Laboratory Medicine
About us
Welcome to the Alder Hey laboratories home page. The laboratories aim to provide a high quality, up to date, reliable and comprehensive paediatric service, including a consultant advisory service for both children in the hospital and those cared for by General Practitioners. We also provide advice and support regarding paediatric pathology to other hospital laboratories in the region.
All laboratory departments are both CPA accredited and HPC approved for training. We are continually developing and improving the service for the investigation, and diagnosis of disease, and are committed to the improvement in quality of service through audit. The laboratories are fully computerised using the Trust wide Meditech System.
The laboratory holds accreditation with
Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd
The laboratory is accredited for the training of
junior pathologists with
The Royal College of Pathologists
The laboratory is accredited with
The Institute of Biomedical Science
for the training of Biomedical Scientists
The laboratory is accredited with the
Association for Clinical Biochemistry
for the training of Clinical Biochemists
The laboratory is licensed with the
Human Tissue Authority for mortuary services
The laboratory is registered with the
Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group
as a Regional Childhood Tumour Tissue Bank
The laboratory is accredited with the
Metabolic Biochemistry Network
for the training of Higher Specialist
Trainees in Metabolic Biochemistry
The laboratory holds accreditation with
Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd
The laboratory is accredited for the training of
junior pathologists with
The Royal College of Pathologists
The laboratory is accredited with
The Institute of Biomedical Science
for the training of Biomedical Scientists
The laboratory is accredited with the
Association for Clinical Biochemistry
for the training of Clinical Biochemists
The laboratory is licensed with the
Human Tissue Authority for mortuary services
The laboratory is registered with the
Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group
as a Regional Childhood Tumour Tissue Bank
The laboratory is accredited with the
Metabolic Biochemistry Network
for the training of Higher Specialist
Trainees in Metabolic Biochemistry
Departments
Laboratory Medicine composed of four departments; Biochemistry , Haematology , Histopathology and Microbiology .
The main services we provide include on site diagnostic and therapeutic investigations and mortuary services, as well as support of point of care diagnostic testing. We also provide regional newborn screening for Haemoglobinopathy , Phenylketonuria and Congenital Hypothyroidism. The Histopathology department provides a regional network for foetal and perinatal pathology.
Where to find us
The Biochemistry, Haematology and Microbiology departments are situated in the main hospital building and can be accessed from the main hospital corridor on the ground floor. Histopathology is situated in its own building behind the Estates Department on the Springfield Park side of the hospital site.
How to contact us
General enquiries including results 0151-252-5270
GP electronic reports enquiries 0151-252-5126
Clinical advice is available at all times. Contact details can be found by clicking on the links below:
Key contacts
Clinical Director
Mr Paul Newland 0151 252 5486
Pathology Manager
Dr Jeff Jones 0151 282 4739
Quality Manager
Dr Catherine Collingwood 0151 252 5486
Information Sysytems Manager
Mrs Elaine Hanmer 0151 252 5126
All members of staff can be also be contacted by email using firstname.surname@alderhey.nhs.uk
Opening Hours
The laboratory provides a full service between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. An emergency service for a limited range of tests is available at all times.
Phlebotomy Easter and May Bank Holiday opening times 2011
Health and Safety
Model Health and Safety rules are available for laboratory staff, visitors, cleaning staff, office staff, phlebotomists, service engineers and laboratory porters and messengers to ensure the Health and Safety of all personnel working within the laboratory or dealing with laboratory samples.
In the event of a sample-related Health and Safety issue occurring outside the hospital e.g. spillage of sample, please contact the relevant department immediately for further information. Non NHS staff must not attempt to remove or clear up sample spillages.
Phlebotomy services
Phlebotomy services for outpatients and GP patients are available in the department between 8.30am and 4.45pm, Monday to Friday. No appointment is necessary but a completed request form should be presented on arrival. Please ensure that details entered on the request form are legible. It is important that the information provided includes:
Full name of patient
Date of Birth
NHS number
Name and surgery of requesting GP
Tests required
Clinical details including any medication
Information regarding fasting state of child (for glucose and lipid profile requests)
| Test | Sample Type | Volume | Special Requirements |
| Full Blood Count | EDTA | 0.5 ml | |
| ESR | EDTA | 0.5 ml | |
| Clotting Screen | Citrate | 1.5 ml | Tube must be filled to the line |
| INR (Capillary) | Only used for patients on on Warfarin therapy. Patients should attend the laboratory for testing. | ||
| D Dimer | Citrate | 1.5 ml | |
| Ferritin | Plain | 1.5 ml | |
| Vitamin B12 & Folate | Plain | 1.5 ml | |
| Red Cell Folate | EDTA | 1.5 ml | |
| Rheumatiod Factor |
Plain |
1.5 ml | |
| Galndular Fever | EDTA | 0.5 ml | |
| Sickle Cell Screen | EDTA | 0.5 ml | |
| Urea & Electrolytes | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Bone Profile | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Liver Function Tests | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Bilirubin | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Glucose | Fluoride | 1 ml | Fasting sampe preferred |
| Lipids | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | Fasting sampe preferred |
| Thyroid Function Tests | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Osmolality | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| CRP | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Creatine Kinase | Lithium/Heparin | 1 ml | |
| Iron | Plain | 1 ml | |
|
IgE & RAST (Specific allergens) |
Plain | 1 ml |
Samples referred from other laboratories
Please refer to the relevant departmental links for specimen requirements for each test.
