Latest updates and alerts
17/09/2024
Critical C3 reagent shortage until October
Due to a critical reagent shortage from our supplier, C3 complement will be batch processed twice weekly in order to conserve reagent. This issue is expected to be resolved in early October, 2024. Please note, C4 results will be held back and released alongside C3 result for appropriate clinical comments to be issued. Please contact Cat Dibden (catherine.dibden@nhs.net), Consultant Clinical Scientist for further information, if required.
23/02/2024
As we previously communicated, due to a quality issue with our current (Atellica) reagent, analysis of Erythropoietin (EPO) was paused from 26/01/24. All samples received from this date have been stored appropriately and will be run using the previous (Immulite) method.
The Blood Sciences department will revert back to the previous method for EPO analysis on 27/02/24. This will be on a temporary basis. Please be aware that this method has a slightly different reference range of 4.3-29.0 mIU/mL (compared to 5.5-28.4 mIU/mL) and is not UKAS accredited.
We have been notified by our reagent provider that the Atellica EPO reagent that was in use at BRILS from 09/11/23 – 26/01/24 had a significant negative bias of around -35%. If you have clinical concern that interpretation of your patients’ previous EPO result(s) may have been affected by this, please send a repeat sample for EPO analysis.
Please contact Cat Dibden (Catherine.dibden@nhs.net) if you have any queries or concerns.
09/01/2024
Changes to our urine drugs of abuse service
We are changing how we measure urine drugs of abuse. The test will no longer be performed in-house as we are sending samples to a third-party laboratory. This might have a small impact on the overall turnaround time, but the service will be vastly improved as the repertoire will be massively expanded to include many more substances not previously detected (eg ketamine and atypical antipsychotics), and will also detail specific drugs, rather than just the class of compounds, as has previously been the case for benzodiazepines or amphetamines.
This change will be happening with immediate effect.
If you have any queries about this or any other aspect of our laboratory service, please do not hesitate to contact the lab. iain.woodrow@nhs.net