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Suitable containers for 24 hour urine collections are available via the patient's GP surgery, from Edward Jenner phlebotomy department at GRH, or from Pathology Reception at both GRH and CGH.
No specific patient preparation is required.
It is essential to contact the Duty Biochemist at least 24 hours before sample collection as timing of sampling and transport arrangements have to be made in advance due to the limited stability of this analyte.
Please note that there is approximately 8.7% interference from testosterone and also interference with finasteride treatment – raised results may require follow up with tandem mass spectrometry
For adults, blood taken into a 5mL gold top tube (or rust top for the Acute Unit)
Chief and Principal Investigators, all other research personnel who have been delegated roles and responsibilities and the staff of the R&D Department who have the function of research governance for our hospitals must adhere to this set of procedures when undertaking research.
Chemical Pathology
Beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (BHCG) levels are used in the management of patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location (PUL).
Lactate is normally assayed using the blood gas analysers situated in the emergency departments or the departments of Critical Care at both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospital (a blood gas syringe which must be analysed within 5 minutes of collection is required)
As with most tumour markers there is a high incidence of false positive and false negative results; HCG is most appropriately used in monitoring disease progression or effectiveness of treatment once diagnosis of the tumour has been made and serum concentrations have been shown to be high prior to treatment.