The Regional Hospital, Koforidua is legally identified by Section 22 of the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (act 525). The Regional Hospital Laboratory Koforidua (RHLK) is a component of the Regional Hospital Koforidua and falls under the clinical division of the above act. The Laboratory is an internationally assessed Laboratory and awarded by African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) as FOUR stars Laboratory using the WHO-AFRO SLIPTA checklist.
The RHLK and its staff are involved in Regional and National activities such as the investigations of cholera outbreak, malaria outreach training and supporting supervision (OTSS), development of national guidelines and protocols, mentoring hospital labs in quality management systems, preparation and administering of dried test specimen proficiency testing (DTS PT) panels etc.
As part of its achievements, the laboratory has received several visitors such as the US
Ambassador to Ghana, the Director General of Ghana Health Services, the Country Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Laboratory Advisor and many more.
OUR VISION
To become a center of excellence where well motivated staff work assiduously to ensure quality and reproducible test results, patient health care and optimumcustomer service in Ghana and beyond.
OUR MISSION
The Regional Hospital Laboratory Department, Koforidua exist as an integral part of the health care team to provide quality laboratory services to our patients,physicians, nurses and allied health groups. We maintain our high standards by our participation in internal and external proficiency programs, and by complying with both local and international accreditation requirements.
OUR OBJECTIVES
1. To provide excellent Clinical Laboratory services essential for patient care with accurate, reliable, and timely laboratory results and information
2. To emphasize service excellence coupled to technical expertise
3. To provide laboratory services in a professional, courteous, supportive and friendly manner.
4. To provide a safe workplace for our staff and promote continuing education and professional development.
OUR VALUES
Team work, Professionalism, Quality Service, Friendliness, Timeliness, Patriotism and Honesty
Quality policy. To use the ISO 15189 to ensure accurate and timely examinations and services, and to continuously meet or exceed the stated expectations of our clients through day-to-day interactions
OPERATING HOURS
The laboratory is open during normal working hours, Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5.00pm. Outside this period, the laboratory operates an emergency service to cater for urgent requests from clinicians. This special service is runsfor 24 hours a day; seven days a week. These activities include the provision of urgent blood Transfusion and Haematology services and the processing of all urgent laboratory samples received outside normal working hours.
Laboratory advisory service
The Regional Hospital Laboratory, Koforidua’s services, including appropriate interpretation and advisory services are designed to meet the needs of patients and all clinical personnel responsible for patient care. Advisory services are provided through the
Laboratory Handbook for Clinicians and regular meetings held between RHLK staff and other stakeholders in conferences, clinicopathological meetings, mortality meetings, seminars, trainings, workshops, and consultations. Advisory services are also provided to external customers through the customer service delivery charter posted at the patient waiting area. Only laboratory technical staff is eligible for providing advice on choice of examinations, the use of the services, repeat frequency, and required type of sample, interpretation of results to clinicians but not to patients. The laboratory provides advisory services in:
1. Haematology
A diagnostic haematology service is provided which includes:
The blood bank provides routine and emergency compatibility testing of red cells for both surgical and medical patients. It also provides blood components for clinical indications. The following services are also provided:
● Typing of blood
● Screening of blood (HIV I&II, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, Syphilis)
● Antibody identification,
● Compatibility testing,
● Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
● Direct and indirect antiglobulin test.
3. Bacteriology
The bacteriology unit examines a diverse range of specimens for bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections and determines the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. The department provides a
clinical service, which ensures that patients are treated in a timely and effective manner.
Specimens examined include:
I. Urine and stool for culture,
II. Sputum specimen for acid fast bacilli (AFB)
III. TB Solid culture
IV. Sputum culture,
V. TB GeneXpert
VI. PCR for Tuberculosis (TB)
VII. Swabs, (Wound, ear, nasal, vaginal, throat, etc.)
VIII. Ocular specimen, pus and exudates, semen, cerebro spinal fluid (CSF), fungal scrapping (skin), pleural and other body fluids and blood cultures. Antibiotic profiles are provided, together with clinical notes for organisms considered to be clinically significant
4. Clinical Chemistry
The clinical chemistry unit offers analysis of samples for:
The phlebotomy unit operates a routine service from 7:00am to 6:00pm daily, taking blood samples and any other laboratory specimen for diagnostic testing from both inpatients and outpatients.
7. Serology (CD4, PCR)
The serology unit runs samples for:
I. CD4
II. PCR on dried blood spot (DBS) for early infant diagnosis of HIV
III. HIV viral load.
What should i carry along when coming to the hospital?
Patients are adviced to come with their hospital card and thier health insurance card. Patienst with private insurance must also come along with their card
Where to visit when you first attend the hospital?
Patients should first visit the OPD (Adults OPD for adult and Kids OPD for kids) to be given service. Doctors cannot consult without visiting the medical records for service
Where and who do i make payment to for any uncovered bills?
Any additional health bills (service and drugs) that are not fully are partially covered under an insurance should be paid at the mini banks provided around the hospital with a receipt in return. Under no circumstances should payment be made to a health staff.
