombin time added to Coagulation screen.

Reference range for APTT ratio (see coagulation screen) amended to 2 decimal places to reflect reporting.

31 March 2020

Procalcitonin update - available in-house shortly.

Click here to download guidelines on the use of procalcitonin in COVID-19.

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23 March 2020

Laboratory information relating to changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will be published on a separate page:

Coronavirus: laboratory news and updates

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17 March 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

For BSUH clinical procedures please go to the BSUH intranet page. The instructions for taking swabs and bloods to the lab in and out of hours, and for taking swabs for testing, can be downloaded here.

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9 March 2020

New reference ranges for platelet function studies.

Updated TAT information for scrapings/ clippings for mycological investigation.

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2 March 2020

New reflex testing from 20th January 2020 for anti-drug antibody in infliximab and adalimumab testing.

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19 February 2020

New revision of 24h urine collection instructions, and new dietary restrictions leaflet for 5-HIAA and urine metadrenalines. Click here.

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18 February 2020

Update to Cellular Pathology and Cytopathology pages.

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Change of sample type for flecainide.

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3 February 2020

Addition of sample volume requirement to BCR-ABL.

14 January 2020

New revisions of protocols for glucagon stimulation test for glycogen storage diseases, growth hormone response to oral glucose tolerance test, ischaemic forearm lactate & ammonia test, lactose tolerance test, pentagastrin test, short synacthen test, and water deprivation tests 1 to 3. No changes to procedures.See dynamic function tests.

13 January 2020

Update to urine microbiology MSU sample information to reflect changes to collection kit.

Addition of container requirements for calculi.

8 January 2020

The cut-offs for fasting plasma glucose and haemoglobin A1c have been amended in line with the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Change to TAT and sample containers for scrapings/ clippings for mycological investigation.

Additions to factors affecting test performance/ results for serum sodium and potassium.

7 January 2020

New revisions of protocols for insulin stress test, overnight dexamethasone suppression test, glucagon stimulation test and oral glucose tolerance test. No changes to procedures. See dynamic function tests.

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