Information for Service Users

Contacts and advice service

Get quick access to contact details for all of our departments on our Contacts and Advice Service page

Out of hours services

Our laboratories are routinely open Monday to Friday, from 8.30am until 5pm. Some of our laboratories provide a service outside of these hours. Read more about our out of hours services

Sample labelling

In order for the laboratories to accept a sample for analysis, both the sample and request form must be adequately labelled. Read more about sample labelling

Making requests and requesting additional tests

The quality of laboratory investigations can depend not only on the quality of the specimen, but also on the quality of the information which we receive with the specimen. Read more about making requests.

Accessing test results

The time it takes to produce a test result depends largely on the type of investigation requested. Read more about test results

Specimen storage and transport to laboratories

A sample which is inadequately or inappropriately packaged can present a significant hazard to all those who subsequently have to deal with it. Read more about specimen storage and transport.

Phlebotomy service

Arrangements can be made for phlebotomists to attend Oncology Outpatients and Ante-natal Clinics at Cheltenham General hospital. Please contact Jo Hill or Patti Newman on 0300 422 3490.

The Edward Jenner Unit has Haematology clinics running on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning. Patients should be advised that at this time the unit can be very busy with a possible waiting time of over 1 hour for a blood test. At other times the wait is normally much shorter.

Please also note that the Edward Jenner Clinic is closed between 12.00 and 13.00 on the last Friday of each month for staff development purposes.

The phlebotomy service accepts children from the age of 6 years and older for blood tests. Children under 6 must be referred to the Children's Outpatient Department at CGH or GRH.

Point of Care Tests (POCT)

The Pathology Department can offer advice on all aspects of point of care testing (PoCT)

Please contact the PoCT Co-ordinator in Chemical Pathology at the earliest opportunity if PoCT is being considered on 0300 422 5237.

Ordering supplies

Find out how to order supplies from us for GP surgeries and other hospitals and clinics. Read more about ordering supplies

Blood tube guides

Find guides on adult, paediatric and general blood tube use

Quality management

Pathology accreditation information

For more information on the scope of our UKAS accreditation for each laboratory:

• Histopathology
• Chemical pathology
• Cytopathology
• Microbiology
• Haematology, Immunology and Blood Transfusion

Pathology documents for service users

Labelling of Specimens and Request forms by Pathology Service Users

Packaging of Pathology Specimens for Transport by Road to or Between Hospital Sites

Pathology External Quality Assessment Participation

Pathology KPI dashboard