Laboratory News [Volume 3 Issue 1 – Jan 2016]
In this issue Page 1: Compliance After Hours Collection Microbiology News Flu & RSV Reminder Page 2: Hematology News Pathologist Review Malaria Smear Toxicology News Urine Conf. Updates General Information Lockbox Tips Page 3: General Information Please email Laboratory Services with any questions or concerns or to receive this newsletter via email.
Laboratory Call Center & Specimen Pick Up:
616.774.7721 Pricing Hotline: 616.774.7595 Helpful Links Add-on Test Request Forms and Requisitions Laboratory Locations Lockbox Instructions Supply Requisition Test Catalog
Monthly updates and information from Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory
Compliance After Hours Blood Collection for Grand Rapids Critical Needs Patients Per the memo sent out July 2012, the Grand Rapids area laboratories will draw patients after hours on a limited basis at the Butterworth Hospital Laboratory location ONLY. We will serve patients with emergent laboratory needs with a direct physician request. The laboratory will be unable to accommodate routine walk-in patients outside of normal business hours. The physician will need to call the Laboratory Call Center at 616-774-7721 to initiate the blood draw for their critical needs patient. Please be prepared to provide our Call Center with relevant information regarding the patient’s situation. You will also be asked to fax a written order to 616-391-3129, and should direct your patient to the Butterworth Admitting for the blood draw. Be advised that this process may take up to 30 minutes to complete the draw using our inpatient phlebotomy staff. We request that all routine blood draws return to one of our convenient Outpatient laboratory locations during normal business hours. Most laboratory locations are open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. We recommend that if there is a question regarding hours of operation to contact the draw site.
Microbiology News Flu A/B and RSV Reminder Influenza A/B PCR, Influenza A/B Rapid, do Influenza A/B PCR if Negative, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) PCR should be collected on a flocked swab and placed into Viral Transport Media (3 mL UTM) at the bedside. Some sites are performing the Rapid and then transferring the dry swab to the laboratory, which is unacceptable. The swab should be placed in the Viral Transport Media (3 mL UTM) immediately after collection and then sent to the laboratory. Please review the following guides: How to collect: UTM Microbiology Collection Quick Guide Please consult the online laboratory catalog or contact the Microbiology Department for more information.
New centralized laboratory orders fax line: One Fax (616) 774-7696 Any laboratory testing order can be faxed to (616) 774-7696 and that order will be accessible from any Spectrum Laboratory Draw Site in the Grand Rapids, Big Rapids and Gerber (Fremont) area. Laboratory News | January 6, 2015
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Hematology Department News Pathologist Review (Peripheral Blood Smear) Pathologist review of peripheral blood smear orders will have a new component where the provider will be asked to provide the reason or indication for review. We are striving to increase the efficiency of our laboratory and to improve our communication with ordering providers. A drop down list of indications will be provided for the most common reasons (e.g., anemia evaluation, leukocytosis, look for schistocytes). Free text comment will be available for specific requests or questions. This change is anticipated for late January 2016. Please contact Dr. Jennifer Stumph with any questions you may have at (616) 267-2660 or
[email protected].
Malaria Smear Malaria testing is undergoing a change to incorporate rapid point of care testing into the algorithm. Initial testing for possible malaria will be called “Malaria Rapid Screen.” Follow up for patients with known malaria infection to monitor percent of disease will be called “Parasitemia Level.” This change is anticipated for February 2016. The specimen requirements for malaria testing will not change. All testing will be performed at Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory (35 Michigan, Grand Rapids). More information will follow in subsequent laboratory newsletters. Any questions may be directed to Dr. Jennifer Stumph at (616) 267-2660 or
[email protected] or Dr. Deb Blue at (616) 267-2660 or
[email protected].
Toxicology Department News Urine Confirmation Updates The Toxicology Laboratory Department is modifying its reporting of urine drug confirmation results. This is being done to align with current laboratory reporting conventions. Although the testing methodology does not change, the descriptors LCMS and GCMS will change to: “urine level” and a quantitative level for that drug will be reported. If the analysis yields a result that that is below the cutoff or the limit of detection for that analysis, then a less than symbol (<) will be used to indicate that this result was indeed NEGATIVE. These changes will not affect how screen results appear on the report. This will affect all urine confirmation orders and will be effective late January or early February 2016. For more information please consult the online laboratory catalog or contact the Toxicology Department.
General Information Winter Lockbox Tips! To maintain optimal specimen integrity, Spectrum Health Laboratory requests that you load your lockbox properly for winter weather temperatures. Please follow the diagram on the right to prevent freezing of specimens. Frozen specimen should not be left in the lockbox for after-hours pickup. These tests may be better preserved in the office freezer until the next day’s courier pickup. Spectrum Health Laboratory is committed to specimen integrity. Specimen integrity directly affects the quality of laboratory results. The Specimen Transport Integrity Guide is available in the online test catalog (http://spectrumhealth.testcatalog.org) or via Spectrum Health Laboratory Courier Services. Request for specimen pickup should be made to the Laboratory Call Center at 616.774.7721. Laboratory News | January 6, 2015
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General Information (continued) Please join us in wishing Dr. Pam Kidd, MD best wishes! Dr. Kidd was our Flow Cytometry Director and Hematopathologist at Spectrum Health Laboratory and Spectrum Health Advanced Technology Laboratory. Her position with us began in 1999 in Hematology. She transitioned into her leadership role with our Flow Cytometry service in early 2000. Dr. Kidd will be missed but fondly remembered for her focus on quality patient care and laboratory support. She worked closely with our Pediatric Hematology Clinic and served our youngest oncology patients. She retired on January 1, 2016 and will enjoy a well-deserved retirement with her husband, Riley! Dr. Jennifer Stumph has transitioned to the position with our Flow Cytometry and Hematology services. Susan (Mammina) Smith, MT (ASCP), MM Director of Laboratory Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory
Please email
[email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Laboratory News | December 2, 2015
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