Update for 'National minimum retesting intervals in pathology'

These guidelines are published by the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and act as advice for pathologists, clinical scientists and biomedical scientists to consider in decisions around requesting of laboratory tests.

The IBMS consulted as a stakeholder to this guidance, along with the National Demand Optimisation Group Scotland, GIRFT team for NHS England and Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. These guidelines were last published in 2015 and undergo a formal update and revision cycle every 5 years.

Minimal retesting intervals (MRI) are defined “as the minimum time before a test should be repeated, based on the properties of the test and the clinical situation in which it is used.” Offering guidance on MRIs is critical in working to remove waste in testing and avoid unnecessary phlebotomy or booking appointments for patients - with the overall goal of further optimising patient care.

The updated 'National minimum retesting interval in pathology' guidelines are available to download here.