Urgent Requests
During normal working hours
Unless the request is coming from an acute ward (and will be treated urgently anyway), for samples requiring urgent analysis, please follow the following instructions.
- Please use red, 'Urgent' specimen bags
- Telephone the relevant laboratory and follow any instructions given:
- Biochemistry/Haematology: Ext 4740
- Blood Transfusion: ext 4734
- Frozen Sections: ext 4720
- Histopathology: ext 4720
- Microbiology: ext 4740
- Send samples directly to the laboratory clearly labelled "Urgent"
- Include a bleep/phone number to allow for contact if required.
- If using a request form, clearly mark it as urgent.
Out of hours
Outside normal working hours, all samples received will be treated as urgent and there is no need to phone. It is your responsibility to ensure sample is transported to laboratory with minimal delay. Use of the pneumatic air tube system is encouraged if accessible. Please see map of air tube stations.
You should expect a turnaround time of <90 minutes (from receipt of sample in laboratory) for most urgent requests (blood sciences departments) and <60 minutes for Emergency Department requests for renal, LFT and Troponin-T. Some urgent requests e.g. FBC we aim to achieve in <30 minutes.
The following samples are processed in the Microbiology Lab at the RUH:
- blood cultures
- CSFs
- Antibiotic assays
- Specimens for urgent microscopy and culture except virology, faeces and respiratory specimens (sputa)
Please telephone the lab in advance and mark the outside of the specimen bag 'Urgent' for all CSFs and urgent specimens (as above). The lab does not need to be telephoned in advance for blood cultures and antibiotic assays.