News

COBAS 6800

December 8th, 2018

Microbiology are pleased to announce the arrival of a new molecular machine – the COBAS 6800.  This all-in-one automation is used for testing samples for chlamydia, GC, Hep C viral loads, HIV viral loads and Hep B viral loads

 

RD&E and North Bristol NHS Trust join forces to deliver cutting-edge genomics testing for patients

October 29th, 2018

A new South West Genomic Laboratory Hub has been announced as one of only seven hubs that will deliver genomic testing for patients with cancer or rare disease as part of a new national network.

The Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust will work in partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust to provide potentially life-changing diagnosis and move towards a more personalised approach to treatment. The Exeter Genetics Laboratory is one of three designated providers of specialised endocrine tests for patients throughout England and the national centre for monogenic diabetes and hyperinsulinism testing. Our flagship rapid whole exome sequencing for patients with rare disease will be upgraded to whole genome sequencing.

Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary, announced that from early 2019 whole genome sequencing will be made available to seriously ill children with a suspected genetic disorder and people with specific types of cancer. The work will build on the 100,000 Genomes Project that is sequencing the genomes of around 70,000 people (100,000 patient samples) by the end of 2018.

Professor Sian Ellard, Head of the Exeter Genetics Laboratory and Director of the South West NHS Genomic Medicine Centre, said:  “We look forward to working with our colleagues in Bristol to provide cutting-edge genomic testing for patients throughout the South West and beyond. Now we are able to begin a true transformation that will support more personalised medicine for patients with cancer and rare diseases in the South West and beyond.

“It is very exciting to be a part of this – we are proud that our long standing expertise in genomics research and diagnostic services has been recognised.”

Dr Emma Kivuva, Lead for the Peninsula Clinical Genetics Service, said: “We are delighted that our excellent laboratory has been selected to form one of the seven Genomic Laboratory Hubs. This new genomic testing will mean many more people with rare conditions can receive a diagnosis and more quickly. This will enable patients and families to receive more accurate information and be offered appropriate choices about their care and treatment.”

Mr John McGrath, RD&E Consultant Urologist and Deputy Director of the South West Genomics Medicine Centre, said: “We know that individual patients as well as individual cancers can vary in how they respond to the conventional treatments that we offer. We have now begun a new era in healthcare where cancer treatments will increasingly be tailored to that specific patient.

“The goal is to ensure that each patient accesses the treatment that is most effective for them and, in some cases, actually avoid treatments that are not going to be effective in their own situation.”

Dr Eileen Roberts, Head of the Bristol Genetics Laboratory based at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “This means we will be supporting more personalised medicine for patients with cancer and rare diseases in the South West and beyond. Treatments will be more tailored and effective to each individual’s own disease profile. Also in some cases patients will be able to avoid aggressive treatments that may be of no benefit.”

Update to Cervical Cytology Services – HPV Primary Screening Roll Out for Cornwall and Torbay Areas

October 1st, 2018

** HPV Primary Screening Roll Out Update for Cornwall and Torbay Areas **

A recent communication from NHS England on 19th September 2018 announced the early implementation of HPV Primary Screening for Cornwall and Torbay areas from mid-November 2018. This primary HPV testing will be carried out at the Exeter Cytology Laboratory.

For more information please see ‘HPV Primary Screening Roll Out for Cornwall and Torbay Areas‘

Update to services provided by Molecular Genetics

September 3rd, 2018

Please note: From October 2018 the National Genomic Test Directory will specify which genomic tests are commissioned by the NHS in England, the technology by which they are available, and the patients who will be eligible to access to a test. The final draft 2018/2019 National Genomic Test Directory for rare and inherited disorders and cancer can be accessed at https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories.

The Exeter Genetics Laboratory will continue to receive samples, perform genomic tests and dispatch DNA samples for specialist testing to the appropriate laboratory. We will issue further information about the future genomic testing arrangements as it becomes available.

Update on the qFIT Screening Service in the Peninsula

August 15th, 2018

Hopefully you should have received your qFIT collection kits and many of you will have already sent samples back to the laboratory here in Exeter. To date we have received 480 samples and detected 67 positive results.

