Preferred Sample Type

Vancomycin

Specimen Volume

0.2 mL blood

Notes

Gentamicin, vancomycin, amikacin & tobramycin assays are available routinely. Other antibiotics may occasionally require monitoring – this should be discussed with the Clinical Microbiologist.

This test is performed by Clinical Biochemistry.

A GREEN request form must be completed to avoid delays in testing

The results for these assays are available on the Browser immediately after testing. Results are usually available within 24 hours of receipt.

Clinical advice is available via extension 16516 or 16537 during normal working hours or via switchboard at other times.

Information on antibiotic treatment (all the prescribed antibiotics, dosing regimens and sampling times) and the age of the patient must be supplied on the request form; otherwise interpretation of results will be difficult.

Full information on the appropriate monitoring of antibiotics can be found on the UHB Trust website, (link below). Alternatively, a guide is available through the Help menu in PICS.

http://uhbpolicies/assets/AntimicrobialPrescribingGuidelines.pdf

For users outside the UHB Trust please refer to your local guidelines.

General Information

General information about the website and its content

Definitions and Glossary

Raising Concerns about our Services

Transport of Specimens

Minimum Dataset for Completing Request Forms

Opening Hours

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Services at UHB

Location of Laboratories

Where the laboratories are located and information about the services offered at each laboratory

Location of UHB Laboratories

Protection of Personal Information – Clinical Laboratory Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
Musculoskeletal laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 9897
Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217.

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://qehbpathology.uk/test-database

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962