Category A infectious substances
Please note that Category A infectious substances are assigned to UN 2814 regulations and must be packaged in accordance with UN Packaging Instructions PI620 (road/ rail) or PI602 (air). Further information is available via the Health and Safety Executive website.
Routine diagnostic specimens (Category B)
For all other routine diagnostic samples, specimen containers should be sealed, covered with absorbent material in sufficient quantity to absorb the contents of the container(s), and placed inside a plastic specimen bag which in turn is placed inside rigid, opaque packaging in line with UN3373 regulations. When multiple sample containers are placed in single secondary packaging, they should either be individually wrapped in absorbent material or separated to prevent contact between them. Sample packages should be labelled with the UN3373 symbol. The package should also be labelled with the words “Diagnostic Specimen” and the name and address of the referring laboratory.
If samples are transported in wet ice, the ice must be placed outside the plastic specimen bag and the packaging must be leak-proof.
Please also enclose a completed request form including:
Full name of patient
Date of Birth
Name and location of requesting clinician
Tests requested
Clinical details including details of any medication
Reference Ranges
Age-related reference ranges are applied to the majority of tests. These are supplied with each reported result. The reference ranges are ones applied at Alder Hey and do not necessarily apply to other laboratories. Reference ranges are traditionally 95% limits i.e. 2.5% of normal individuals will have results above the upper limit and 2.5% will have results below the lower limit.
Quality Policy
The Laboratory is committed to providing a comprehensive paediatric clinical laboratory and interpretive service of the highest quality to both internal and external users. The Laboratory staff will ensure that they are aware of, and take into consideration the needs and requirements of the service users, and will work closely with clinical teams to ensure that a high quality service is provided. The services provided include:
· Routine and specialist metabolic Biochemistry and allergy testing
· Routine and specialist Haematology including haemophilia, leukaemia, and oncology,
· Blood Transfusion service including provision of all blood products as required by its users.
· Newborn screening for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, MCADD and haemoglobinopathies
· Paediatric Histopathology including paediatric surgical and autopsy, fetal & perinatal services
· Paediatric Microbiology including bacteriology, mycology, virology, serology and infection control.
In order to ensure that the needs and requirements of users are met, the laboratory will:
· Operate a quality management system
· Set quality objectives and plans to achieve continual improvement of the service
· Ensure that all personnel are familiar with the Quality Manual and all procedures relevant to their work
· Commit to the health, safety and welfare of all its’ staff in accordance with relevant health and safety and environmental legislation
· Ensure that visitors to the department are treated with respect and that due consideration is given to their safety while on site
· Uphold professional values and remain committed to good professional practice and conduct.
The laboratory will comply with standards set by CPA (UK) Ltd and is committed to:
· Staff recruitment, training, development and retention at all levels to provide a full and effective service to its users
· Appropriate procurement and maintenance of equipment and other resources that are needed for the provision of the service
· The collection, transport and handling of all specimens in such a way as to ensure the correct performance of laboratory examinations
· The use of examination procedures that will ensure the highest achievable quality of all tests performed
· Reporting results of examinations in ways which are timely, confidential, accurate and clinically useful
· The assessment of user satisfaction, in addition to internal audit and external quality assessment, in order to produce continual quality improvement.
· The setting and monitoring of Quality Indicators to evaluate performance and ensure effective patient care.
Links
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Lab Tests Online is a non-commercial public resource on clinical laboratory testing provided by laboratory professionals. |
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The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK-wide health regulator that sets standards of professional training,performance and conduct for healthcare professionals. The Council keeps a register of healthprofessionals that meetdefined standards, and takes action if individuals do not meet the standards. |
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The Health Protection Agency is an independent body that protects the health and well-being of the population. The Agency plays a critical role in protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur. It also prepares for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strain of disease. |
| Authorised by | Paul Newland, Clinical Director for Pathology |
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Review date Version |
November 2012 1.1 |
