Blood Film

If the full blood count results are abnormal or there is a specific indication on the request form, a blood film will be stained and examined microscopically. Blood films are spread and stained by a UKAS accredited automated method however in the event of analyser failure blood smears will be manually spread and stained which is currently an unaccredited procedure. Blood films requiring clinical comment will be referred to a Haematology Consultant or Registrar. Delay or marked temperature changes in transit can affect morphology.

Documents for review in blood sciences - haematology, are placed here, from the autoarchive process

The clinical service is consultant-led and available on a 24-hour basis to hospital clinicians and GPs.

For the clinical interpretation or advice of any haematology test results please contact the on-call SpR or Consultant via switchboard - 0 from an internal telephone or 0121 424 2000 if phoning from outside of the Trust.

Please click on the link for the following guidance

GP Investigation and Referral Pathways for Leucocytes, Platelets and Polycythaemia

Investigation and Referral Pathways for Anaemia in Primary Care

Investigation of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinurea

Diagnostic algorithm for investigation of possible Gaucher’s disease in adults

Criteria for Referral to Haematology

Criteria for telephoning critical haematology results

ESR

This is the standard haematological inflammatory marker, performed in the laboratory, although CRP is the preferred test (Biochemistry request).  The ESR may be performed on the same EDTA sample sent for FBC if sufficient.

Full Blood Count

A full blood count consists of haemoglobin, total white cell and differential counts, platelets and full red cell indices. All of these values are provided using a single EDTA sample. Please note that if venepuncture is difficult and mixing with anticoagulant delayed, micro-clot formation may cause a falsely low platelet count. If the full blood count results are abnormal or there is a specific indication on the request form, a blood film will be stained and examined microscopically.

HEFT Pathology Guideline Investigation and Referral Pathways for Anaemia in Primary Care

This guidence covers the following areas

1. Anaemia Testing in Adults

2. Iron Deficiency Anaemia Testing in Adults

3. Iron Deficiency Anaemia Treatment and Monitoring Advice

4. Vitamin B12 Deficiency Testing, Treatment and Monitoring

5. Folate Deficiency Testing, Treatment and Monitoring Advice

6. Renal Anaemia Testing in Adults

Haematology Services

The laboratory provides a comprehensive consultant-led service providing both diagnostic and clinical advice 24h/day. The laboratory provides services to GP's by direct access and to Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals. There are close links with the Clinical Haematology service.

A comprehensive diagnostic services is provided. For results contact the Laboratory Medicine Results Line on ext 41185. If you need to contact the laboratories please telephone ext 40908 (Heartlands), ext 47279 (Good Hope) or ext  44527 (Solihull). Overnight and weekends contact the laboratories via bleep 2449 (Heartlands) or bleep 8779 (Good Hope). Consultant advice is available via the laboratory or the Heartlands switchboard.

Screening for thalassaemia and variant haemoglobins (such as Sickle haemoglobin) is performed within the Haematology laboratory at Heartlands Hospital for all Trust sites and GP's. Patients may require haemoglobinopathy testing as part of ante-natal screening or pre-operative assessment.

Requests should be made on a Haematology request form and sent with a 4ml EDTA sample for analysis. We are unable to reflex haemoglobinopathy screening on suspected full blood counts results without a request. Ante-natal requests should be accompanied with a Family Origin Questionnaire.

Occasionally samples are referred to Central Middlesex Hospital, London or John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford for confirmation of new or unusual variants or for alpha thalassaemia testing.

For further information or advice please contact the laboratory on extension 40198 or check the Test Database.