Information for patients
You/your child may have been asked to have a blood sample taken for the genetic test that was discussed during your video/telephone consultation recently. You should have been provided with a blood form for this.
Please remember to follow government guidelines about social distancing and face coverings when attending for a blood test, and do not attend if you or one of your household has symptoms of Coronavirus. Symptoms include a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of taste/smell.
Earlier in the pandemic, we had to ask GP surgeries to help with taking blood samples whilst hospital access was very restricted.
Local NHS hospital blood test departments have now mostly reopened – please use these services to have your sample taken as GP surgeries are now under significant pressure managing routine care delayed over recent months.
Please check your local hospital website for information about location, opening times and any special COVID-19 requirements, such as an appointment system or changed opening times.
If you cannot attend one of your local NHS hospitals for the test, it may be possible to have it taken at your GP surgery in exceptional circumstances. Please contact them to check first.
Links to hospital phlebotomy services in the region:
- Airedale
- Bradford
- Calderdale and Huddersfield
- Leeds
- Pinderfields, Dewsbury, Pontefract
- York, Scarborough, Selby, Bridlington
- North Lincolnshire
Information for a person taking a blood sample for genetic testing in primary care:
- The patient will bring with them a Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service genetic testing form, completed and signed by the genetics clinician. This form must accompany the sample
- The form will detail the type of sample needed. This is usually an EDTA tube (lavendar top; as routinely used for full blood counts). Occasionally genetic tests require Lithium Heparin samples (green top) instead of, or in addition to, EDTA. Lithium Heparin tubes are not routinely stocked in primary care. Please check the form carefully. Serum samples are not suitable
- Genetic blood tests DO NOT need to be booked on ICE. The majority of genetic tests are not available through the ICE system
- Please put the blood sample and form in a specimen bag. If you need to write something on a form attached to the specimen bag please write “For genetic testing – please forward to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust”
- The blood sample and accompanying form can be sent, with all the other routine bloods, by usual transport to your local NHS hospital who will send it to St James’s hospital, Leeds
- The only addition needed on the form is the date on which the sample was taken