The services provided by Blackrock Clinic Pathology Department are:

• Clinical Biochemistry/Endocrinology/Point of Care Testing

• Haematology

• Blood Transfusion / Haemovigilance

• Microbiology

• Cellular Pathology

The examinations performed in each discipline, including sample requirements and expected turnaround times (eTAT), are listed in the appendices. Test methodologies are approved by departmental consultants and are available on request.  INAB accredited activities are defined in the scope of accreditation as detailed on the INAB website (www.inab.ie), registration number 212MT.  The Biochemistry department has been awarded flexible scope by INAB, for further details refer to the laboratories “master list of flexible scope changes” (MF-GEN-0166), available directly from the laboratory.  

For specialist examinations, Blackrock Clinic sources outside laboratories based on their ability to provide a quality service and include those that are a reference laboratory for specialist examinations, a university teaching hospital laboratory and/or an accredited laboratory, e.g. INAB or UKAS ISO 15189 accredited. Information on tests that are referred is available on request and the referral laboratory is noted on the test report. 

Haemovigilance is defined as a “set of surveillance procedures from the collection of blood and its components to the follow–up of recipients, to collect and assess information on unexpected or undesirable effects resulting from the therapeutic use of labile blood products, and to prevent their occurrence” (National Haemovigilance Office, 2004.)

Reporting of adverse reactions and events has been viewed as part of professional responsibility and is based on a confidential anonymous reporting system.  The advent of EU directive (2002/98/EC) in February 2005 specifies:

• That all serious adverse reactions and serious adverse events which are attributed

to the quality and safety of blood components transfused will be captured and

reported.

• That all blood products are traceable from donor to recipient. This information

must be available for thirty years. This will comprise of weekday surveillance

procedures and involve the audit of the haemovigilance process.

If you suspect a transfusion reaction, please contact either the blood transfusion laboratory on Ph: 01 2064224 or the Haemovigilance Officer / Deputy Haemovigilance Officer on DECT phone 8041.  Out of hours, contact the on call scientist.

7.2 Point of Care

Point of Care Testing is defined as any testing carried out close to the patient, away from the central laboratory, carried out by non-pathology staff. A limited range of tests and procedures are performed by non-pathology staff.  The Point of Care Testing in the Blackrock Clinic involves the following equipment:

• Siemens RP500 Blood Gas Analysers
• Siemens Clinitek Status Analysers for Urinalysis and uHCG testing
• Haemochron Signature + for ACT testing
• Abbott Freestyle Pro Glucose and Ketone meters 

The location of each point of care device is documented in LF-POC-0030 Point of Care Device Locations.

A designated Point of Care Coordinator is responsible for the controlled operation of Point of Care Testing procedures and requirements and can be contacted through the Biochemistry Department on extension 4397.