Blood Tube Products Guidance and Research
Date: 24 September 2021
Everyone is aware of the blood tube products shortages and how it may impact on research. The updated blood guidance has been published https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/B0960-optimising-blood-testing-secondary-care.pdf
The updated guidance focuses on getting back to best practise. There is a section on acute shortages and also where guidance on research is, this states:
7.7 Blood tests as part of clinical research
7.7.1 Blood tests in the context of ongoing clinical research studies should not be disrupted where doing so would lead to deviation from the study protocol or risk invalidating the research. Where tests can safely be modified or omitted, this should be done in consultation with the appropriate research governance bodies.
7.7.2 Please continue to follow the study protocol (without modifications or deviations) except where changes have been agreed in advance with the chief investigator
Please keep checking this guidance and your own trust to manage any challenges in research.