Biochemistry equipment go-live

April 20, 2023

Please note that as part of our move to a networked pathology service, the biochemistry laboratory is due to go live (at both City and Sandwell Hospitals) with totally new analyser equipment on Tuesday 25 April.

Whilst this is an exciting moment for BCPS and will see us using state of the art equipment, it is a significant change and we will need your support as we get to grips with it.

The order for the changes will be:

• 8am: The transfer of IT connectivity from the old analysers to the new analysers. Once the transfer is complete the new system will require testing
• 12noon: Once testing is complete, the new system will hopefully be signed of as fit to use
• 1pm: Laboratory testing capability will proceed as normal.

Those patients who require urgent blood tests will be prioritised as usual, and users should see minimal, if any, change to this service

As with all new equipment, we anticipate that there may be some teething issues during the first couple of weeks, but as always we will do our best to ensure that service provision continues as normal.

You can help to support the service on the day of go live by reducing the number of blood tests that are requested for this date – consider a bleed a day before/after if clinically safe to do so

We would be grateful for your support during this important change, which will ultimately see a better solution for our users and patients.

For further details including changes in laboratory analysers, please see changes in Laboratory Analysers help sheet.

For further information please contact  Nazir Ahmed, Operational Manager on ext. 3729.