Pathology

Blood Transfusion

This speciality covers the investigations and protocols required to ensure that the correct compatible blood products are transfused to the right patients when clinically required.

The Blood Transfusion Laboratory provides routine and emergency compatibility testing of Red Cells for both surgical, medical and cancer patients. It also provides blood products and components for clinical indications.  The following Pathology Tests are performed:

• Type and Screen
• Antibody Identification
• Compatibility Testing
• Direct Antiglobulin Test
• Red Cell Phenotyping
• Cold Agglutinin Testing.

Clinical Chemistry

This discipline performs diagnostic evaluations of body fluids from patients using biochemical analytical methods to assist in the diagnosis of human disease, to follow its progress and to monitor the effect of treatment.

The automated chemistry section provides analysis of samples for renal, liver, bone, cardiac, lipid, iron studies and specific protein assays, glucose, HbA1c and osmolality. The Immunoassay section performs endocrine, haematinics, tumour marker, and troponin assays.

Haematology

This discipline provides a range of diagnostic and clinical services.  Haematology as a speciality deals with investigations of blood disorders.

This diagnostic haematology service includes full blood counts and blood film examination, routine coagulation screening including PT-INR, APTT, Fibrinogen and D-Dimer tests. Blood borne infections such as malaria screens and infectious mononucleosis tests are also performed.

Haemovigilance

Haemovigilance is a system of surveillance, from blood collection to the follow up of recipient.  It involves implementing, collecting and assessing information on unexpected or undesirable effects resulting from the therapeutic use of blood components, to prevent their recurrence.

The Haemovigilance system serves to ensure the safety of the transfusion system, to educate staff in best transfusion practice, to show that problems are recognised and effectively tackled and to improve public confidence in the safety of blood and blood components.

The blood transfusion department, along with the haemovigilance officer, has responsibility for traceability of all blood products from the time received in the laboratory to administration / end point.

Histopathology

Histopathology is the study of disease in tissue specimens.  The Histopathology Department provides a varied range of services including;

• Routine Histopathology (including frozen sections for rapid diagnosis)
• Non-Gynaecological Cytology.

The department provides a clinical service with essential diagnostic information, which critically determines the diagnosis, staging of disease all of which contributes to patient/disease management

Microbiology

The Microbiology Department examines a diverse range of specimens for bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections and determines the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics.

The department provides a clinical service, which ensures that patients are treated in a timely and effective manner. The department is actively involved in the microbiological surveillance of patients, staff and the environment.  .

Phlebotomy

The Dublin laboratory provides an outpatient phlebotomy service.  No appointment is necessary for this complimentary service which is provided on a walk-in basis Monday to Friday from 8.30am - 3.00pm.