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, CH, 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

Neuron Specific Enolase (Cardiac Arrest)

Available 24 hours

24 hours

JR

NT-proBNP

Available 24 hours

24 hours

JR, HGH

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, HGH

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

Procalcitonin (PCT)

Available 24 hours

24 hours

JR

Progesterone

Available 24 hours

24 hours

JR, HGH

Prolactin

Available 24 hours

24 hours (72 hours if macroprolactin required)

JR, HGH

Prostate Specific Antigen

Available 24 hours

24 hours

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

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.