First of all, we would like to apologize to Ms Chew and our fellow coursemates who were anticipating for our first post in Week 1 of SIP. Our group will be doing 2 posts this week to compensate.
Hi this is Hakim from TG01.
Since this is our first post, I think it would be best if I talk about the beginning of the laboratory procedures, which is the specimen reception in the main branch. I was posted to Specimen Reception for a day, but I learnt a lot of things. Specimen reception is one of the most important phase as the samples have to be checked and verified before being sent for testing. Samples are brought in in batches from different areas. Samples are usually brought in by couriers and usually they go and collect samples from different clinics more than once a day.
Specimens come with forms indicating the name and the type of test needed to be done (e.g. culturing of swab or HIV test on blood). The type of specimens received must also be correlated with the forms to make sure that there is no missing or lost items. Usually, there are red coloured forms which indicate that it is "Urgent". Therefore, they are of higher priority and results have to be released ASAP. All samples received early in the morning (i.e. 9 am) also are indicated as "Urgent".
After that, barcodes are placed on the form as well as the specimens (e.g. tube, bottle, swab container) so that the specimens can be registered in the database (LIS). I'm familiar with the procedures with the registering of tests and patient information for the TMC branch, but I'm not too familiar with the procedure in the main lab.
All blood samples (excluding those with anticoagulants such as EDTA) are to be centrifuged to seperate the serum from the red blood cells.
The forms are placed in a pidgeon hole so that the different sections are able to perform the tests.
Hakim
0703555C
13 comments:
HI HAKIM!! (: How's work at Thomson?
Why is it that samples received early in the morning are considered as Urgent?
Cheers,
JOEY(:
03rd July 2009
1640PM
Hey Joey!!
Working at Thomson is awesome because you get to see babies!
Although is smaller, it's more cozier and you get to interact more with the staff.
I'm not too sure about why the samples are considered "Urgent" though.
The main lab isn't a 24-hour lab. My theory is that usually patients who visit 24-hour clinics late at night till early in the morning are usually of "Urgent" cases where the results of the ordered test needs to be reported to the doctor and patient ASAP.
So the whole lot of samples collected during this time would be labeled as "Urgent".
I hope I answer your question.
Happy SIPing!!
Hakim
hakim, u onli mentioned about blood.
but you all also deal with other body fluids right?
stella
Hi Hakim! Can you elaborate more about the procedures regarding the registering of tests and patient information on the LIS so that I can compare with the one my hospital is doing to see if there is any difference?
Thanks,
Goh Michelle
Oh dear I haven't been checking this post haha. Sorry I'm a little late!
Hey Stella,
Yes, we deal with other specimens such as urine, stool, swabs, Pap smears and semen.
Hey Michelle,
I'm not sure about the branch in the main lab, but I know a little about the LIS system in Thomson Medical Centre.
We have different barcodes for different tests. The same barcode number is used for a particular patient. Barcodes are placed on test tubes, cuvettes for the automated machines and on the request forms.
After receiving the samples, we usually take the request form and key it in the computer's LIS system, which is connected to the automated machines. The doctors have different codes/abbreviations for different tests (e.g. ANSUR, HAV). Inputting in the LIS would tell the automated analyzer to perform that particular test for the particular barcode.
I'm not sure if the results given would automatically be transferred to the LIS. Perhaps today I'll ask them then I'll get back to you?
Happy SIP-ing!
Hakim
0703555C
Again. I have already reminded all of you that no names of organization. It is not important for us to know which organization you are attached to. Just mentioned the prinicple of the test involved. Please follow the blog instructions provided in CCHM BB Course Information folder.
Sorry. May i know the full name of the student named Joey? I do not have this name in the Level 3 BMT student list. Please do not use names that the lecturers are not familiar with. Thank you.
Hey Hakim,
Just want to compare with your lab because I'm also dealing with registration of specimens. Do you guys use codes for the different tests and specimens in the LIS? Because in our lab, we use different codes for all the different tests and specimens, and the same code can be for different tests depending on whether is it a TEST code or a PROFILE code. Haha. Thanks!
Hui Juan
0702012F
Hey Huijuan!
Yes, we do have different codes for different tests done.
We can use the different codes (e.g. ANSUR, HBV, HIV) for references as to how many cuvettes are needed and which machine to put the cuvettes in.
But before we load the cuvettes into the analyzer, we have to register the test on the LIS by inputting the code.
I don't really understand the part about the profile and test code, but I can tell you that sometimes, a single code could mean a variety of tests which need to be done on a single patient, because the patient would provide a variety of samples like blood, stool and urine.
I hope I have answered your question :)
Happy SIP-ing!
Hakim
0703555C
Hi Hakim
I would like to know how do you handle add in tests?
For example, the doctor wants to add in certain tests for the blood received 2 hrs ago?
Do you still use the greee, blue or red forms?
Nurul Nyzah
opps, Joey is Lim Jia Hui. 0703605F
Sorry for the misunderstanding
Hi hakim!
It's so awesome that you get to deal with babies! Do you get to deal with their blood specimens too? :)
I received a few cord blood samples from your work place at times, and I realised that fetal blood are usually clotted. Any reason behind this?
Felicia
0703345I
TG02
Hey Nyzah!
Let's say if a doctor calls us to request for an additional test on a current patient, all we need is to add in the test code to the request form. We don't need to write down an additional request form. To be honest, I've never seen any blank request forms haha. We also have to update the LIS to make sure that the automated machine will be updated on the additional test.
Hey Felicia!
Yup, every morning we would receive all the cord blood from newborns. It's a routine to check for G6PD, TSH and FT4 levels and to find the ABO blood grouping for each baby.
I guess the reason why the blood is clotted is because it has been hours since the sample was collected and it is left in room temperature (perhaps during transport). For us, we would store the cord blood in the fridge if we receive the cord blood in the afternoon.
However, I do know that the test tube containing the cord blood has little 'bits' that don't really look like coagulated blood. I have a feeling that the 'bits' is actually the umbilical cord
Happy SIP-ing!
Hakim
0703555C
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