Opening Times - SJH Laboratories

With effect from 01/11/12 the out Of Hours service for Microbiology at St John’s Hospital transferred to the RIE site, which is manned 24/7.

 

This service operates weekdays (Mon-Frid) 1700-0900 and Weekend (Sat/Sun) 1600-0900. On festive public holidays this service will operate from 1300-0900.  On all other public holidays the service will be as per routine weekdays/weekends described above.

 

There are 2 procedures in place, procedure 1, for emergency out of hours CSF samples which is facilitated by the SJH Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory and procedure 2, for all other out of hour’s emergency samples (Non – CSF).

 

 

To arrange processing of emergency out of hours CSF proceed as follows:

 

1. Contact SJH Clinical Biochemistry On-Call Biomedical scientist (bleep 3728) through the St John’s hospital switchboard and inform them you will be sending a CSF sample for onward delivery to the Microbiology department RIE.

 

If the sample volume is low or only a single sample has been obtained and there are also requests for Biochemistry, the laboratory staff will require clear instructions regarding the priority of the investigations requested.

 

2. Once sample is bagged, arrange transportation of the sample to the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory with Portering services. When you give the sample to the Porter you must make it clear to the Porter that the sample must go to the Biochemistry Laboratory at St John’s for onward transport.

 

The Biochemistry on-call Biomedical Scientist will package and arrange onward transportation of the CSF sample.

 

The Microbiology on-call Biomedical Scientist on the RIE site will phone the result directly back to you, but in order to do so will require clear instruction on contact details.

 

All other clinical Microbiology/infection control advice remains as at present, whereby on-call Microbiology doctor may be reached via St John’s Hospital switchboard.

  

To arrange processing of emergency out of hours samples (non-CSF)

 

1. Contact RIE On-Call Microbiology Biomedical scientist through the St John’s hospital switchboard to arrange. You must ensure appropriate contact details are supplied

 

2. Once processing of specimen has been agreed then package sample in a UN3373

Bio-Bottle transport box, supplied for this purpose.  For ease of identification, these boxes are pre- addressed with a distinctive orange Label.

 

These boxes will be available in your department but if top up required the portering service have access to these boxes outside the Microbiology Laboratory(in cupboard below incubator) St John’s hospital 24/7.

 

3. Once sample is boxed call portering staff indicating you have an urgent sample for onward transport to the Microbiology Laboratory at the RIE for processing

 

When you give the boxed sample to the Porter you must make it clear to the Porter that the sample must go to the porters “booth” for collection by transport.

 

Porter will collect box and take it to porters “booth” at main hospital entrance for uplift.

 

4. After porter has uplifted sample, call the switchboard and inform them that an urgent sample awaits uplift for onward transport to Microbiology RIE

 

The switchboard will arrange transport of the sample to the RIE site.

 

The on-call Biomedical scientist on the RIE site will phone the result directly back to you.

 

You will still submit blood cultures and non-emergency out of hour’s samples to be placed in the Microbiology out of hour’s incubator and fridge via the portering staff (incubator and fridge situated in room 23.2.49 opposite Microbiology lab)

 

All other clinical Microbiology/infection control advice remains as at present, whereby on-call Microbiology doctor may be reached via St John’s Hospital switchboard.

 

Monday to Friday                                 8:00 - 16:00

 

Saturday and Sunday:                          Closed 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:                             Closed 

OUT OF HOURS SERVICE                   Closed