The Department of Sexual Medicine (DOSM) offer an HIV Point of Care testing service particularly to high risk group patients. The Inverness Medical Determine® testing kit is used and this detects antibodies to HIV 1/2. It is currently offered on 3 sites: Hawthorn House at Heartlands Hospital and at 2 Outreach Clinics at the Terrence Higgins Trust and at the Drake Unit at Birmingham Chest Clinic, both based in the city centre. Patients must talk to a Health Advisor before taking the test and the results are available within 15 minutes.

The Department of Sexual Medicine (DOSM) has its own Sexual Health website packed with information on STIs and  testing services. Please visit the website here.

Quality Assurance

-Each kit of 20 tests is tested using an Internal Quality Control by the Serology laboratory before being issued to DOSM to ensure that it is working correctly.

-Clinical staff are trained by laboratory staff before they can perform the test in the clinical setting.

- Standard Operating Procedures and test worksheets are issued by the laboratory.

-External Quality Assessment samples for HIV are tested twice a year by both the laboratory and by DOSM.

 

Please also refer to the Trust  Point of Care testing policy: Here

Serology

 

The serology laboratory processes predominantly samples of blood, urine and occasionally CSF, to investigate the presence of antigens, and the production of antibodies in response to infection. Serology also offers immunity screening.

 

 

Lead Consultant: Dr Elizabeth Boxall

Lead BMS: Mrs Judith Workman

 

A complete list of currently available assays can be found in the pathology test database.

 

 

HIV Point of Care Testing 

 

This unit is part of a network of four laboratories using the latest techniques to provide mycobacterial detection, identification and susceptibility testing for England and Wales. Data obtained contributes to national and local surveillance programmes.

At Birmingham, the RCM offers primary testing for the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust as well as a number of other local Trusts. Isolates of mycobacteria are received from 39 other laboratories throughout the West and East Midlands, for full identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing and epidemiological typing.

  • Lead Consultant - Dr Grace Smith
  • Lead BMS - Mrs Sarah Gardiner

Details can be found in the test database

Infertility Analysis

We provide a service by appointment only for infertility investigations. This service is
Provided at:

HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL

  • Tuesday afternoon
  • Wednesday afternoon

SOLIHULL HOSPTIAL

  • Monday early morning/afternoon
  • Thursday early morning/afternoon

Appointments should be made by the General Practitioner/Consultant or the Patient by telephoning (0121) 424 3236.The patient will be given an appointment time /date and instructions where to bring the sample. The patient will collect the sample at home and bring it at the appropriate time with a signed request form filled in by the clinician. A detailed instruction sheet is available upon request from the laboratory.

Intra-uterine Insemination

There are appointments at Solihull Hospital , 3 on  Monday morning and 3 on Thursday morning. These can only be made via the Clinicians at the Women's units at Solihull and Heartlands Hospital. They provide instructions to the patient on collection and delivery of the specimens.

Post Vasectomy Investigations

A service is provided at Heartlands Hospital for post vasectomy specimens. the patient is provided with instructions by the Clinician on the appropriate time scale for the production and collection of the specimen. The service is available during the normal working day Monday to Friday and no appointment is required

We participate in the UK NEQAS Andrology scheme and follow the World Health Organization standards for Seminal fluid analysis.

COM_CONTENT_MORE_ARTICLES

Latest News From Departments

Latest Directorate News

Requesting

Transport of Samples to Laboratories

How to Find The Laboratories

Patient Information