Week 15 Of SIP

Topic: Processing Section

To all my muslim friends, Selamat Hari Raya! And to all my non-muslims friends, hang in there...5 weeks left. Sorry fot the late blog entry. My computer is not working well these days.

For the last 5 weeks, I have been attached at the processing section. Some feels that the processing section is rather simple yet boring job. But I feel that it is the MOST important section in the laboratory. Every specimen will have to undergo the processing section before the requested tests are performed. Here’s what I have learnt I have pick up along the way…

When a test is requested by physicians, specimens are collected in appropriate tubes/ containers and sent to the lab together with a request form. In the lab that I am attached to, there are four types of tests forms. Such includes the

1. External form-specimens will be sent to external laboratory upon request as test are not available in our lab.
2. Interlaboratory form- request for tests done in the clinical lab.
3. Microbiology lab form-request for test done in the micro lab.
4. Histopathology form-request for test done in histo lab.

Thus upon arrival of specimens to the processing section, it will be sort as according to the forms. Those interlaboratory tests are then further arranged. The interlaboratory test specimens usually come from wards, specialist clinics, accident and emergency section. Those ‘URGENT’ cases from any of the above department will be prioritized. All A&E tests and MICU and SICU cases are also prioritized, followed by clinics, and wards.

The laboratory admin clerk will then order tests requested in the LIS and print out the barcode for the tests requested. The barcode labels are pasted in the sample tubes. When pasting the barcode labels, one must check that the label which was already pasted by the physician tally with the name on the requested form and that the barcode labels are pasted on the right sample tubes for the right tests. E.g. Test for full blood count, specimen must be placed in the EDTA tube and not plain tube.

Medical Technologies must ensure that barcodes are labeled neatly and appropriately so that the analyzers are able to scan the barcode. The specimens are then spin (if required like plain blood tubes) and/or delivered to the respective section.

The processing section is also in charge of rejecting specimens and cancellation of tests. Here are some common reasons that specimens are rejected:
1. blood in EDTA tubes are clotted
2. insufficient specimen
3. specimen leaked
4. empty container sent
5. specimen sent in wrong tube
6. no name label on specimen
7. name/ NRIC mismatch between request form and specimen

Alrite people.Thanks for reading.See you guys soon...

Dyana
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