STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

PATIENT SERVICES

Lipid Profile Screening – Finger Prick Blood Test

DISPENSARY
PURPOSE:
  • To provide a safe, efficient and friendly process for undertaking a Lipid profile screening service in Dispensary.
/ SCOPE:
  • Carrying out a finger prick blood lipid profile on a customer who may be identified (self-directed, professional recommendation, referral from MUR service), as having an increased risk of developing cardio-vascular complications.

PREPARATIONS
  1. Does the Dispensary have a consultation area.
  2. Are premises adequate (availability of washing facilities)
  3. Have all Health and Safety standards been attended to- Hep.B vaccines for staff involved, Sharps bin, protective gloves.
  4. Are all Local GP practices informed about the scope of the service?
  5. Are all the staff In the Dispensary aware of the scope of the service?
  6. Are staff delivering the service appropriately trained?
  7. Are staff familiar with referral criteria to GP.
  8. Are Local PCT commissioning leads/Dispensary leads informed about the scope of the service.

PROCEDURE / RESPONSIBILITY
About the service
  1. The test must be carried out in the consultation area by a practice nurse or other trained professional.

  1. Greet customer in a friendly and professional manner.

  1. Invite customer into the consultation area and ask them to sit down.

  1. Obtain consent for Lipid testing from customer.

  1. Staff member to wash and dry their hands, ensure any cuts and grazes are covered with a waterproof plaster and put on protective gloves.

  1. Ask the customer to wash and dry hands thoroughly.

PROCEDURE / RESPONSIBILITY
  1. Ensure the testing equipment is clean and has been control tested in line with manufacturer’s policy.

  1. Note the Lot.no and expiry date of the test strip on blood lipid test record form used.

  1. Select a lancet device (eg Unistik®), hold the device and twist off the sterility cap by turning in either direction – throw away the cap in the sharps bin.

  1. Obtain a blood sample by pressing the lancet device against the side of the customers fingertip (not the pad) and pressing the lever on the side of the device.

  1. Dispose of the used lancet device in the sharps bin.

  1. Gently massage the finger, wipe away the first drop of blood, gently squeeze the patients finger, as the blood flows, collect sample in heparinised Microvette capillary tube, at least 150ul.

  1. Apply a cotton wool pad with pressure to the customer finger until the bleeding stops, discard the cotton wool pad as clinical waste and offer a plaster.

  1. Remove the lid containing the capillary tube, from the Microvette container and discard in the sharps bin, replace with the cap from the bottom of the Microvette.

  1. Using a pipette, dispense 32ul of whole blood onto cholesterol test strip.

  1. Insert the test strip into the testing equipment immediately.

  1. At the end of the countdown period, a result will appear on the display, for example, CHOL5.3mmol/l. Some equipment may also have a printout facility.

  1. Record the result on the record form immediately.

  1. Discard the test strip as clinical waste.

  1. Repeat the above steps 15 – 20 for HDL/LDL/Triglycerides as applicable.

PROCEDURE / RESPONSIBILITY
  1. Make a record of the blood lipid test result on patient’s PMR.

  1. File the record form/ referral form in a designated folder marked Lipid Screening Service.

REVIEW PROCEDURE:
This procedure will be reviewed in the light of RPSGB practice guidance, staff changes, and incidents/events.
In the absence of any events it will be reviewed on or before the date shown below. / KNOWN RISKS:
  • New or untrained staff/locums

PREPARED BY:
SIGNATURE:
DATE OF PREPARATION:
DATE EFFECTIVE FROM:
VERSION NUMBER:
DATE OF REVIEW:

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

PATIENT SERVICES

SOP PS4 - Lipid Profile Screen Service – Finger Prick Blood Test

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