All specimens should be sent to the department as soon as possible. A fully completed and legible request form must accompany all specimens. Clinical details are essential. Failure to do so will delay the result. 

Specimens should only be marked URGENT if there is a clinical need to do so or if the results are required within 24 - 48 hours.

Incomplete details on request forms result in delay in processing and reporting requests. It also increases the chances of specimen mix up and poor quality reports. The request form must have the following details clearly written, otherwise the specimen will be rejected:

• Surname

• First Name

• Date of Birth

• Hospital Number (for Hospital patients)

• Address and NHS number (for GP patients)

• Requesting Consultant and/or GP

For cervical smears the patient’s surname, first name and date of birth must be written in pencil on the slide.

Failure to do so will result in the specimen being returned to the sender with a subsequent delay in reporting. 

Please ensure that telephone calls enquiring about already posted reports and/or requesting them to be faxed are kept to an absolute minimum. Our secretaries are finding it very difficult to cope with the large numbers of calls they receive and these cause severe disruption to their daily work.

1.

SpeSpecimens are to be sent in 10% buffered formal-saline.  Please ensure that the container is large enough not to squash the tissue, and that it contains sufficient fixative.  (approximately ten times the volume of the specimen is recommended). 
The specimen container must be clearly labelled with the patient's details.

2.

Reports from small specimens are usually available 2 working days after receipt in the laboratory.  Larger specimens and specimens requiring special stains may take longer.

3.

Please telephone for results only when absolutely necessary.  If the report is required by a given date, please indicate this fact on the request form.

4.

Special arrangements are required for muscle biopsies - please telephone the Rheumatology Department on 01268 59 8461

5.

Renal biopsies – please telephone and give the department as much advance notice as practicable. (Ext. 8214)

top

If the need for a frozen section should arise during surgery, please contact a Consultant Histopathologist immediately.

top

Post vasectomy specimens may be delivered  to the despatch department at either Basildon or Orsett Hospital. These are reported on the same day.  A patient information sheet on collection and transport of specimens for post vasectomy analysis is available.

Samples for male infertility should be delivered to the laboratory at Basildon Hospital, Monday to Friday, within 1 hour of production, but must be received BEFORE 4.00pm. A patient information sheet on collection and transport of specimens for infertility investigation is available.

Please read the accompanying user guide on “Infertility Investigation and the Andrology Report”, which can be found in the Guidance section.

NB: Leaking samples will not be processed.

top

Cervical smears 
All the requirements for taking smears are available from the Cellular Pathology Department.  Please telephone 01268 59 8221 to order items.

General Practitioners may obtain Cervex brushes from the department. In order to comply with MHRA guidelines, the Laboratory keeps a record of the Lot number of each issue. Therefore it is essential that the contents of the packets are not divided between different work areas.  In this way the product could be traced in the event of a product recall.

Cervical smears are only accepted with a fully completed, clearly written, request form. DOB is mandatory and the patient’s NHS number and full address should be included wherever possible. A slide clearly labelled in pencil, with surname, first name AND date of birth, should be sent in a plastic slide carrier.
Smears will be returned to the sender if the slide is inadequately labelled or if the request form is incomplete, or if the patient’s details on the slide and form do not match. Inevitably this will cause a delay in reporting.
A letter stating the reasons for rejection will be enclosed with the returned smear and form. The details should be amended and the slide and form returned to the Cytology department as quickly as possible.

Sputum specimens
3 consecutive early morning specimens should be sent.  These should be obtained before eating, drinking or teeth cleaning. A dry, 2oz. container is suitable for sputum.  
Patients should be requested to send the specimens to the Laboratory each day, as fresh samples are required for these investigations. Please also ask the patient to record the date and time of collection on the specimen container.
Unlabelled specimens will not be processed.  The request form will be returned and a repeat specimen requested.

Fluids
40ml is a suitable volume for cytological investigations. Large volumes are difficult for the laboratory to deal with. 
Dry 2oz containers or 2 white capped universal containers may be used.
A fully completed request form must accompany the specimen with the date and time of collection recorded.  The clinical information provided must be sufficient and appropriate to aid the Pathologist reporting the case.

Urine
All specimens should be sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.  The SECOND specimen of the day is required. Dry 2oz container or white capped universal containers are suitable. EMU specimens are NOT suitable.  
Specimens must be sent promptly as delays in transit will make the specimens unsuitable for diagnosis.
Patients must be requested to record the date and time of collection on the specimen container.
Unlabelled specimens will not be processed.  The request form will be returned and a repeat specimen requested.

Other specimens
Cytological investigation of a variety of specimens is available. These include skin scrapes and bronchial brushings and washings.
Specimens must be sent promptly to the Laboratory as delays in transit will cause lengthened turn round times.
The request form must be fully completed and contain sufficient appropriate clinical information to aid the reporting Pathologist.

Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA)
Both air-dried and fixed preparations should be sent. Three to six slides per case are adequate. Please label clearly in pencil with the patient’s name and whether the slide is air-dried or wet fixed.  This information is especially important as the staining method used, and therefore the interpretation of the cells, depends on the initial fixation method used.
The Consultants are always willing to give advice or to take the FNAs.
Slides and fixative can be obtained from the Laboratory.  Please telephone extension 8221

top

The Mortuary is located at the far end of the main hospital corridor on level B (past the Maternity Unit). It is open between 7.30am & 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday and 7.30am to 3.30pm on Fridays.
Three types of post mortem are carried out in the mortuary, and are performed every day, usually in the mornings.

Coroners Post Mortems
These account for more than 90% of cases. Post mortems are performed by the Pathologists at the request of the Coroners Officers for the Coroner.

Hospital Post Mortems
Hospital Consultants request the pathologist to perform the post mortem. The clinical team is responsible for obtaining consent from the next of kin of the deceased. A nominated person from the clinical team then consults with the pathologist for an appropriate date to perform the examination.

Paediatric Cases
These cases should be discussed with Dr Ozua (Consultant Pathologist Ext 8219)

top