Some questions which may well provide evidence to:
Standard 1a.1: “Be able to practise within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession”
Standard 2b.5 Be able to maintain records appropriately.
(This may also evidence other portfolio sections)
Set Questions - Retention of Clinical Samples and Records.
Suggested Reference:
http://www.rcpath.org/resources/pdf/g031retentionstorageaugust09.pdf
1. What clinical samples are retained in a pathology laboratory?2. What clinical records are retained in a pathology laboratory?
3. What is the length of time that the following should be kept?
a. Request forms
b. Protocols of standard operating procedures
c. Worksheets
d. Laboratory records of test results for named patients
e. Records of telephoned or faxed reports
f. Reports and copies (physical or electronic)
g. Correspondence on patients
h. Point-of-care test data
i. Bound copies of reports and records
j. Reagent Batch records
k. Internal quality control records
l. External quality assessment records
m. Accreditation documents and records of inspections
n. Equipment maintenance logs
o. Records of service inspections and instrument maintenance
4. How long is it necessary to retain the following Specimens?
a. Plasma and serum
b. Newborn blood spot screening cards
c. Faecal occult blood screening cards and derived faecal suspensions
d. Body fluids, aspirates and swabs
e. Whole blood samples, for full blood count
f. Donor lymphocyte preparations in cell or tissue transplantation
g. Frozen tissue for immediate histological assessment (frozen section)
h. Frozen tissue/cells for histochemical or molecular genetic analysis
i. Paraffin wax or resin embedded blocks for histology
j. Blocks for electron microscopy
k. Grids for electron microscopy
l. Wet tissue (representative portion or whole tissue/organ)
m. Human DNA and RNA
n. Microbiological cultures
o. Freeze-dried or other permanently preserved cultures
p. Electrophoretic strips and immunofixation plates
5. How long is it necessary to store the following Stained Slides:
a. Microbiological
b. Blood films (routine):
c. Cytological Preparations:
d. Bone Marrow smears
e. Cytological, including population screening:
f. Histology:
6. What is the length of time that the following should be kept?
a. Request forms for grouping, antibody screening and cross-matching
b. Blood Bank Worksheets
c. Results of grouping, antibody screening and other transfusion-related tests
d. Blood Bank Register, blood component audit trail and fates
e. Refrigerator and freezer charts
f. Records of serious events
g. Annual reports (where required by The Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005)
h. Specimens and preparations
i. Blood for grouping, antibody screening and saving and/or cross-matching
j. Separated serum or plasma stored for transfusion purposes
This is to certify that the above work is my own
Signed………………………………………… Date…………………………….
Print Name…………………………………..
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge that the above work was carried out by the individual above.
Signed………………………………………… Date…………………………..
Print Name……………………………. Registration Number………………