Changes to HLA selected platelets out of hours service from 13 May 2019

We have provided an out of hours service supplying these platelets for over ten years. In recent years the number of requests has increased significantly, and the current number is no longer sustainable.

Following a consultation with the NBTC and hospitals in Autumn 2018 a reduced service has been agreed which will operate as: 

Core laboratory hours     Monday to Friday                        9am to 5pm

Platelet orders                 Monday to Friday                        6am to 11pm

Our out of hours service is now for:

Emergencies only            Monday to Friday                        6am to 9am;

                                                                                          5pm to 11pm 

                                        Saturday & Sunday                     6am to 11pm

                                        (including bank holidays)

Please remember to place orders with at least 24 hours’ notice to enable us to source the best unit for your patient from our national stock.

We advise that in cases of clinical urgency involving active bleeding, the delay to transfusion caused by waiting for the selection and transportation of suitable, matched platelets means using random donor platelets is the more appropriate short-term response for the benefit of patients. 

If clinical advice regarding histocompatibility is required, the H&I on-call Consultant can be contacted 24/7 by medical staff via your hospital services department. 

Dr Andrea Harmer, National Head of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics