The service includes:
Biochemistry
Biochemistry analyses samples to diagnose disease, identify suitable treatments and monitor treatment efficacy through continuous blood analysis.
Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion covers the investigations required to ensure compatibility with donor blood products when required for transfusion.
Blood Grouping
Blood Grouping and Irregular Antibody identification, and screening and crossmatching of donor blood with the patient’s blood samples.
Haemovigilance Services monitor the entire blood transfusion chain to ensure patient safety in compliance with EU legislation.
Haematology
Haematology deals with disorders of the blood, blood cells and the bone marrow.
These may include anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, haemophilia and clotting disorders. An oral anticoagulant monitoring service is also provided.
Microbiology
Microbiology investigates infection and infectious diseases caused by pathogens. These pathogens could be bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
Pathology provides advisory and consultancy services to the Hospital, external clinics and inputs to National forums. They also provide laboratory services for the National Bone Bank, which is located on-site at the Hospital.
Pathology is a consultancy-led profession. The team comprises of Phlebotomists, Consultants and Medical Scientists in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Haematology, Blood Transfusion and a Haemovigilance Officer.
- Prof. Peter O’Gorman, Interim Director of Pathology
- Dr Deirdre Brady, Consultant Microbiologist
- Dr Graham Lee, Biochemist
- Patricia Griffin, Senior Medical Scientist (Blood Transfusion/Haematology)
- Marese Mullins, Laboratory Manager
- Beverley Kristiansen, Quality Systems Manager
- Jacqui Williams, Senior Medical Scientist (Blood Transfusion)
- Michele Amoruso, Senior Medical Scientist (Biochemistry)
- Laura Murphy, Senior Medical Scientist (Haematology)
- Grace O’Keeffe, Senior Medical Scientist (Microbiology)
- Orla Dowdall, Haemovigilance Officer
- Jackie O’Brien, Senior Phlebotomist
Drink lots of water, if you are dehydrated, veins can be hard to locate.
Let the phlebotomist know if you have a fear of needles or have fainted in the past.
Notify the medical team if you:
- Suffer from a blood or blood clotting disorder
- Have been hospitalised in the past 12 months
- Have recently been exposed to an infectious disease
Patients may require a blood transfusion to replace blood or blood components (plasma and platelets) lost during surgery or to promote blood-clotting postsurgery. Blood products are meticulously collected from donors, rigorously tested and carefully stored to minimise the risk to recipient patients.
Blood Product Testing
Donor blood collected undergo rigorous testing before it is certified for use. Tests include:
- HIV 1&2
- Hepatitis B & C
- Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, vCJD
- Syphilis
- Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus, HTLV 1&2
Matching Donor and Recipient Blood Groups
The Laboratory determine the patient’s blood group and identify a compatible donor match for safe transfusion.
Patients have the right to refuse a blood transfusion, however, refusal may result in an increased risk to health. We recommend patients talk through options with their Consultant prior to surgery so that they can make an informed decision.
Click on the links below to download clinical information:
TnI algorithm Cappagh Jun 20 (2)
PP-LAB-7 Laboratory User Manual (2)