Effective September 26, 2023, at 9:00 AM, Corewell Health West Laboratories will go live with a new lot of aPTT reagents. The aPTT reference ranges will be adjusted to reflect this reagent lot change. The following will be the new normal reference ranges for aPTT testing:
Effective October 3, 2023, Corewell Health Laboratories will discontinue the Influenza Rapid and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Rapid tests. These antigen tests are less sensitive than the nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT; such as PCR) that are now the standard of care for diagnosing these respiratory viruses. Specimen collection remains unchanged with PCR testing available for nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs collected in a universal transport media (UTM) tube.
Discontinued:
• Influenza (Flu) A/B Rapid – Epic Code: LAB9240
• Influenza (Flu) A/B Rapid, Influenza A/B PCR if Negative – Epic Code: LAB2111530
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Rapid – Epic Code: LAB495
Replace with:
• Influenza (Flu) A/B PCR – Epic Code: LAB3255
• COVID-19, Influenza A/B, RSV PCR – Epic Code: LAB1230746
General Information, Main lab, Test Utilization
Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Manual Differential Order Discontinuation
Effective October 3, 2023, the orderable Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Manual Differential [LAB2111032] will be discontinued and Manual Differential, Blood [LAB815] will be made a Lab Only Orderable.
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Effective September 13, 2023, Corewell Health Laboratory will discontinue the Chlamydia Culture orderable. For patients 14 years of age and older, please order Chlamydia PCR.
• This specimen can be either a swab (genital, rectal, or throat) or a urine sample.
• The collection container is the STD-Multi-Collection Kit.
• For more information please visit: Chlamydia PCR
For patients that are under 14 years of age, a “Reference Miscellaneous Test” [LAB 848], must be ordered.
• This specimen can be either a swab (genital, rectal, or throat) or a urine sample.
• The collection container is the Aptima
• For more information please visit: APTIMA Chlamydia, NAAT, ThinPrep, Swab, Urine
As a reminder, PCR testing is also preferred for gonorrhea, when the specimen types are compatible.
Effective August 30, 2023, the COVID-19 Total Antibody test, which includes the qualitative detection of spike and nucleocapsid antibodies against COVID-19, will be discontinued as an orderable test at Corewell Health West Laboratories. Symptomatic patients suspected to have acute COVID-19 infection should be tested using a molecular assay.
To aid in the clinical diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or adults (MIS-C or MIS-A), the COVID-19 IgG, Qualitative by CIA will be available as a send out test. This test is a qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against the nucleocapsid protein of COVID-19 that develop in response to natural infection with COVID-19. This test is performed on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, and reported within 1-5 days.
Effective August 23, 2023, Corewell Health Coagulation Laboratory will go live with UFH Anti-IIa testing.
The Anti-IIa 2 stage heparin assay is a chromogenic assay for measuring the activity of unfractionated heparin. This method only tests unfractionated heparin.
This heparin assay is a two stage Anti IIa ( 2 Stages Heparin Assay) based on the inhibition of a constant amount of Thrombin (IIa) by the tested heparin in the presence of exogenous antithrombin.
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.