Reporting Results

This page lists the various ways that results are reported:

Blood Science Telephoning Criteria

All laboratory results are transmitted to TRAK and SCIStore.  Results are accepted by these systems if the CHI or Hospital Unique Identification Number has been used.  Patients without CHI or Hospital UPI may be omitted from these systems.  Selected Diabetic patients will be transmitted to the SCIDC database.  Selected Renal patients will be transmitted to the Renal Proton Database.
Clinicians from Dumfries and Galloway, Borders and Fife can access their patient's results using the South Scotland Clinical Portal, which accesses the Lothian SCIStore.
Printed reports have been replaced by electronic reporting for in-patients and Emergency Medicine.  Many GPs are now receiving electronic reports via the Electronic Document Transfer reporting system directly into their local computer systems.
Reports are printed daily for those requiring hardcopy reports, placed in envelopes and distributed via the hospital portering system, by the laboratory van service or by post.
Email reports can be provided to selected locations if alternative methods of result delivery are untenable.
Results are able to be reported directly to other laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in other Health Boards where both LIMS are connected to the National Pathology Exchange (NPEx).
If required, the uncertainty of measurement for any test can be requested by contacting the relevant laboratory. Please go to the contacts page for relevant contact details.

Blood Science Telephoning Criteria:

The following table shows the routine test values which are used to determine whether results are telephoned to the requesting clinician / GP / location.  Results may not be phoned where previous results have been abnormal. Paediatric phone limits may differ as indicated below and can be obtained on request from The Royal Hospital for Sick Children laboratory (0131 536 0403)

Biochemistry:-

  • Urea:                   >30 mmol/L
  • Creatinine:          >250 µmol/L (>150µmol/L for paediatric results)
  • Sodium:              <125 mmol/L (<130mmol/L for paediatric results) or >150 mmol/L
  • Potassium:          <3.0 mmol/L or >6.1 mmol/L
  • TCO2:                   <10 mmol/L (<12 mmol/L for paediatric results)
  • Total bilirubin:        >400 µmol/L for paediatric results only 
  • Direct bilirubin:      >20 µmol/L for paediatric results only 
  • Adjusted Calcium:  <1.80 mmol/L (<1.90 mmol/L for paediatric results) or >3.00 mmol/L
  • Ionised Calcium:    >1.29 mmol/L
  • Phosphate:           <0.30 mmol/L (<0.40 mmol/L for paediatric results) 
  • Glucose:               <2.5 mmol/L or >20.0 mmol/L (>25.0mmol/L for known diabetics, > 12.0mmol/L for paed results)
  • Lactate                 >4.0 mmol/L for paediatric results only 
  • Ammonia:            >80 µmol/L (all paediatric results phoned)
  • Amylase:              >200 U/L, (>110U/L for paediatric results)
  • ALT:                     >750 U/L, (>500U/L for paediatric results)
  • Creatine Kinase   >750 U/L
  • Magnesium:        <0.40 mmol/L (<0.5 mmol/L and >3.0 mmol/L for paediatric results) 
  • Iron:                     >35 µmol/L for paediatric results only 
  • CRP:                    >200mg/L for OP/GP only 
  • Methotrexate:      >0.2 µmol/L (low dose); All results if on high dose regimen
  • Paracetamol:        All requests
  • Salicylate:             All requests
  • Digoxin:                >2.5 µg/L
  • Lithium:                >1.5 mmol/L, >1.2 for over 65 year olds 
  • Phenytoin:            > 25 µg/L (>20 µg/L for paediatric results)
  • Carbamazepine:   >25 µg/L
  • Ciclosporin:           >270 µg/L
  • Tacrolimus:           >20 µg/L
  • Theophylline:        >25 µg/L
  • Troponin T:            >9ng/L (females), >16ng/L (males) for GP only
  • TSH:                      >70 mU/L
  • Free T4:                 <5 pmol/L or >40 pmol/L
  • Cortisol:                  <50 nmol/L (except dexamethasone suppression tests)

Haematology:-

  • Haemoglobin:            <60 g/L (or a fall of 40 g/L in 24 hours)
  • WBC:                         <2.0 x109/L or >30.0 x109/L
  • Neutrophils:              <1.0 x109/L
  • Platelets:                   <30 x109/L
  • Malarial Parasites:  Positive
  • INR (on warfarin):      >8.0 ratio
  • APTT (on heparin):     >6.0 ratio
  • APTT:                          >70 sec
  • PT:                               >20 sec
  • Fib:                              <1.0 g/L
  • Vitamin B12:               <100 ng/L
  • Serum Folate:             <1.0 ng/L
  • ESR:                            >70 mm/hr
  • Morphology:               New acute leukaemia or CML. Evidence of haemolysis if Hb <80 g/L. Grossly abnormal morphology.