Results are available to clinical staff through our IT systems.

Please note that patients are unable to obtain results directly from the laboratory. See Policy for issuing results to patients.

• GPs please use Sunquest ICE within your practice system
• MTW NHS Trust users please use hospital ordercoms PAS
• All others: please use Telepath results viewer

Telephoned results

Results are not generally telephoned by the laboratory. Please see below for when results are telephoned.

• Clinical Biochemistry – see communication of critical and unexpected results
• Microbiology: positive blood cultures

Paper reports

Paper reports are issued to all destinations that have not requested paper reports to be turned off. If you do not require printed reports please contact us at mtw-tr.pathology@nhs.net

Labtestsonline – a public site that explains Pathology tests for patients

With the exception of frozen sections, Histology, Cytology and Immunology samples are not considered urgent and should be sent routinely.

Urgent samples are those that need to be processed within 1-3 hours of sample collection

1. Telephone the appropriate laboratory to warn that a sample is coming, discuss the reasons for its urgency and check the destination to send the sample to.
2. Highlight “urgent” with a marker pen on the request form or (for GP samples requested by ICE) on the sample
3. Seal the sample in an appropriate pathology specimen bag and place the completed request form in the pocket of the specimen bag
4. Samples travelling by road must be transported in a specimen transport box that has a diamond with UN3373 printed on it. Contact the relevant department for advice on packing arrangements.
5. Arrange delivery to the correct department. (Microbiology out of hours: discuss  sample delivery arrangements with scientist via switchboard).

Maidstone haematology/Biochemistry/Transfusion – deliver to correct floor (see locations). If the reception hatch is shut (closed outside routine hours) ring the bell and put specimens through letter box. We will attend to them as soon as possible.

Haematology/Transfusion/Biochemistry

9am – 5.30pm Monday – Friday: routine service

5.30pm – 8pm Monday – Friday: limited service

9am – noon Saturday: limited service

All other times: out of hours service – contact switchboard

Microbiology

8.15am – 5.45pm Monday to Friday

8.15am – 4.45pm Saturday/Sunday and bank holidays

All other times: out of hours service – contact switchboard

Point of care

9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday

All other times: out of hours service – contact switchboard

Please ensure all lids on sample containers are properly secured before sending

• Pack haematology, chemistry and immunology samples together
• Use a separate specimen bag for Microbiology, Histology, Diagnostic  Cytology and Transfusion requests
• Tissue samples for Microbiology should be put in sealed sterile containers. Do not add formalin to these samples.

All specimens should be placed in special transport boxes (Red Boxes) or bagged and sealed, ready for placement in the Specimen Transport Bags. Each bag is clearly labelled with contact details in the advent of an accident/incident.

See pathology sample packing and storage instructions for details of which samples to pack in boxes or bags and where to store samples until they are collected.

The Specimen Transport courier will transfer the samples to a specimen transport container for forward delivery to the laboratories.

The transport service is run by MTW transport department.

For all transport-related issues, please contact the transport manager: 01622 224367 or switchboard

The MTW specimen collection service for GP surgeries is commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Any requests for changes or alterations to this contract should be raised with the CCG.

• Samples may contain biological and/or chemical hazards. All personnel transporting samples must follow the safety rules for drivers

Moving samples between hospital sites

The laboratories are distributed among the Trust’s two hospital sites. Although not all services are on every site, specimen transport arrangements within the Trust ensure all samples from any originating Trust site can be sent to the appropriate laboratory for analysis.

Patient personal deliveries of specimens

Patients are able to deliver specimens directly.

• Microbiology: The reception at Maidstone is open from 8.30am – 5.00pm. Outside these times specimens may be handed into the A&E departments at either Maidstone Hospital or Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Samples may also be handed in to Pathology reception at Tunbridge Wells Hospital  during daytime hours.
• Other departments: Samples may be handed to any department on any site during daytime hours for forward transmission to the correct department. Out of hours, please contact the laboratory.

Maidstone Hospital

• Transfusion – orange zone
• Haematology/Chemistry – ground floor, orange zone

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

• Level -2

Maidstone Hospital

Ground floor, green zone 3

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Pathology , level -2

• Microbiology and Cellular Pathology (Histology, Diagnostic Cytology and Molecular Pathology) are on the Maidstone site only, near Pharmacy, brown zone.
• Delivery access is available via the Microbiology/Cellular Pathology loading bay. Follow the signposts to the rear car park.

Do you have any feedback regarding our service including compliments, concerns or complaints? Please contact the relevant laboratory manager by telephone, or discuss with the Pathology Head of Service or the Pathology Quality Manager.

If your concern or complaint remains unresolved, please contact the MTW Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team for further information.