Blood transfusion laboratory

Location

Blood Transfusion Laboratory
Floor 5
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 8NE

Opening times

The transfusion department operates 24 hours for the receipt of samples.

Core times: 8.45am - 5.15pm, Monday to Friday, when all services are available.

Core laboratory opening times

Royal Derby Hospital 

Monday to Friday, 7am - 9pm

Queen's Hospital Burton

Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm

Outside of core hours, there is a limited service for analysis.
The combined laboratory at the Royal Derby Hospital is open 24 hours per day for the receipt of samples. 

How should I label a sample?

What to include	If not included
A minimum of 4 patient identifiers.	Rejected sample   You will need to attend the lab to identify samples
Clinician and location for report.	Report Not Available  Without the correct originating source we cant allocate a destination for the report
Complete forms fully and accurately.	Rejected Sample Or Compromised Diagnosis  Include as much patient information as possible Failure to provide information may lead to unhelpful or inaccurate diagnosis
Complete forms legibly.	Sample Incorrectly Registered  Illegible handwriting will not be interpreted. May result in errors or delays to results.
Indicate the appropriate tests if applicable.  Use the correct carriers or sample bags.	Samples May Not Receive Correct Examination  Sample may not reach the correct destination May result in errors or delays to results

 

Transportation of samples

Routine samples can be transported via the pneumatic chute (222) or taken to Pathology reception on Level 5.

In a massive haemorrhage situation a dedicated runner should transport  urgent samples directly to the transfusion laboratory to reduce possible delays in providing suitable blood components.

How to submit samples

Adult samples must be greater than 2ml in volume and must not be stored for more than 24 hours at room temperature.

Labelling requirements

Patient identification

To reduce the risks of errors occurring in patient identification, the following procedure should be followed:

• The Blood Bank Request Form must be available for patient identification.
  
  
• Ask the patient to state their full name and date of birth.
  
  
• Check given patient details against those on the Blood Bank Request Form.
  
  
• Check the patient’s identity wristband against the Blood Bank Request Form for the hospital number, full name, and date of birth.
  
  
• If the patient is unconscious or unable to confirm their identity, it will only be possible to confirm their identity by using the wristband.
  
  
• In outpatient departments where patients do not wear identity wristbands, ask the patient to state any additional information on the Blood Bank Request Form, e.g. a home address.
  
  
• When taking pre-transfusion blood samples, it is important that only one patient is bled at a time.

 

Sample labelling 

• The sample must be labelled immediately at the patient bedside, before leaving the patient.
  
  
• Collect 6ml (minimum of 2ml) of blood into a 6ml K2E Blood Bank tube (pink top tube).
  
  
• Hand write the patient information on the sample bottle clearly and accurately.
  
  
• The use of addressograph labels on the sample bottle is prohibited by current BSH guidelines.

The following information must be on the sample:

1. Surname/ family name (correctly spelt)
   
   
2. First name(s) in full
   
   
3. Date of birth (not age or year of birth)
   
   
4. Hospital number or NHS number
   
   
5. Date and time of collection
   
   
6. Signature of sample collector

 

Please note points 1, 2, 3 and 4 above must be 100% correct and match exactly on sample, form, and laboratory computer system, or the sample will be rejected.