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Red Cell Transketolase
- Test Name: Red Cell Transketolase
- Laboratory: Haematology Referral Test
- Specimen Type: Lithium Heparin
- Specimen Container: Green
- Specimen Volume: 3ml
- Specimen Requirements: Do not send Fridays
- Other details:
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Referred to external test site
- Turnaround Time: < 4 weeks
- Phone alert limits:
- Preanalytical stability at room temp:
Reducing Substances
- Test Name: Reducing Substances
- Laboratory: Biochemistry Referral Test
- Specimen Type: Faeces
- Specimen Container: Universal container with blue top containing spatula
- Specimen Volume: 20g faeces
- Specimen Requirements: Fresh sample required. Sample must be in lab within 3 hours of collection.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: As required.
- Turnaround Time: 10 working days
- Phone alert limits: N/A
- Preanalytical stability at room temp:
Renin
- Test Name: Renin
- Laboratory: Biochemistry Referred Test
- Specimen Type: EDTA plasma
- Specimen Container: Purple
- Specimen Volume: 4mls
- Specimen Requirements: Send sample to lab within 3 hours after collection.
- Other details: Stop all antihypertensive drugs at least 2 weeks before taking the sample. Specify clearly on request form and sample if the patient is standing or lying.
- Frequency of analysis/ assay:
- Turnaround Time: 3 weeks
- Phone alert limits: N/A
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: Sample must be separated and frozen in the lab < 4 hours.
Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV)
- Test Name: Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV)
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Nasopharyngael aspirate
- Specimen Container: Sterile universal container.
- Specimen Volume: At least 1ml of fluid.
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 1 day
- Phone alert limits: Positive RSV will be phoned to the requesting clinician
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Respiratory tract infections - Cystic
- Test Name: Respiratory tract infections - Cystic Fibrosis patients
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Sputum, Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL). Cough swab
- Specimen Container: Sterile universal container, amies swab.
- Specimen Volume: If possible at least 5ml sputum / BAL.
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 2-5 days - prolonged incubation for slow growing
- organisms.
- Phone alert limits:New isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia and MRSA will be phoned to the requesting clinician
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Respiratory tract infections - Upper
- Test Name: Respiratory tract infections - upper
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Swabs - Ear, Nose, Throat, Anthral washout, Endotracheal Tube
- Specimen Container: Amies swab, sterile universal container.
- Specimen Volume: At least 1ml of fluid.
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 2-4 days
- Phone alert limits: Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus Group A isolates, Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus Group B isolates from maternity, postnatal and neonatal patients, new MRSA and VRE isolates from inpatients are all phoned to the requesting clinician
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Respiratory tract infections - Lower
- Test Name: Respiratory tract infections -lower see also Urinary Antigen Testing
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Sputum, Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL).
- Specimen Container: Sterile universal container.
- Specimen Volume: If possible at least 5ml sputum / BAL.
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 2-4 days - prolonged incubation for fungi
- Phone alert limits: Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus Group A isolates, Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus Group B isolates from maternity, postnatal and neonatal patients, new MRSA and VRE isolates from inpatients are all phoned to the requesting clinician
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Respiratory pathogens - Molecular
- Test Name: Biofire respiratory panel- Adenovirus, Coronavirus 229E, Coronavirus HKU1, Coronavirus NL63, Coronavirus OC43, SARS CoV-2, Human metapneumovirus, Human rhinovirus/enterovirus, Influenza A including subtypes H1, H3 and H1-2009, Influenza B, Parainfluenza Virus 1, Parainfluenza Virus 2, Parainfluenza Virus 3, Parainfluenza Virus 4, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Nasopharyngeal swab.
- Specimen Container: Universal transport medium swab
- Specimen Volume: N/A
- Specimen Requirements: Samples can be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius for up to 72 hours before processing.
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 5 working days
- Phone alert limits: Atypical pneumonia pathogens, SARS CoV-2, Respiratory Synctial Virus and Bordetella pertussis or other pathogens following clinical Microbiology review are phoned to the requesting clinician.
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Retic Count
- Test Name: Retic Count
- Laboratory: Haematology
- Specimen Type: EDTA
- Specimen Container: Purple
- Specimen Volume: 2.5ml
- Specimen Requirements: Can be performed on a sample as FBC
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Once daily
- Turnaround Time: 2 working days
- Phone alert limits: N/A
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: Specimens should ideally be processed within 4 hours of collection, send to the laboratory ASAP. Is suitable for up to 24 hours if stored at 2 - 8°C.
Rheumatoid factor.
- Test Name: Rheumatoid factor. (RF)
- Laboratory: Biochemistry
- Specimen Type: Clotted Blood Specimen
- Specimen Container: Yellow
- Specimen Volume: 4ml clotted blood (1.5ml paediatric).
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed
- Other details: Repeat testing not performed within one year
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 3 days
- Phone alert limits: N/A
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Rotavirus / Adenovirus
- Test Name: Rotavirus / Adenovirus
- Laboratory: Microbiology
- Specimen Type: Faeces
- Specimen Container: Sterile universal container with/without a spoon.
- Specimen Volume: 1-2g(spoonful)
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
- Turnaround Time: 1 day
- Phone alert limits: Positive Rotavirus and Adenovirus will be phoned to the requesting clinician
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A
Rubella
- Test Name: Rubella
- Laboratory: Serology
- Specimen Type: Clotted Blood Specimen, salivary swab for PCR.
- Specimen Container: Yellow, white (paediatric), salivary swab.
- Specimen Volume: 4ml clotted blood (1.5ml paediatric).
- Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed
- Other details: N/A
- Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily, weekly for PCR.
- Turnaround Time: 1-2 days for blood specimens, 7-10 days for PCR.
- Phone alert limits: N/A
- Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A