Test Directory
Dried blood spot BBV
Containers - Adult
Ashtrom PerkinElmer 226 (perforated card)
|
|
Reference ranges
Please refer to laboratory results report.
Laboratory Site
Old Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh
EH16 4SA
Transport arrangements
Inter-site van shuttle service, GP van service, external hospital van service, couriers.
For Lothian users: Samples can also be sent by Royal Mail. Put the sample in the grey plastic envelope in the kit, affix the address label provided / address as below, and affix a stamp.
Dept of Medical Microbiology
Royal Infirmary Edinburgh
Little France Crescent
EDINBURGH
EH16 4SA
Sample storage arrangements
Patient samples can be stored and transported at ambient temperature.
Special instructions for collection
Dried blood spot (DBS) blood-borne virus testing is available in Lothian through the Community BBV Team, for example as part of outreach testing of hard-to-bleed at-risk patients.
- DBS samples are not suitable for urgent BBV test requests – please send a serum sample for this purpose.
For queries regarding the Lothian DBST Programme including access to training, please contact communitybbvteam@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
The Roche Cobas Elecsys-II system is used for testing HIV Ag/Ab, HCV Ab, HBsAg and anti-HBc. Samples with HCV Ab positivity are tested by qualitative in house HCV PCR. We are not currently able to perform further serology markers on DBS samples.
Please contact loth.virologyadvice@nhs.scot for non-urgent clinical or technical queries about DBS results.
Lothian-based users:
To source DBS kits please contact: communitybbvteam@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk or tel: 0131 5372820
Additional testing supplies (e.g. lancets, PPE, waste bags) should be ordered through PECOS.
External users / Health Boards:
Please refer to your own local guidance on sample collection requirements and procurement.
Useful information for taking a DBS sample
Cards must be labelled with, at minimum, patient name and date of birth, and additionally CHI number if known. Expiry date of card must be checked prior to use - expired cards will not be tested.
DBS circles must be adequately filled to allow sufficient volume for all required tests. Ensure all 5 circles are filled to the edge and that the underside of the paper is also saturated (check that the blood spot is as big on the underside of the paper as it is on top).
See below pictures for examples of incorrectly and correctly filled cards:
Picture 1: insufficient – circles are filled to the edge and are fully saturated but only 3 of 5 are filled.
Picture 2: All 5 circles are used but they are not filled to the edge or saturated to the back of the card.
Picture 3: Correctly filled DBS card. All 5 circles are used, circles are filled to edge and have saturated fully to back of card.
Once taken, leave the card to dry for 5 minutes, before placing the card into a plastic specimen bag, without touching the filter paper.
Patient samples must be individually packaged and not mixed with other patient samples.
How to request
For Lothian users: prior to placing a request you require a location code as a DBS service user for the laboratory systems. To obtain this, email communitybbvteam@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk with below information:
- Name
- Job title of named person(s) testing
- If named person is a doctor please supply GMC number
- If named person is a nurse please supply NMC number
- Name of department or organisation and Team
- Full postal address with post code
- Email address (results can only be sent by email to nhs.net, nhs.scot, scot.nhs.uk or edinburgh.gov.uk addresses; most third sector organisations now have an nhs.net account so please give this)
- Phone number
To request a DBS BBV test within Lothian, use a Virology Request Form. Forms must be completed with:
- patient’s forename, surname, date of birth, and CHI if available
- sender’s details and lab code
- required tests.
For external users: please request via NPEX / established systems. Patient forename, surname and date of birth should be on the DBS card. If these are missing or incomplete, responsibility for results is with the sending laboratory.
Availability
Samples are batch tested during weekdays.
DBS samples are not suitable for urgent test requests – serum samples should be sent for this purpose.
Anticipated turnaround
14 days.
What happens if the result is positive or abnormal
Positive results are notified to the Duty Virologist for clinical review. Reports will be returned to the requesting service user / laboratory. Results for Lothian-based patients will be in the patient’s records.
A venous blood sample may be requested for confirmation or further investigation of positive results, as confirmatory serological testing by alternative assays is not currently available for DBS samples.