Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Aytpical haemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is an ultra-rare disease caused by defects in different genes of the complement system. This system is part of the bodies immune response which helps to prevent against infection. Regulators of the complement system help to prevent complement from attacking the body’s own cells. However, during aHUS, defects in these regulators allow complement to attack the body’s own cells, especially those which line the blood vessels. This leads to clots forming within these small vessels, with the most affected organ being the kidney.
Newcastle laboratories forms part of the diagnostic and monitoring service provided by the National Renal Complement Therapeutics Centre (NRCTC), through measuring levels of different complement components and regulators within the blood. This is a multidisciplinary service which aim to diagnose patients with complement mediated renal disease and to monitor patients treated with Eculizumab/Ravilizumab and other complement targeting medications.
Complement components and regulators assayed in Blood Sciences, required sample types and their turnaround times are shown in the table below:
| Analyte | Sample Type | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Pathway (CH50) | Serum | 14 days |
| Alternative Pathway | Serum | 14 days |
| C3/C4 | Serum | 2 working days |
| Factor H | Serum | 14 days |
| Factor I | Serum | 14 days |
| Factor B | Serum | 14 days |
| C3 Nephritic Factor | Serum | 21 days |
| C5b-9 | Plasma | 14 days |
Other info:
Indications for referral, samples required, referral forms and information around interpretation of results can be found on the NRCTC website at: