We recently received a blood specimen and request in the laboratory for
'spectroscopy and Schumm's test - ? transfusion reaction'. This caused some
consternation on the specimen reception desk since Schumm's test is not in
the repertoire of clinical chemistry tests. Further investigation revealed
that the clinician was following a haematology laboratory protocol where
these tests were listed.
The clinical question appeared to be "Was free haemoglobin present in the
plasma?". We were reluctant to trust the spectrophotometer in the department
to perform a good quality, high resolution scan and nobody remembered
performing a Schumm's test for methaemalbumin in the last 20 years.
How do other laboratories respond to this clinical request in this modern
era?
(We managed to talk our way out of performing the test!)
Dave Worthington,
Birmingham Children's Hospital
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