All procedures carried out on a patient need the informed consent of the patient.  For most routine laboratory procedures, consent can be inferred when the patient presents himself or herself with a request form and willingly submits to the usual collecting procedure, for example venepuncture.  It is assumed that when a sample is sent to the laboratory, the clinician responsible for the care of the patient has obtained the appropriate and valid consent for the test, storage and sharing of the patient's information with the relevant Health Care Professionals to generate the result so that the laboratory is not required to confirm or document consent. 

How to Take Laboratory Samples

For information on how to take a blood sample: Click Here

For information on Microbiology specimen collection  Click Here

For further information on Histology specimen collection   Click Here

For information on Cytology specimen collection including seminal fluids and sperm samples:  Click Here

REMEMBER if in doubt contact the appropriate department.

Sample Storage Before Transport

All samples should be dispatched to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection to ensure best turnaround times and most accurate results. It is highly recommended blood samples should arrive in the laboratory within 24 hours of collection – the laboratory may not be able to process samples received after this time. Overnight storage of blood samples before dispatch to the laboratory is not recommended and actively discouraged.

For advice on sample storage to minimise deterioration  Click Here

Web Page 28 Reviewed 22/06/20