Starting November 29th, 2022, Corewell Health West, Hematology Laboratories will begin reporting absolute counts for white blood cell (WBC) manual differentials, in addition to relative (percentage) counts. The WBC differential count determines the number of each type of white blood cell present in the blood. It can be expressed as a percentage or as an absolute value. Of these, the absolute value is much more important than the relative value, given that clinically relevant WBC elevations and declines are defined by their absolute numbers, not by their relative proportions, and there is potential for error if this conversion is performed outside the laboratory.
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Gerontology
Cell Count w/ Differential if indicated, Cerebrospinal Fluid [LAB2111025] and Cell Count with Differential, Cerebrospinal Fluid (Pediatric Oncology) [LAB212] currently result nucleated cell counts as a White Blood Cell (WBC) count.
Effective Tuesday, August 16, 2022, the WBC component will be removed and instead reported as a Total Nucleated Cell (TNC) Count for CSF.
After consultation with our clinical partners, Spectrum Health West Michigan Laboratory will be adjusting the pediatric reference ranges for our new ALT and AST reagents in an effort to better serve our population. Numerous academic studies were reviewed, and the values listed below were adopted on August 3, 2022:
Effective August 2, 2022, reference ranges for the below tests will be updated to better align with the vendor’s recommendation and with Spectrum Health Lakeland Laboratory. Please click on the links below and scroll to the Reference Range field to see the updated ranges.
• Lithium Level [LAB29]
• PTH Intact [LAB108]
• IgM Level [LAB72]
• IgA Level [LAB73]
• CA 125 Level [LAB155]
• C4 Complement Level [LAB151]
• C3 Complement Level [LAB152]
• Albumin Level [LAB45]
• Transferrin Level [LAB133]
Questions or inquiries may be directed to the “Contact Us” link above.
Beginning Tuesday, January 4, 2022, Spectrum Health Laboratories will include an automated neutrophil (PMN) count on Cell Count with Differential, Body Fluid (LAB210) orders for peritoneal body fluids. This component will be displayed in Epic as an absolute PMN count, body fluid.
• The absolute PMN count in the peritoneal fluid is calculated by multiplying the total nucleated cell count by the percentage of PMNs in the differential.
• This calculation aids in the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
• The diagnosis of bacterial peritonitis is established by a positive peritoneal fluid bacterial culture and an elevated peritoneal fluid absolute PMN count (≥250 cells/uL).
• Epic will automatically calculate the absolute PMN count in peritoneal body fluids based on the manual differential data.
• This component ONLY calculates for Cell Count with Differentials (LAB210) on PERITONEAL BODY FLUIDS
Effective December 6, 2021, Spectrum Health Reference Laboratory (SHRL) Coagulation department will go live with a new lot of Prothrombin Time (Protime/PT) reagents. The reference range for the PT will be adjusted to reflect this reagent lot change and align with our Regional Laboratories. The new reference range will be 9.5 – 12.0 seconds. There will be no change to the INR ranges.
| Test | Current Reference Range | New Reference Range |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) | 9.7 – 12.6 seconds | 9.5 – 12.0 seconds |
The Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory Coagulation Department will be going live with the Helena AggRam analyzer on February 3, 2021. This analyzer uses platelet rich plasma to analyze human platelet aggregation which is measured by absorbance. The following aggregating agents are used in these studies: Arachidonic Acid, ADP, Collagen, Epinephrine, and Ristocetin.
Patients for platelet aggregation studies should be resting, fasting, and non-smoking. Patients should avoid taking any prescription or over the counter medications known to affect platelet function for ten (10) days to two (2) weeks prior to the studies. For a list of medications known to have anti-platelet effects, click here.
General Information, Immunochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, Referral/Sendouts
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) IgM Antibody Testing Update
As of November 25th 2019 the following tests for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) IgM antibody testing will be obsoleted.
Herpes IgM Antibody Screen – LAB3576
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Antibody Screen, IgM, by EIA, Serum – LAB3578
Herpes Simplex Panel – LAB1230539