North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

Update on the impact of nationwide supply issues from Roche diagnostics

Following the communication issued Monday 5th October and Tuesday 6th October, please see below an update regarding the impact of the nationwide supply issues with Roche Diagnostics. This has impacted on the testing capacity in the Clinical Biochemistry departments at Peterborough City Hospital.

We are asking service users to stop doing and requesting anything other than clinically urgent biochemistry blood tests with immediate effect.

This is because there is an issue with reagent supply so we need to prioritise this for patients who need it most urgently.

Haematology testing including INR testing is not affected and can continue as normal

Priority testing is defined as:

• A Biochemistry test that is clinically required to initiate a treatment change that is required to be initiated within the next 48 hours in either Primary or Acute care including Community hospitals.

What tests ARE affected:

• Biochemistry testing (including Biochemistry urine tests such as urine albumin:creatinine ratio)

What tests are NOT affected:

• Haematology tests including FBC/INR are not affected, HbA1c testing is also unaffected.
• FIT testing and other Stool testing is unaffected.
• Immunology testing is unaffected
• Microbiology is unaffected.

What do we need GP practices and to do until further notice:

All planned non-urgent biochemistry booked and walk in tests should be cancelled for today (8/10) and Friday (9/10).

With immediate effect, please only request tests if they are clinically urgent and essential for immediate patient care requiring a treatment change within the next 48 hours, or critical to maintaining patient flow through our hospitals.

Any queries should be directed to the laboratory hotline (01733 678730).

Please be assured we are doing everything we can to resume normal service as soon as possible.

Published: Oct 8, 2020