Clinical information
The relevance and adequacy of clinical information that accompanies laboratory requests can determine the selection and range of investigations.
For us (biomedical scientists) to perform effectively and efficiently, we must be provided with adequate clinical information that is relevant to the patient's situation.
Insufficient clinical information provided by the requesting clinician to the laboratory may compromise patient care by making the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases difficult or delayed.
In order to minimise risk of exposure and potential infection of all staff involved in patient care, it is important that adequate, relevant clinical information is provided. Providing clinical information will enable us to apply the correct safety precautions when handling, processing and storing specimens.
Clinical staff requesting pathology investigations should provide appropriate information such as relevant clinical presentation, significant medical history, clinically relevant lifestyle information (e.g. history of intravenous drug use) and in some cases, recent travel history.
For example, if a patient is known or suspected to potentially carry a human pathogen, specimens collected from that patient should be handled with appropriate level of precaution, including warning labels that clearly highlight the sample is of particular high risk.
If later during the course of patient management, additional information which may have implications for the safety of laboratory personnel, becomes available, that information should be disseminated to the laboratory immediately, so that the appropriate precautionary steps are taken.
- Transport of pathological specimens
- Pathology Sample Labelling Policy
- Tips and techniques for blood collection
- Blood collection in practice - a guide for phlebotomists
Tests, with the exception of blood transfusion, are requested using CyberLab, training must be completed before access is granted to request tests and you can enrol by using this link e-learning.
If Cyberlab is not working tests can be requested by using the template on the reverse of the CyberLab form and handwriting the patients details remembering to label the sample too.
Blood transfusion tests are requested using dedicated request forms and samples must be hand labelled. There are strict sample acceptance criteria for blood transfusion. Please refer to the blood transfusion section of this site for more information. Link here
Communication of Critical results
How to order stock
Complete this form and either send as a hard copy through the ordinary specimen drop off in the red boxes, through the internal mail or by email to either of the following: jean.
