Clinical Biochemistry
Clinical Biochemistry (also known as Clinical Chemistry or Chemical Pathology) is the study of the chemical and biochemical processes of the body in their relation to disease. Biochemistry staff use a variety of complex analyses to diagnose and monitor children with a wide range of acquired and inherited disorders.
The department is staffed by a team of scientific, technical and support staff who provide an interactive clinical analytical service. The majority of the staff are members of professional associations which have an important role in the setting of professional standards and standards of analytical performance.
Continuing medical education is supported by membership of professional bodies and learned societies such as the Institute of Biomedical Science, the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism which assist staff in maintaining an up to date clinical knowledge for the department. The department is a stakeholder member of the Metabolic Biochemistry Network and all qualified members of laboratory staff are registered with the Health Professions Council.
Opening hours
A service is provided 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The service is however, divided into periods where most tests are available (normal working hours service), and periods where a restricted range of tests are available.
Advice on the planning and interpretation of biochemical investigations is available at all times. Between Monday and Friday 9am to 5.30pm, please contact the Duty Biochemist (0151-252-5486). Outside these times a consultant can be contacted via long range bleep via the hospital switchboard (0151-228-4811).
Key Contacts
| Clinical Biochemists | ||
| Consultant (Head of Department) | Mr Paul Newland | 0151 252 5486 |
| Principal Biochemist | Dr Catherine Collingwood | 0151 252 5486 |
| Principal Biochemist | Miss Katherine Wright | 0151 252 5486 |
| Senior Biochemist | Mrs Elaine Kerr | 0151 252 5486 |
| Biomedical Scientists (BMS) | ||
| Laboratory Manager | Mr Neil England | 0151 252 5488 |
| Senior BMS (Routine Biochemistry) | Mrs Christine Chesters | 0151 252 5488 |
| Senior BMS (Routine Biochemistry) | Mr Kevin Padmore | 0151 252 5488 |
| Senior BMS (Metabolic Biochemistry) | Mrs Debbie Riley | 0151 252 5487 |
| Senior BMS (Metabolic Biochemistry) | Miss Lis Smith | 0151 252 5487 |
| Senoir BMS (Newborn Screening) | Mrs Sheila Bennett | 0151 252 5489 |
| Senoir BMS (Point of Care Testing / Newborn Screening) | Mr Paul Barton | 0151 252 5489 |
Repertoire
The routine biochemistry section provides a service to inpatients and outpatients at Alder Hey. It is equipped with state of the art automated analytical instruments. The section is manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The results of most routine tests are available within 24 hours and are routinely transmitted electronically to GP surgeries. Outside normal working hours the assays provided are normally restricted to:
Urea and Electrolytes
Bone Profile
Liver Function Tests
Glucose
Amylase
Ammonia
Lactate
CRP
Blood Gases
Paracetamol
Salicylate
Ethanol
Iron
AntibioticsAnticonvulsants
Digoxin
Methotrexate
Theophylline
Urine Urea and Electrolytes
Osmolality
CSF Glucose
Protein
Lactate
Some tests are referred to external laboratories:
List of referral laboratories.
Sample acceptance criteria
Samples must be collected into the correct sample tube with the correct lid fitted, transported to the laboratory within a sealed plastic specimen bag with the corresponding request card attached and have either a Meditech printed request label affixed or a handwritten label with the following as minimum requirements:-
1. Surname / family name
2. Forename (or Baby, Twin I, etc, if forenames have not been given)
3. At least one of the following
Date of birth
Hospital number
NHS number
Please note that sample and request form information must be compatible. Samples will only be accepted for analysis if minimum criteria are met. This responsibility lies with the person collecting the sample. Failure to meet these requirements may result in the sample being rejected.
Requesting Additional Investigations
If additional tests are required after the sample has been collected please contact the laboratory (0151 252 5486, Ext 2488). The availability of additional tests will depend on the sample type, volume of sample available and stability of the analyte requested.
Results and Reports
The results of most routine tests are available within 24 hours. Results are routinely transmitted electronically to wards and GP surgeries. Many of the metabolic tests offered by the laboratory are complex and turnaround times are therefore generally significantly longer than for routine tests, However, we are always happy to prioritise analyses if appropriate. If a metabolic test is required urgently, please contact the Duty Biochemist (0151 252 5486) during normal working hours, or the Biochemist on call (via the hospital switchboard 0151 228 4811) outisde normal working hours.
The quality of results is controlled by internal quality control procedures and monitored by external quality assessment. In addition, all reports issued by the department are clinically validated by a HPC registered Clinical Scientist. Previous results on the patient are reviewed to determine whether the new result represents a new clinically urgent situation and interpretive comments are added as necessary. Signifcantly abnormal results that require clinical action are telephoned to the requesting doctor.
Common Interferences
Users should be aware that samples collected by capillary puncture from children are more prone to interference than samples collected by venepuncture in adults. The most common interferences are haemolysis, lipaemia and jaundice. All our samples are routinely checked for the common interferences and the affected tests are indicated on the final report. Haemolysis commonly occurs as a result of damage to cells during capillary blood sampling and potassium results are falsely increased in haemolysed samples. Delays of more than a few hours in sample transport to the laboratory can also result in erroneous results for some analytes, e.g. potassium and glucose.
Authorised by: Paul Newland, Clinical Director for Pathology
Review Date: May 2012
