Background
Specimen reception plays one of the most important roles in the pathology department. It is here that patient samples from many different wards, clinics and departments arrive so they can be sorted and sent, with relevant information, to the appropriate laboratory including immunology for testing.
Laboratory
Many different types of sample come into this area from a simple clotted blood sample to blood with various different anti-coagulants added. It’s not just blood that arrives either, other sample types include; sputum, tissue swabs, bronchiole lavage fluid, cerebral spinal fluid and even urine and faeces. This department is the first stop for a sample coming into the laboratory and this is why it is so crucial important because any mistake at this stage (perhaps the mixing up of blood tubes from two different patients) could have disastrous consequences for the patient.
The staff of the central specimen unit don’t have the same amount of specific scientific training as those in the diagnostic laboratory but they do need to get specialist training in order to do the job. The staff here must be able to work safely with potentially dangerous samples that can be an infection risk. They must also be able to work quickly whilst at the same time paying meticulous attention to detail to ensure that samples are sent as fresh as possible to the correct laboratory with the right information. Finally it’s important for someone working in this department to gain an overall appreciation of each laboratory that makes up pathology, including the departments of immunology, microbiology, chemistry and haematology among others so that they know which test are done by which lab.
Talking Heads – 1
Fiona explains what it is like working in a Client Services Unit
Talking Heads – 2
Cynthia explains what it is like working in a Client Services Unit