ACB Pre-Analytics Working Group 2017 Meeting
14 July marked the meeting of the ACB Pre-Analytics Working Group. This meeting was held to discuss ways of reducing error in relation to pre-analytical testing.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Institute, the ACB, WEQAS and BD. Representing the Institute was member Betty Kyle, past-President of the IBMS in Scotland and recipient of life membership at this year’s AGM.
Representation to this group is still being sought from genetics or microbiology, LIMS provider or the National Association of Phlebotomists.
European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)
European phlebotomy guidelines are nearly completed and will be launched alongside a presentation and e-learning package later this year. The Institute has been asked to help publicise this resource and to investigate if it could be implemented in the clinical skills training of our organisations.
Harmonisation of Blood Collection Tube Colours update
The three main tube manufacturers (BD, Greiner and Sarstedt) got together to discuss from each company's perspective what the likely impact would be to their users if the proposed harmonisation of blood tube colours goes ahead. It was determined that the biggest change in the UK is likely to arise from ‘rapid glucose’ citrated fluoride being pink with the potential issues for transfusion.
Patient survey on Phlebotomy
The Institute hopes to help raise awareness of an ACB led survey around patient preparation prior to collection of blood samples. It would be the intention of IBMS to signpost laboratory managers to this survey to help encourage out-patient and GP phlebotomy centres to get their patients to complete a paper or on line survey. Once completed it is hoped that information gathered would lead to production of a guideline of best practice of patient preparation. This survey is expected to take place in January or February 2018.
ACB Training Day
The pre-analytics group have been given a half-day session at the ACB training day in Manchester on 6th June 2018 10-5pm. Sessions should be hands on and experimental, not textbook or lecture based. The IBMS may consider using the training session once designed for their members.
Analyte stability before centrifugation
As a result of ISO STANDARD 15189, many laboratories are collecting information in isolation on analyte stability from sample collection to processing following sample transport from GP practices. The pre-analytical working group is giving consideration to a multi-site stability study to collect more robust evidence on sample stability which going forward would be available for use in all laboratories across the UK.
For more information about the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB), see the ACB website