Test requests
When completing request forms please provide:
· Patient’s full name
· Date of birth
· NHS number (except Emergency Department)
· Date and time of collection
· Patient’s Consultant/GP code
· Test requirements
· Valid signature
· Location
· Identify URGENT requests clearly
Approximate test turnaround times
|
Test |
Usual test Frequency |
Turnaround times (excl. transport & postal time) |
Specimen Container |
||
|
Immunoglobulins |
Daily |
5 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Complement C3, C4 (immunochemical) |
Daily |
5 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Acute Phase Proteins |
Daily |
3 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Serum electrophoresis |
Daily |
16 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Urine electrophoresis |
Weekly |
13 days |
Random or 24 hour |
||
|
Immunofixation |
Twice weekly |
10 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Serum Free Light Chains |
Twice weekly |
7 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Complement C1 Inhibitor |
Weekly |
10 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Beta-2-microglobulin |
Weekly |
7 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
IgG subclasses |
Weekly |
11 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Functional Antibodies |
Weekly |
8 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
CSF investigations |
Weekly |
12 days |
Universal (CSF) + Gel Tube (Serum) |
||
|
Cryoglobulins |
Weekly |
10 days |
Gel tube * |
||
|
Total IgE |
Twice weekly |
6 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Specific IgE |
Twice weekly |
7 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Connective Tissue Disease Screen |
Daily |
7 Days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Tissue Autoantibody screen |
Daily |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Anti-Nuclear Antibodies |
Daily |
7 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Rheumatoid Screen |
Daily |
5 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Rheumatoid RAPA |
Weekly |
8 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Mast Cell Tryptase |
Weekly |
7 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
DNA antibodies |
Weekly |
10 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
ENA screen |
Twice weekly |
5 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Aspergillus precipitins |
Weekly |
10 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Candida precipitins |
Weekly |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Farmers lung precipitins |
Weekly |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Avian precipitins |
Weekly |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
ANCA screen |
Daily |
4 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
ANCA Quantitation |
Daily |
4 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
CSF immunophenotyping |
As required |
2 days |
Universal |
||
|
Lymphocyte proliferation |
As required |
2 weeks |
Lithium Heparin+ |
||
|
GBM quantitation |
Daily |
4 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Phospholipid antibodies |
Weekly |
11 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Thyroid TPO antibodies |
Weekly |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Thyroid receptor antibodies |
Fortnightly |
15 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Acetylcholine receptor antibodies |
Fortnightly |
15 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Intrinsic Factor antibodies |
Weekly |
11 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Neuronal/Purkinje Cell antibodies |
Weekly |
8 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Organ-specific antibodies (e.g. Adrenal, ovary, etc) |
Weekly |
8 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Skin and Kidney Biopsies |
As Required |
11 days |
On ice in a Universal tube |
||
|
Coeliac screen |
Twice weekly |
9 days |
Gel tube |
||
|
Lymphocyte subsets |
Daily |
5 days |
EDTA X 1 ** |
||
|
Leukaemia immunophenotyping |
Daily |
10 days |
EDTA X 2 ** |
||
|
CSF/Pleural fluid immunophenotyping |
On request |
3 days |
Universal *** |
||
|
Dihydrorhodamine test DHR |
On request |
1 day |
Lithium heparin tube*** |
||
|
Synovial Fluid Examination |
Daily |
4 days |
Universal |
||
* Please refer to correct procedure for cryoglobulin sample handling
** Do not refrigerate. Specimens must be kept at room temperature
*** Please contact the Laboratory prior to sending sample
The above turnaround times reflect the expected time to carry out and report an immunology test. These times refer to negative/normal results. Specimens with positive/abnormal results are often referred for further tests, which may significantly add to the turnaround time, e.g. a positive Rheumatoid Screen test (tested daily) will be referred for a Rheumatoid RAPA test (tested weekly). Some tests have long processing times, which significantly affect the turnaround time. Urgently requested ANCA and anti-GBM antibody tests will be given priority.
GP specimens and reports
A daily van service is available for all GPs served by the laboratory for the collection of specimens and delivery of reports. For further information on this service, please contact Gillian Crankshaw, Associate General Manager on 01772 522068.