The clinical biochemistry department

There are 25 bioanalysts employed in the clinical biochemistry department. Their duties also cover work in the clinical physiology department, the training laboratory and the laboratory in the Diabetes Unit in Rigshospitalet. The bioanalysts take blood samples and cardiograms until 45 minutes before the department closes. The department has no staff on call.
Outside opening hours, blood samples are taken on the outpatient ward by a doctor and are sent for analysis to Bispebjerg Hospital.

The work of the department
The department’s work is very varied and ranges from analysis to teaching and quality control. For example, the work comprises:
• taking blood samples in the outpatient clinic and on the outpatient ward
• ECG recording (cardiogram)
• analysing blood, serum and plasma – hormone and urine analyses are also done
• analyses of material from other hospitals, after prior agreement
• working up and transfer of results to LABKA (the IT system in the laboratory)
• preparing production statistics and running quality assurance on analyses
• collecting biobank material
• testing and data handling of results for research projects

Taking samples
Blood glucose and HbA1c are measured prior to almost all consultations in SDC; every second year blood samples are taken for routine examination; blood samples are also taken when recommended by a practitioner. Urine samples are taken annually to check the protein content. The patient’s weight is measured at every visit to calculate body mass index (BMI). The care team uses the results of the blood samples and the ECG to determine a diagnosis, draw up a diabetes management plan and prevent further illnesses and/or complications.

Professional profile
The clinical biochemistry department uses a comprehensive program for analysis that ranges from stix and spectrophotometric methods to immunochemical and chromatographic techniques. Each year the laboratory analyses about 350,000 patient samples. In line with a mutual agreement, a few samples are sent for analyses at other clinical biochemistry departments in the Copenhagen Hospital Cooperation (H:S) or at one of Copenhagen County’s four hospitals.
Analyses are done for both Danish and foreign projects, and internal and external customers may purchase analyses. The department offers work placement positions for bioanalysts and receives high school and secondary school pupils for work experience training. The department also runs international courses for diabetes practitioners.