Haematology and Transfusion

The Haematology Department is a UKAS-accredited laboratory service that provides a wide range of tests on blood and other body fluids. These tests help diagnose, monitor and treat a variety of conditions.

Across University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), our haematology laboratories process more than 1.5 million samples each year. The department is also approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) for training and specialist registration portfolios. It is also an established military training facility.

Routine haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion services are available at all hospital sites. Specialist testing is provided at Heartlands Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB). Good Hope Hospital, Heartlands Hospital and QEHB provide a 24-hour service, while Solihull Hospital provides an extended daytime service, with out-of-hours support from Heartlands Hospital.

QEHB is the designated coagulation laboratory for the West Midlands Regional Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Service and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) centre.

Haematology

The Haematology Laboratory provides a 24-hour service for routine and urgent testing.

Tests available include:

• full blood counts
• blood film examinations
• HbA1c testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes
• glandular fever screening
• sickle cell screening
• G6PD deficiency testing
• malaria screening

These tests help clinicians diagnose, treat and monitor a wide range of conditions.

The laboratory is also a high-prevalence testing centre for the NHS Antenatal and Newborn Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme. In addition, it provides specialist marker and molecular haematology testing.

For details of individual tests, please see the test database.

• Test database [LINK COMING SOON]

Coagulation

Routine coagulation testing

The coagulation laboratory provides a 24-hour service for routine coagulation testing.

Tests include:

• prothrombin time (PT/INR)
• partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
• fibrinogen
• D-dimer

For urgent requests between 08:00 and 20:00, please call 0121 371 6920 to obtain an urgent reference number.

Specialist coagulation testing

The laboratory also offers a range of specialist coagulation tests, including:

• factor assays
• inhibitor assays
• anti-Xa assays
• thrombophilia screening
• von Willebrand disease screening
• lupus anticoagulant screening
• heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) screening
• ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitor assays
• platelet function testing

This service is available Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. Some urgent specialist tests may be performed outside these hours by prior arrangement. Please refer to the test database for sample requirements and request forms for external referrals.

For advice on specialist coagulation investigations, please contact the haematology medical team.

Urgent specialist testing

A 24-hour ADAMTS13 testing service is available for urgent requests. Before sending samples, please contact us.

The laboratory

• 0121 371 5988
• 0121 371 6920 (out of hours)

On-call haematology consultant

• 0121 627 2000

Urgent factor assays, von Willebrand factor assays and anti-Xa assays may also be available out of hours. These requests must be approved by the appropriate haematology team.

Routine specialist tests are usually processed within seven days of receipt, depending on the assay. Urgent requests can normally be processed within 24 hours.

Blood transfusion

The Blood Transfusion Laboratory provides a 24-hour service for the supply of blood and blood components for both routine and urgent care.

Blood transfusion carries risks as well as benefits. Blood components should only be prescribed when the likely benefit to the patient outweighs the potential risks.

The reason for transfusion should be documented in the patient's records before a request is made. Wherever possible, patients should be told why they need a transfusion and given the appropriate information leaflet. 

Complex red cell, platelet and granulocyte antibody investigations are referred to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). If these tests are required, discussion with a clinical haematologist is recommended.

Further information

Find out more about: [CONFIRM LINKS FOR THESE]

• Blood products 
• Non-red cell components 
• Massive transfusion
• Blood collection 
• Blood bank request procedure 
• Timing of blood bank requests 
• Reservation periods for blood components 

Haematology and Blood Transfusion opening times

Haematology and Blood Transfusion services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at:

• Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB)
• Heartlands Hospital
• Good Hope Hospital

Outside normal working hours, services are provided through a shift system.

At Solihull Hospital, the service is available Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 18:00. Samples received outside these hours are transferred to Heartlands Hospital for processing.

Outside normal working hours, the laboratories at QEHB, Heartlands Hospital and Good Hope Hospital can be contacted through the hospital switchboard.

Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital

• 0121 424 2000

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

• 0121 371 2000