Some Key Learning Points to Date

  • A number of samples are arriving back in the laboratory without the accompanying request form and/or no or insufficient patient details on the specimen. We have a small number of specimens where we are not able to track down the source of the request to return results for these reasons. Please ensure the GPs fill the request form in fully in the surgery, along with the surgery ‘QF’ number, before handing out the kit to the patient and stress the importance of returning the form inside the return envelope with the sample.
  • If you are missing results from patients who have been issued FIT packs, please first check with the patient that they have returned the pack, and then contact us with patient details. It is possible the sample was returned to us with no form/insufficient details for us to be able to track a patient back to the requesting source.
  • A few samples have arrived with the collection device incorrectly or loosely re-assembled and in one case not re-assembled at all, resulting in leakage of the contents and invalidating the test. Please stress the importance of following the collection instructions precisely.
  • A number of samples have been received with no indications ticked on the form. Unfortunately we are not able to process these samples.
  • Unfortunately we are required to strictly adhere to the age limits stated and will not be able to process younger patients.

Electronic Result Messaging

Although we are now confident all results are being transmitted to the DTS electronic Pathology messaging service, a large numbers of practices are still not receiving them into their practice system. To assist this process please consider the following –

  • Check your Pathology Unmatched folder for results, as we will be sending them to your generic DTS address, not a specific GP.
  • Is your clinical system set up to receive Pathology messages from the Royal Devon & Exeter mailbox? Our details are –
    • DTS Address – 69440pm.dts.nhs.uk
    • EDI Trader code – 1100000454
  • Your clinical system provider should be able to assist you in this process.

E-mailed Results

Until we have received assurance from individual GP surgeries that you are receiving results correctly by electronic format, we will continue emailing all your qFIT results. All positive results are still being telephoned to the surgery.

  • All e-mailed results are being sent to the Practice Manager e-mail address (unless you have already advised us of a preferred generic results e-mail), which is the only contact we were provided by the CCG at the outset of the project.
  • If you are missing results, please check with your practice manager first.
  • If you have not already advised us of a generic e-mail, and would prefer results to be sent to that address instead until electronic reporting is working for your surgery, or you have any other queries, please contact us on: rde-tr.bloodsciencesadmin@nhs.net

MOLECULAR GENETICS DEPARTMENT ARE RECRUITING

August 13th, 2018

Band 3 Assistant Genetic Technologist and Administrative Assistant positions available

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for an Assistant Genetic Technologist and Administrative Assistant in our state-of-the-art facilities in the Department of Molecular Genetics providing a high quality, rapid diagnostics service.

These positions are full-time (37.5 hours/week) on 1-year fixed term contracts and the deadline for applications is 31st August 2018. For the Administrative Assistant role, two 20 hour per week posts may be considered.

Please see the RD&E Hospital jobs website links above for full details of the posts, contact details and application information.

New Clinical Chemistry Advice & Guidance E-Referrals Service

June 27th, 2018

We are pleased to announce that the Duty Biochemist team at Exeter Clinical Laboratories are now able to offer non-urgent clinical advice and guidance using the new NHS e-Referral (e-RS) service (more information here: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-e-referral-service ).

You are more than welcome to continue contacting us by phone or by e-mail in the normal manner, if you need an immediate answer to a question or need to provide additional clinical information in support of a test request.

Faecal Immunochemical Test (qFIT) packs distribution update

June 26th, 2018

We are pleased to announce Exeter Clinical Laboratories will be providing quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Test (qFIT) packs as per NICE DG30 guidance for the whole of the South West Peninsula. We have been working hard with the Peninsula and SWAG cancer networks to bring this service to our local patients.

Patient qFIT packs have now been shipped to the local laboratories in Plymouth, Cornwall, Torbay and North Devon for distribution to individual local GP surgeries. Packs for the Exeter GP locations will be distributed by the end of this month.

For more information, please search for FIT at our website: www.exeterlaboratory.com

Biotin Alert – Potential assay interference

June 15th, 2018

Potential Assay Interference – Biochemistry Immunoassay Tests

The immunoassay methods used in the Biochemistry laboratory at Exeter Blood Sciences use a streptavidin-biotin system in their design. If patients are taking large doses of Biotin (Vitamin B7), there is potential for interference in immunoassays analysed within Biochemistry. Keep on reading!

New Satellite Blood Culture Incubator in Blood Sciences

June 14th, 2018

Microbiology and Blood Sciences have collaborated to set up a satellite BC incubator in the A2 template. This will allow incubation of all  blood culture bottles immediately they arrive in the lab. For our patients, this means:

  • Faster results
  • Shorter turnarounds
  • Earlier optimisation of antibiotic use
  • Less use of potentially nephrotoxic agents (particularly relevant in the Neonatal Unit)

What do you need to do?
Take blood cultures as normal
9am – 5pm:        pod (2900) to Old Path block as you do currently
After hours:       pod (2912) to A2 template, they will be loaded on the satellite unit overnight & repatriated to Microbiology the following morning

Your results will likely come back ~12 hours earlier – we will monitor this.