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.
Browsing Tag
Women’s Health
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Main lab, Referral/Sendouts
RESOLVED-Update: STD Testing Supply Shortage
As of 5/18/2021 – Production of collection kits is no longer limited. Please resume normal ordering practices.
There is a national shortage of testing and collection material for Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) and Gonococcal (GC) infections. Spectrum Health is currently experiencing difficulties obtaining collection kits to perform the testing for all methods.
Education & Training, General Information, Test Utilization
Appropriate Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Ordering
The most conclusive evidence for using thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO) is predictive in nature when evaluating possible subclinical hypothyroidism. If this test is positive, hypothyroidism occurs at a rate of 4.3% per year versus 2.6% per year when the antibody is negative. While this scenario does not cover all clinical indications for ordering TPO, there is no definitive evidence that repeat TPO testing provides additional information.1
Based on this information the ordering of TPO within Spectrum Health is being modified. If the test is ordered more than once on a patient, a screen will appear in EPIC indicating the following: “This test should typically only be resulted once per lifetime. The duplicate checking indicates that this patient has already had this testing performed. Please see chart review for results.” This is not a “hard stop” but providers will need to click “Continue” to proceed with the order.