HSL RRLs: Specimen transport

• General
• Royal Free Hospital
• University College London Hospital
• Barnet General Hospital
• Chase Farm Hospital
• North Middlesex University Hospital

 

General

All RRLs have regular scheduled transport runs provided by TDL Collect (the company courier service) to carry samples for the centralised departments (special chemistry, Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Molecular Pathology) to the Halo.

Each RRL receives its specimens by means of services provided by the Trusts, apart from some GP services which are serviced by TDL Collect.

All Trusts operate a pneumatic tube system (PTS) or air chute which connects the wards/clinics and emergency departments to the laboratory. There is usually a separate tube between the emergency department and the laboratory to enable fast receipt and processing of samples. There are local policies in place for the use of the PTS or air chute.

Royal Free Hospital

Samples can be delivered using the pneumatic air chute system or in person (including hospital porters).

Some specimens MUST NOT be sent via the air chute because this will affect the test result.

Routine Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology

All samples can be sent via the air chute.

Cytopathology or Histopathology

No samples must be sent via the air chute.

Clinical Biochemistry

The following samples must NOT be sent via the air chute

• Samples for Ammonia or Blood Gas
• CSF and Urine (universal or sterile pot)
• Samples on ice or heat
• Samples shielded from light

Virology & Microbiology

None of the following samples (in universals or pots) must be sent via air chute

• Biopsies
• CSF
• Bone marrow or Fluid samples (

 

Haemophilia (Specialist coagulation)

The below specialist coagulation samples must not be sent via the air chute when the following tests have been requested.

Note: Samples for Platelet studies (aggregometry, Lumiaggregometry, and platelet nucleotides) and whole blood assays – IMPACT R, PFA-100 and ROTEM must be hand-delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection (within two hours of venepuncture).

 

 

Where samples can be sent, ensure you:

• Place the specimen bag into a pod. Note: Specimens that are not sent in a pod will break and leak
• Close the pod securely and place in the station
• Enter the destination code (see table)
• Send

 

 

In the event of a spillage or breakage in the air tube system, contact the site Estates Department and log this as an incident on DATIX.

If there are problems with the pneumatic air chute during working hours Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm, please call the Estates Department on extension 33254 and log the incident as urgent. For out of hours (4:30pm-8am), contact the shift technicians on extension 34106 or bleep 71-1111.

Delivery in person (includes Hospital porters)

Place the specimen in a leak-proof, sealed plastic biohazard bag designed for specimen transport and deliver as soon as possible to Central Specimen Reception.

 

There is point-to-point Chute from phlebotomy to SRA for the delivery of routine samples. Any samples that require special transport conditions are delivered from the phlebotomy room at the point the sample is taken.

Transport of specimens out of normal working hours

Samples that are collected by phlebotomists will be delivered to the RRL on weekends and bank holidays from 09:00–12:00. Outside of these times, specimens should be sent via the air chute, delivered in person or arranged through the general portering services.

 

University College London Hospital

Pneumatic (vacuum) tube system (PTS)

• There is a dedicated chute from A/E to the RRL and a second chute linked to several wards and locations.
• Designated carriers (PODs) must be used at all times.
• Tissue and biopsy samples should not be delivered by PTS.
• The Trust Estates departments (Interserve/CBRE) are responsible for the pneumatic tube system. All faults or incidents are reported via hospital switchboard: 020 3456 7890.
• Instructions for use and destination station codes are displayed by each station.

UCH at Westmoreland Street is not on the PTS and hourly scheduled courier runs transport samples to the RRL.

Samples from GP practices must be sent via UCLH Trust transport on the next available collection during the working day.

If a significant delay in sample transportation to the laboratory is anticipated, please discuss with laboratory staff, as sample deterioration may limit the viability of results.

 

Barnet General Hospital

Hospital porters

Hospital porters will collect samples from wards or outpatient phlebotomy and take them to the RRL.

Pneumatic (vacuum) tube system (PTS)

• There is a dedicated chute from A/E to the RRL and a second chute linked to several wards and locations.
• Designated carriers should be used at all times.
• Tissue and biopsy samples should not be delivered by PTS.
• The Trust Estates department (Equans) is responsible for the pneumatic tube system. All faults or incidents should be reported to then Trust Estates provider on ext. 64123 or via hospital switchboard out of hours.
• Instructions for use and destination station codes are displayed by each station.

Hand delivery

• Specimens can be delivered directly to the laboratory. If these are urgent, they must be handed directly to staff and signed in the log.
• Patients can drop off their own samples at the laboratory.

GP specimen transport

GP patients are bled at local phlebotomy hubs. TDL Collect, the company courier service, is responsible for collecting these specimens and delivering them to the laboratory in a timely manner.

Transport-related queries should be directed to the Courier department on 020 7307 7373.

 

Chase Farm Hospital

The RRL at Barnet General Hospital provides Pathology services to Chase Farm Hospital, however there is a small laboratory on the lower ground floor which has a Blood Transfusion fridge and a small sample reception. There is a PTS from some wards/clinics, or samples are brought by porters.

An hourly shuttle service between the laboratory at Chase Farm Hospital and the RRL at Barnet General Hospital is provided Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 20:00 by TDL Collect.

Weekend couriers, if required, are organised by ward/ departmental staff via third party providers.

North Middlesex University Hospital

Hospital porters

Hospital porters will collect samples from wards or outpatient phlebotomy.

Pneumatic (vacuum) tube system (PTS)

• There is a dedicated chute from A/E to the RRL and a second chute linked to several wards and locations.
• Designated carriers should be used at all times.
• Tissue and biopsy samples should not be delivered by PTS.
• The Trust Estates department (Bouygues) is responsible for the pneumatic tube system. All faults or incidents should be reported to Bouygues on ext. 2596 or via hospital switchboard out of hours.
• Instructions for use and destination station codes are displayed by each station.

Hand delivery

• Specimens can be delivered directly to the laboratory. If these are urgent, they must be handed directly to staff and signed in the log.
• Patients can drop off their own samples at the laboratory.

GP specimen transport

GP patients are either bled at the North Middlesex phlebotomy department or out in the community at their own, or nearby, surgeries. The Hospital Estates department (sub-contracted to Medirest) is responsible for collecting these specimens and delivering them to the laboratory in a timely manner.

Transport-related queries should be directed to Medirest (0208 887 2220).