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 Laboratory Information

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine User Reference Manual

Transport of Specimens to Pathology

Test Manual

Tube Guide including Order of Draw

General Information

Phlebotomy Guidelines

How to make an appointment with Haematology Department

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine User Reference Manual

Please click here to view the 'Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine User Reference Manual'

Transport of Specimens to Pathology

Please click here to view

Test Manual

Please click here to view Test Manual

Tube Guide Including Order of Draw

Please click here to view Tube Guide

Specimen Collection Procedure

Please click here to view Specimen Collection Procedure

Specimen Transport Procedure

Please click here to view Specimen Transport Procedure

Model Rules for Visitors to the Laboratory

Please click here to view Model Rules for Visitors to Laboratory 

General Information

Quality Policy

The aim of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department is to be a centre of excellence in the provision of Pathology services as judged by the users of the services and the wider healthcare community. The department is committed to the implementation of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group mission statement, to provide the best possible healthcare, drawing on the talents and creativity of all our staff.

The Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion, Endocrinology, Haematology, Nuclear Medicine, Metabolism, and Microbiology have been awarded accreditation by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd (CPA), a UK based organisation, which assess medical laboratories in Ireland and the UK. Peer review assessors audited for compliance against the CPA Standards and awarded accreditation to the laboratories based on their findings. This internationally recognised accreditation offers reassurance to the users of the ability of the laboratory to provide a high quality service. The Blood Transfusion Laboratory has also been awarded accreditation from the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) for compliance against the International Standards ISO 15189.

 Pathology

The department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is located on the third floor of the Clinical Service Building. Access to the laboratory is restricted to authorised personnel and is controlled by swipe card. Access to laboratory can be arranged by contacting Pathology Reception.

Pathology Reception and Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy Department and Pathology Reception are located in the Ambulatory Day Care Centre on the ground floor and can be located by following the signposts from the main entrance of the hospital. An additional phlebotomy service for patients undergoing Anticoagulant Monitoring is located in the 'old outpatients' area of the main hospital.

Phlebotomy for Patient's referred by General Practitioners and External Clinics

For patients referred by GP's and External Clinics access to phlebotomy is by appointment only. Patients can make an appointment by phoning 01-2003928 or 1890 253184 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Monday to Friday (including bank holidays)

A limited number of emergency appointments are available and can be made by the General Practitioners phoning 01-2214015.

 Outpatient Phlebotomy

Outpatient phlebotomy is located in the Ambulatory Day Care Centre on the ground floor of the Clinical Services Building. The phlebotomy service for Anticoagulant Monitoring is located in the Herbert Wing (Old Private Hospital).

Patients referred from the OPD department can access phlebotomy from 8am - 6pm Monday to Wednesday and 8am - 5pmThursday – Friday. A phlebotomy service for private referrals is available in the Consultants Private Clinic at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Access to the phlebotomy service is restricted to patients who are 14 years of age or older.

Pathology Reception

Opening Hours 8:30am -5pm Monday – Friday.

Patients, general practitioners and couriers should deliver all specimens to pathology reception. Request forms and specimen containers are supplied to GP’s through pathology reception.

 

 Pathology Departments Opening Hours

Department	Opening Hours
Specimen Reception	Monday – Friday 8am- 6pm
Biochemistry Blood Transfusion Haematology Microbiology	Monday – Friday 8am - 8pm. Saturday       9:30am – 12:45pm Outside Normal Working Hours Emergency Out of Hours Service is available.
Histology	Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 9:30am - 12:45pm
Immunology  Nuclear Medicine Laboratory	Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm
Metabolism	Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm
Endocrinology	Monday  – Friday 9:30am - 5pm

 Phlebotomy Guidelines

  If several different samples are required fill the tubes in the following order:

·     Blood culture bottles (fill anaerobic, purple-topped, bottle first)

·     Citrate tubes (light-blue topped, for coagulation studies)

·     Dry tubes (red topped) for tests on serum.

·     Heparin tubes (green-topped, for plasma chemistries etc.)

·     EDTA tubes (lavender-topped, for full blood counts and blood bank tubes etc.)

·     Fluoride/oxalate tubes (Grey-topped, for glucose)

·     Sodium Heparin (Navy topped, for Zinc and Lead)

 Gently mix specimen containers immediately following collection by inversion five times (very gently)

Haemolysed Specimens

Factors in performing venipuncture, which may account for haemolysis include:

·     Using a needle with a small diameter (eg. 23 gauge or more)

·     Using a small needle with a large vacutainer tube.

·     Using an improperly attached needle and syringe so that frothing occurs as the blood enters the syringe.

·     Pulling the plunger of a syringe back too quickly.

·     Shaking or vigorous mixing of blood collection tubes.

·     Forcing blood from a syringe into a blood collection tube, especially through a needle.

·     Failure to allow the blood to run down the side of the tube when using a syringe to fill the tube.

·     Failure to allow alcohol swab to dry

·     Drawing from site of haematoma

·     Very slow flow into tube

·     Drawing blood from indwelling line

 How to make an appointment with the Haematology Department

All new GP referrals must be submitted on a GP haematology pro forma letter, available on request from the Department (01 - 2213125) or for download by clicking here.

Submit Referrals:

Fax:    01-2213082

Email: suite4@vincents.ie

Post:   Suite 4, Haematology OPD, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4. 

Submitted letters are assessed by the Haematologists and an appropriate appointment is forwarded directly to the patient.