Specimen Transport and Delivery
Hospital Sites
Samples should be sent to the laboratory by either the pneumatic tube system or arranging collection by a Hospital porter.
High-risk samples, Blood gas samples, Blood culture samples, unrepeatable samples e.g. CSF, and any samples in Formalin, must not be sent through the pneumatic tube system.
General Practitioner Surgeries
Pathology samples are collected from surgeries by a courier service. Specimens transported by road are classified as dangerous goods and must be packaged and labelled in accordance with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods regulations. Specimen transport bags, and request forms, which are supplied to the GPs. Request forms should be placed in the outer bag and the specimens in the smaller sealable pouch pocket.
Do not store specimens in a
- Refrigerator (which may be close to 0ºC)
- Hot place e.g. near a radiator or on a sunny window sill
- Car boot (which may be either hot or cold)
Pathology will audit the temperature within the cross site couriers quarterly to ensure specimens remain within acceptable temperature limits.
All GP courier routes are temperature monitored by the courier company to ensure they remain within acceptable temperature limits.