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Haematology, Blood Transfusion, and Immunology

The Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology department provides a high quality analytical service and clinical advice. We receive in excess of 519,000 specimens per year, on which we perform over 799,000 tests. The service is consultant-led with 70 medical, scientific and support staff and comprises four sections:

  • Haematology
  • Coagulation
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Immunology (provided via referral to Derriford Hospital)

Opening times

  • Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 20:00
  • Saturday: 09:00 to 13:00*

*The Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holiday service offered by all departments is intended for essential work.

Out of hours

Urgent work will be processed at any time. The Biomedical Scientist (BMS) on call for each department may be contacted through the RCHT Hospital switchboard (01872 250000).

Please phone the laboratory if results are needed immediately or for blood products that are needed urgently.

Outside core hours (09:00-17:30) please bleep 3220 for transfusion only.

Out of hours, do not bleep the BMS unless very urgent or for a cross match/blood product issue, or advice.

Routine Haematology

The routine Haematology service analyses samples, which includes the following:

  • Full Blood Count (FBC) + film in exceptional cases (e.g., Malaria)
  • Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) Screen
  • Sickle Screen
  • Examination of blood and bone marrow
  • Antenatal Sickle cell and Thalassemia screening

Coagulation

The Coagulation service includes testing for basic coagulation screen.

  • Haemostasis
  • Thrombophilia investigations

Andrology

The Andrology service includes semen testing.

  • Basic male fertility semen analysis
  • Post vasectomy semen analysis

Blood Transfusion

The Blood Transfusion department offers:

  • Blood grouping
  • Patient Blood Management
  • Antibody screening (including antenatal)
  • Antibody identification
  • Cross matching
  • Blood product/component

Each year, we supply around 16,000 units of red blood cells, as well as platelets, plasma and other blood products, to patients at both the Royal Cornwall Hospitals and the Community Hospitals in Cornwall.

Safety for Blood Transfusions

In the UK, we have rigorous regulations regarding blood donations and blood transfusions to minimise the risk of being given blood that is contaminated with a virus, or from an unsuitable blood group. Compared to other everyday risks, the likelihood of getting an infection from a blood transfusion is very low. All blood donors are unpaid volunteers and they’re very carefully selected and tested to make sure that the blood they donate is as safe as possible.

If you’re going to have a blood transfusion, we’ll ask you to wear an identification band with your details on to make sure you get the right transfusion. We’ll check this each time you receive a new bag of blood, and we’ll also ask you your full name and date of birth to double-check.

Further information about Blood Transfusions

If your doctor suggests you need a blood transfusion, you can find more information on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.

If you have recently had a transfusion and feel unwell, please read our patient information leaflet and get in touch with your doctor.

Guidance for healthcare professionals

All patients requiring transfusion in the Haematology out-patient department should be referred through a consultant Haematologist with full documentation of medical and drug histories. The patient will only be seen by the Haematologists if this is requested within the referral. Any patient who is bed-bound or unable to attend to their own toileting should be referred as an inpatient.

Samples for group and screen/cross match are valid for a maximum of 7 days; however, this is affected by the patient’s transfusion and obstetric history. Regularly transfused patients may need samples taken more frequently – please contact the laboratory on extension 2500 if you are unsure. Advice is also available on the reverse of the request form (linked below).

Wherever possible, the cause of anaemia should be investigated and where a reversible cause is identified, this should be corrected before resorting to transfusion.

Antenatal testing: Screening should test all mothers twice in pregnancy, at booking and a second time in the 28th week of gestation for ABO and Rh (D) groups and antibody screening. If any further testing is required as a result of these tests, a report will be issued suggesting appropriate follow-up tests and their timing.

All Rh (D) negative mothers, who do not have immune anti-D, should be offered anti-D prophylaxis. This is an essential part of the management of Rh (D) negative women. A standard dose of 1500iu should be administered at 28 weeks' gestation after the samples for the routine screen have been taken and after any potentially sensitising event.

Immunology (provided via referral to Derriford Hospital)

Please note: a budget code from the requesting clinician/ department must be supplied with urgent requests for immunology referrals. This is used when we book urgent couriers etc.

The immunology service based at Derriford offers testing to investigate disorders of the immune system, including:

  • Autoimmune diseases – systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease and myasthenia gravis
  • Allergic diseases – hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and anaphylaxis
  • Immunodeficiency – Chronic granulomatous disease
  • Hypersensitivities – Asthma
  • Other disease such as AIDS and HIV

For all queries please email rch-tr.haematology-lab@nhs.net

Respective add-on testing

Specimens are retained in Haematology under appropriate storage for up to 3 days. It is possible to ask for tests to be added to samples already received provided the analyte required is sufficiently stable.

When an add-on test has been requested but testing not possible this will be reported. Within RCH the original MAXIMs form should be printed (do NOT create a new MAXIMs request), the add-on test hand-written on, and the form sent to the laboratory.

Further links and information

Departments in our service