Overview

The laboratory provides support for patient care, public health, decision making and policy formulation. Laboratory tests are done to aid in diagnosis, monitor treatment and guide prognosis, predicting the outcomes of illnesses. The laboratory is important in the identification of outbreaks, to guide interventions to prevent or treat illnesses and health planning.

Laboratory Service in NERHA

In the North East Regional Health Authority the laboratory service is offered through a network of laboratories and phlebotomy sites across the parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland. Since the laboratory supports patient care, the array of tests offered at the hospitals vary with the type of service generally offered at the facility. Similarly, some testing services are offered at designated health centres and samples are collected in additional areas and transported elsewhere to be processed.

NERHA laboratory service is part of the national laboratory services and tests not offered in the region are transferred to the National Public Health Laboratory, University Hospital of the West Indies and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, as required.


Laboratory Service Schedule

Parish

Site

Services Offered

Public Opening Hours

St Ann

St. Ann's Bay Regional Hospital

Haematology, Chemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Serology, HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Mondays to Fridays

8:00am to 10:00am

Alexandria Community Hospital

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

antenatal samples collected

Mondays to Fridays

8:30 am to 12:00noon

St. Ann's Bay Health Centre

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Antenatal and Family Planning clinic samples collected

Mondays to Fridays

8:30am to 12:00noon

Ocho Rios Health Centre

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Antenatal samples collected

Mondays to Fridays

8:300am to 12:00noon

Collection Sites

Watt Town, Bohemia, Borobridge, Muirhouse,Clarksonville, Stephney, Bamboo, Brown's Town, Exchange, Claremont, Steer Town, Runaway Bay

Samples collected at antenatal clinics

Parish

Site

Services Offered

Public Opening Hours

St. Mary

Annotto Bay Hospital

Haematology, Chemistry, Serology, HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Mondays to Fridays

8:00am to 11:00am

Collection of results 2-4pm

Port Maria Hospital

Haematology, Chemistry, Serology, HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Mondays to Fridays

8:00am to 11:00am

Annotto Bay Health Centre

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

Antenatal and Family Planning clinic samples collected

Mondays to Fridays

8:30am to 12:00noon

Highgate Health Centre

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

for antenatal. Other

Haematology, Chemistry, Serology samples collected.

Tuesdays & Fridays

8:30am to 12:00noon

Gayle Health Centre

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

for antenatal. Other

Haematology, Chemistry, Serology samples collected

Mondays 8:30-12:00 noon

Collection sites

Retreat, Woodpark, Belfield, Windsor Castle, Islington, Oxford, Enfield, Castleton, Woodpark, Clonmel

HIV & Syphilis rapid tests

antenatal samples collected

Note: It is suggested that further consultation be made with particular sites as activities are varied.
Blood collection at Alexandria and in the health centres is based on schedule and not a daily occurrence.


Patient Preparation/Test Requirements

Lab results are as good as the samples collected and processed. For any test to be valuable it must be collected from patients who have followed the necessary instructions, collected in the correct container, in the time specified, stored and transported as required. The instructions for tests vary.

Test

Patient Preparation

Fasting glucose

6-8 hours fasting

Lipid Fractions(cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL)

10-12 hours fasting

Complete Blood Count(CBC), Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate), Random Glucose, Liver Function Tests (LFT), Cardiac Enzymes(CPK, LDH, AST), urinalysis

No special preparation


Overview

North East Regional Health Authority in partnership with the National Health Fund provides pharmacy services at nineteen locations across the region.

These include Four (4) Hospitals and Fifteen Health Centres (15).



Major Services Areas

  • Outpatient and inpatient Dispensing
  • Patient Counselling
  • Drug information- Pharmacists across the Region are medication experts and will provide you with all you need to know about your medication.
  • Adverse drug reporting- Do you have medication you cannot tolerate you can tell it to your Pharmacist who will assist you in reporting it.
  • Medication waste disposal- If you have medication that you no longer take or that is expired the pharmacy can give you information on how to safely dispose them or assist you in disposing of the safely.




Schedule of Services - Hospitals

St Ann’s Bay Hospital Mondays - Fridays 8.30am - 5pm
Port Maria Hospital Mondays - Fridays 8.30am - 5pm
Annotto Bay Hospital Mondays - Fridays 8.30am - 5pm
Port Antonio Hospital Mondays - Fridays 8.30am - 5pm

Schedule of Services - Health Centres

St Ann

Location

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
St Ann's Bay 8am - 8pm
Ocho Rios Closed Closed
Browns Town Closed Closed Closed
Claremont Centre of Excellence Closed Closed
Moneague Closed Closed Closed
Alexandria Closed

St Mary

Location

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
Annotto Closed
Gayle Closed
Islington Closed Closed 2nd & 4th Closed Closed
Highgate
Oracabessa 3rd Closed Closed Closed

Portland

Location

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
Port Antonio
Buff Bay Closed Closed
Hope Bay Closed 2nd & 4th Closed Closed Closed
Fruitful Vale Closed Closed Closed 2nd & 4th Currently Suspended Closed
Manchioneal Currently Suspended Closed Closed Closed Closed
Fair Prospect Closed 1st & 3rd Currently Suspended Closed Closed Closed


Resources for Users

Useful web Links - www.nhf.org.jm

Blood Donations

Donate Blood Today

The blood bank is always in need of blood.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Blood cannot be manufactured - it can only come from generous donors.
  • There is no substitute for human blood.
  • If all blood donors gave 2 to 4 times a year, it would help prevent blood shortages.
  • Six blood donors can provide the blood needed for one heart surgery patient.

In NERHA you can donate blood at the following Collection Centres:



Making a Difference Together

SO EASY TO DONATE!

  • Sleep well before
  • Eat 1-3 hours prior
  • Keep hydrated
  • Bring your TRN
  • RELAX

Donating blood is easy, safe and rewarding COME JOIN US!!


blood