This website uses cookies

Some cookies are essential to the running of the website, while others (analytics) help us to make improvements. We also incorporate functionality from other websites, such as video, social media feeds and ReachDeck (text-to-speech and translations services) which may set cookies. More on how we use cookies

Set cookie preferences
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Biochemistry

Alert Coronavirus / COVID-19

If you have a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell, do not come to our hospitals. Follow the national advice on coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please find information on our services and visiting restrictions in our COVID-19 section.

Patients and visitors must wear a face covering in our hospitals.

This site is best viewed with a modern browser. You appear to be using an old version of Internet Explorer.

Turnaround times

For most routine investigations the laboratory endeavours to analyse specimens on the day of receipt.

Source Turnaround time
GP / outpatients Routine assays: analyse same day.
CCG target 98 percent of specimens turned around within 48 hours.
Inpatients Routine assays - under normal circumstances:
target 50 percent (median) within two hours.

Turnaround times for all assays are shown alphabetically below. Urgent analysis, if available, may be arranged with the Duty Biochemist (Bleep 1718).

Blood tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Analysed at:
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) Weekly 14 days JR
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Albumin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Aldosterone Every two weeks 21 days JR
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Alpha Feto Protein (AFP) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Amikacin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Amino Acids Weekly 14 days JR
Ammonia Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, CH, HGH
Amylase Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Androstenedione Weekly 14 days JR
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Twice weekly 7 days JR
Apolipoprotein B Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Beta-hydroxybutyrate Weekly 14 days JR
Bicarbonate Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, CH, HGH
Bile Acids Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Bilirubin, Direct Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Bilirubin, Total Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Calcitonin Every two weeks 21 days JR
Calcium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Carbamazepine Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (Ca125) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Carbohydrate Antigen 15.3 (Ca15.3) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Carbohydrate Antigen 19.9 (Ca19.9) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Carboxyhaemoglobin Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Chloride Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Cholesterol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Citrulline Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Copeptin Workload-dependent 28 days JR
Cortisol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
C-peptide Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
C-reactive Protein (CRP) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Creatine Kinase (CK) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Creatinine Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Cyclosporin Daily (Monday to Saturday) 48 hours JR
Cystatin C Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Digoxin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Dihydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEAS) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Erythropoietin (EPO) Weekly 14 days JR
Ethanol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Ferritin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Available 24 hours 7 days JR, CH, HGH
Folate (serum) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Folate (red cell) Twice weekly 7 days HGH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Free Androgen Index Twice weekly 7 days JR
Free Fatty Acids Weekly 14 days JR
Free T3 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Free T4 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Gentamicin Available 24 hours 8 hours JR
Glucose Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Growth Hormone Weekly 14 days JR
Haptoglobin Twice weekly 7 days HGH
Haematinics Daily 24 hours JR, HGH
HbA1c Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR, HGH
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Insulin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Insulin-like growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Weekly 14 days JR
Iohexol As required (weekdays) 48 hours JR
Iron Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Lactate Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Lipase Daily (weekdays) 24 hours CH
Lithium Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Luteinising Hormone (LH) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Macroprolactin Available 24 hours 72 hours JR, HGH
Magnesium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Methaemoglobin Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Methotrexate Available 24 hours 6 hours JR
NT-proBNP Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Oestradiol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Osmolality Available 24 hours 8 hours JR, HGH
P1NP Every two weeks 21 days JR
Paracetamol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH
pH Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Phenobarbitone Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Phenytoin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Phosphate Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) Twice daily, Mon-Fri 1 working day JR
Potassium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Progesterone Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Prostate Specific Antigen Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Prolactin Available 24 hours 24 hours (72 hours if macroprolactin required) JR, HGH
Protein, Total Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Renin Every two weeks 21 days JR
Salicylate Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Sirolimus Daily (Monday to Saturday) 48 hours JR
Sodium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Soluble FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase -1 (sFLT-1) Twice daily, Mon-Fri 1 working day JR
Tacrolimus Daily (Monday to Saturday) 48 hours JR
Testosterone Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Theophylline Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Thyroglobulin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Tobramycin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Transferrin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Triglyceride Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Troponin I Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Urea Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Uric Acid Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Valproate Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Vancomycin Available 24 hours 8 hours JR
Vitamin B12 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Vitamin D Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Zinc Twice weekly 7 days JR

Urine tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Available at:
Amylase Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Amino Acids Weekly 21 days JR
Bile Pigments As required (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Bilirubin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Calcium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Chloride Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Cortisol Weekly 14 days JR
Creatinine Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid Weekly 14 days JR
Magnesium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Metadrenalines Twice weekly 10 days JR
Microalbumin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Osmolality Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Potassium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
pH Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Protein Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Porphyrin/PBG As required (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Sodium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Toxicology Daily (weekdays) 72 hours (14 days if opiate confirmation required) JR
Urea Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Uric Acid Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Urobilinogen As required (weekdays) 72 hours JR

Stool tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Available at:
Elastase Every two weeks 21 days* JR
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Weekly 14 days* JR
pH Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR
*If multiple stool tests are requested and only one sample is received then the turnaround times may be increased

Fluid tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Available at:
Fluid Amylase Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Alpha Fetoprotein Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Fluid Bilirubin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid CA-125 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Fluid CA-15-3 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Fluid CA-199 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Fluid Carcinoembryonic Antigen Available 24 hours 24 hours JR
Fluid Cholesterol Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Creatinine
Dialysis Fluid Creatinine		 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Fluid Osmolality Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, HGH
Fluid pH Daily (weekdays) 72 hours JR
Fluid Potassium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Protein Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Sodium Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Triglyceride Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH
Fluid Urea
Dialysis Fluid Urea		 Available 24 hours 24 hours JR, CH, HGH

CSF tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Available at:
CSF Amino Acids Weekly 14 days JR
CSF Glucose Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
CSF Lactate Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
CSF Methotrexate Available 24 hours 4 hours JR
CSF Protein Available 24 hours 4 hours JR, HGH
Xanthochromia / CSF spectroscopy As required (8.30am-9.00pm ) 24 hours JR

Other tests

Analyte / profile Frequency of analysis Turnaround time Available at:
Sweat Chloride As required (weekdays) 72 hours JR

Turnaround times are based on time of receipt in the analysing laboratory. Requests from the Horton General or Churchill hospitals that require referral to the JR laboratory for analysis will incur an additional 24-48 hour delay.

Antenatal / Neonatal Screening

The projected turnaround time for screening samples from receipt in the laboratory is three working days.