The phlebotomy team have been reviewing samples received at the lab from the phlebotomy clinics in GP practices in South Warwickshire. To support our primary care colleagues who are taking bloods we have created a support pack, plus have arranged for some online phlebotomy training sessions to occur during early 2022.

The Education pack can be viewed by the links below , or your practice manager will have received it via email. The aim of the resources is to update and support primary care blood takers to ensure the best quality samples reach the lab. This will mean that your pathology test requests are processed smoothly and the pathology services are able to provide the best quality results.

CWPS understand phlebotomists and blood takers will be a mixture of experienced and new, however all will benefit from the up to date guidance provided within the pack and all are welcome to register to join the training sessions.

Education pack

  1. CWPS Handbook V12 2021
  2. Phlebotomy Tube Guide 2021
  3. Phlebotomy Tube – Order of draw
  4. Labelling Specimens for the Lab
  5. Impacts of Tube Wastage
  6. Tube Guidance on tQuest
  7. Pre-analytic Sample Quality Presentation notes

How to book

Register a place on the training session via Eventbrite…(recommend using Chrome)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/245928096557

Training date is:

Wednesday 16th March 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (via Teams)

Too many tubes and other tips….

During our audit we have noted that a significant number of requests were being submitted with additional tubes that were not required. This may be occurring with the lab’s benefit in mind, however it is creating waste, unnecessary bleeding of the patient and takes up more time in your phlebotomy appointments. To reduce unwanted extra tubes, our new ordering system tQuest creates forms and prompts for the tubes required. All tubes should continue to be filled appropriately.

It should be noted that submission forms should be treated individually and therefore samples required should be submitted per form, with one submission form per specimen bag.