The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Compliance & Safety, Education & Training, General Information, Test Utilization
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Education & Training, General Information, Test Utilization, Uncategorized
Specimen Collection and Test Updates – March 2022
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Several tests performed by Spectrum Health Laboratories and our Reference Laboratories (Mayo Clinic Lab) require or recommend fasting.
Please check the Lab Catalog prior to sending your patient to a draw site or sending a patient’s specimens to the lab. Help remind patients to arrive fasting if fasting tests are required.
Spectrum Health Laboratories recommends:
No caloric or caffeine intake for 8-12 hours prior to testing. Do not eat or drink anything except normal amounts of plain water. This also includes no smoking, chewing gum, candy, cough drops, etc. Some tests also require no alcoholic beverages for 24-48 hours prior to testing.
Take normal dosages of medications, unless the provider has instructed otherwise.
Results may be inaccurate if fasting was not done prior to the test and may lead to improper diagnosis or treatment. Testing will need to be repeated if patient was not fasting properly before testing.
Education & Training, General Information, Test Utilization
Specimen Collection and Test Updates – February 2022
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
The following information was updated in the Spectrum Health Laboratory Catalog.
Go Live Date delayed to 3/3/2022
Go-Live Date: 3/2/2022
Due to new instrumentation at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital Laboratory (BIRL) and to standardize across the Spectrum Health system, we will be adopting new tests for AST and ALT. The difference between our current test and this new test is the addition of the co-factor pyridoxal phosphate (Vitamin B6). The new test is the recommended test of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and ultimately will provide our patient population more accurate AST and ALT results. We did not adopt the new test in the past because it came with logistical and stability issues that made its use in the lab difficult. The new instrumentation we obtained has solved some of these concerns.
Historically, if patients had a Vitamin B6 deficiency, their AST and ALT levels may have been falsely lower than the true values. This decrease was due to the lack of endogenous co-factor causing a slower reaction rate when we tested the patient sample. After we implement the new test across the system, you may notice an increase in your patient’s AST and ALT results. This increase may be evidence that your patient had some degree of Vitamin B6 deficiency. If you were trending results, we recommend you establish a new baseline with the new test versions. The lab has been changed slightly in EPIC to prevent trending between the two test versions, since the results may not be able to be correlated if your patient had a Vitamin B6 deficiency.
Compliance & Safety, Education & Training, General Information
Appropriate Labeling for Shared Specimen – COVID-19 & FLU AB PCR
To provide efficient and safe testing for patient specimens, please review the following information when sending COVID-19 PCR and Influenza A/B PCR testing in the same encounter to Spectrum Health Laboratories.
Two labels will be available for this testing. Labels must be fixed so that
• The test and patient information are shown
• The barcode may be easily scanned by Lab staff or instruments
When this is not done correctly, Laboratory staff removes the labels and re-fixes or re-prints it, which obstructs workflow, causes delays, and could result in patient information being peeled off. With patient safety and efficient testing being two of the Lab’s top priorities, it is vital that specimens arrive in such a way as to best accomplish both.
Due to a shortage of testing supplies, Spectrum Health Reference Laboratory (SHRL, Grand Rapids) will be limiting testing methods that utilize dry swabs.
For COVID tests collected in the ambulatory (outpatient) setting, a COVID PCR (LAB1230607) should be ordered and collected on a swab placed in liquid transport media.
The following information was updated in the Spectrum Health Laboratory Catalog.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Education & Training, General Information, Immunochemistry, Microbiology, Test Utilization
Reminder: COVID Orders and Scheduling
Effective July 1, 2021, Spectrum Health no longer offers patient self-screening through MyChart or telephonic COVID screening appointments to patients. Patients will need an order from their provider prior to scheduling a COVID-19 test. Patients should be symptomatic or have a recent exposure, all other visit types should go through Michigan.gov (travel, athletic, or return to work or school, etc.)
If the patient does not have a provider, they may utilize the SHNow On Demand Visit via MyChart or find testing site options on Michigan.gov.
Once the order is placed, patients may schedule an appointment through MyChart or calling the Covid Hotline (for paper orders).
For more information: