NEW equipment to produce millions of test results a year for patients in north Essex is up and running as part of a £2.5million programme of upgrades.

The 28-strong biochemistry team daily analyses between 2,000 and 2,500 speciments from their base at Chestnut Villa, on the site of the old Severalls Hospital, Colchester.

The results are normally passed by the biomedical scientsts, biochemists and laboratory support officers to the clinicians on the day the samples were taken.

Departmental manager Keith Bedwell said: “The new equipment includes two analysers.

“They replace four smaller analysers which were eight years old and not immune from breaking down, due to their age.’’ Mr Bedwell added: “I have a group of loyal and dedicated staff. They have worked extremely hard during the transition to ensure the service, both to the hospitals and GPs, was not disrupted.”

The machines, supplied by Roche, were the first to be made in north east Japan and supplied to the UK since last March’s disastrous earthquake and tsunami.

The majority of tests are blood samples.

These come from GP practices in Colchester, Tendring, Halstead and the Colne Valley.

The remainder are from Colchester General Hospital, Essex County Hospital and community hospitals in Clacton, Halstead and Harwich.

Other substances tested by the team include urine, faeces, cerebrospinal fluid and vitreous humour – the clear gel which fills the space between the lens and the retina in the eye.

Blood tests are often used to diagnose and monitor diabetes and lipids, such as cholesterol.