Effective January 26, 2021, the reference range for the Gestational Diabetes 1 Hour Screen will be updated from 65-140 to 65-135. This reference range adjustment is being made to better align with the current practices of our OB/GYN providers for abnormal flagging for gestational diabetes.
Chemistry
Preservative For 24 Hour Urine Collections
In both the inpatient and outpatient settings, the laboratory has supplied 24 hour urine containers with preservative such as acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, and boric acid. Upon review of specimen stability requirements, it has been determined that a preservative is not needed prior to collection of most 24 hour urine tests as long as the 24 hour container is kept refrigerated or on ice during the collection period.
Spectrum Health has been informed by Roche Diagnostics that the proprietary reagents used to calibrate our instruments and determine control values for ferritin blood level have been updated to reflect deviation of results leading to low result bias. This may have led to patient results being up to 20% lower than actual ferritin level.
Reference Range Update – OB Magnesium, Blood Level
Effective immediately, the OB Magnesium (Mg) reference range has been updated from 1.6 to 2.5 mg/dL to 4.8 to 8.0 mg/dL, to reflect the correct therapeutic range for patients receiving magnesium sulfate therapy. The non-OB magnesium reference range is unchanged.
Please direct questions and inquiries to Dr. Jennifer Stumph via the Contact Us link above.
TEST INFORMATION
OB Magnesium, Blood Level – Epic code #LAB3400, Interface code #11703, CPT code #83735
Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory is adjusting the Microalbumin Analytic Measurement Range (AMR) in order to standardize within the Spectrum Health Hospital System and to align with our vendor’s (Roche Diagnostics) recommendations. The lower limit of the Microalbumin AMR will be changed from 0.50 to 1.20 mg/dL. Results below the AMR will now be reported as < 1.20 mg/dL. The upper limit will remain the same at 444.00 mg/dL.
Effective January 1, 2019, Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory will no longer offer Magnesium, Red Blood Cell [LAB104] as an option for send out testing. This testing will no longer be available through Spectrum Health’s primary reference laboratory, Mayo Clinic Laboratories. This test will become obsolete on January 7, 2019, due to limited clinical utility.
Reference Range Update: Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody
As of October 1, 2018, the reference interval for Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody levels has been updated to 0.0 to 34.9 IU/mL from 0.0 to 8.9 IU/mL. This change is due in part to client feedback resulting in an audit of the existing range and leading to discovery that it had not been updated when the instrument had been changed.
We appreciate and welcome any and all client feedback; if you identify what may appear to be an incorrect reference interval, please notify us immediately using the “Contact Us” link above.