Haematology

The Haematology Department is a major referral centre for haematological disorders

The department is concerned with the morphology and physiology of blood, using automated instruments to count blood cells & haemoglobin levels, which aids the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as anaemia and leukaemia.

Another important area is the study of abnormalities of blood coagulation. Coagulation (blood clotting) measures the ability of the blood to clot, either as a check before surgery, patients who have unexplained bleeds, or monitoring patients on anticoagulants like warfarin & heparin.

The transfusion laboratory provides blood and blood products to patients with acute blood loss, anaemia, clotting problems.  Biomedical scientists in the transfusion service are concerned with the identification of individual blood groups and compatibility tests of donors' blood with that of the patient. Their role is to ensure that any patient who requires a blood transfusion receives a safe transfusion. They test the patient's blood sample, firstly determining their blood group, and then perform laboratory tests with the sample against samples of donated blood given by donors to detect if there are any red cell antibodies present in the patient which may cause problems upon transfusion of the donated blood.  The Department is also involved in ensuring Trust Wide blood transfusion training.

The quality of the service is continually maintained by recognised effective internal quality control measures, participation in Clinical Pathology Accreditation and External Quality Assurance schemes.

National Blood Service

British Blood Transfusion Society

This page was last modified on Fri May 07 2010