The laboratory service is provided on both Trust sites and operates on a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year basis.
The laboratory provides the full range of immunohaematological services at St Thomas' Hospital, including antenatal screening for the prevention of haemolytic disease of the newborn and supports the trust programme for routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis. The blood bank provides both standard and highly specialised blood and blood components to meet the diverse requirements of patients. Testing is based in the core laboratory at St Thomas' with a rapid response service at Guy's Hospital.
GSTT and GSTS have a comprehensive range of clinical policies for blood transfusion incorporating every aspect of the transfusion process and its complications, these are available in hard copy in all clinical areas. Guidance is provided for example, in surgical blood ordering; blood ordering in complex clinical situations such as ABO-mismatched transplantation. Ante-natal patients with red cell allo-antibodies are regularly monitored by a Haematology consultant in conjunction with GSTT Fetal Medicine unit.
