Browsing Tag

Emergency Medicine

Hemostasis/Coagulation

New Test: Thrombin Time

Effective March 4th, 2020, Thrombin Time will change from a sendout reference test performed by Mayo Clinic Laboratories to an in-house test performed by Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory. This test will be performed in the Coagulation Laboratory and will include a new reference range (please see link in Test Information below).

Thrombin Time is suitable for monitoring fibrinolysis therapy, screening for disorders of fibrin formation and in cases of suspected fibrinogen deficiency states. It is also useful for the differentiation between a heparin induced prolongation of the thrombin time and fibrin formation disorders.

For questions around this test, please contact the Coagulation Department at 616-267-2740.

TEST INFORMATION

Thrombin Time – Epic Code: #LAB11230581, Interface Code: #11230581, CPT: #85670

March 3, 2020 by
General Information, Hematology

Cell Count Update – Specimen Rejection Criteria

The Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory Hematology Department has updated rejection criteria for the orderables, Cell Count w/ Differential, Body Fluid and Cell Count, Body Fluid.  Spectrum Health Hematology will no longer perform cell counts on specimens which are not from a sterile body cavity (e.g. wound drainage, abscess, pus, etc.).  Unacceptable specimens submitted to the Hematology Department for cell counts will not be performed and the test will be credited. Continue Reading

July 5, 2019 by
Chemistry, Compliance & Safety, General Information

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

March 5, 2019 by
Microbiology, Test Utilization

Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis – Serologic Testing is no Longer Recommended

Overview

Clinical guidelines no longer recommend serologic testing as a method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Rather than IgG serology testing, other non-invasive testing methods such as H. pylori stool antigen and urea breath tests may be used to both diagnose and monitor response to therapy for H. pylori infection. In anticipation of an increase in stool antigen testing, currently a reference lab send-out test, Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory (SHRL) will be implementing this test as of October 29, 2018. By offering this test in-house, results will typically be available one day faster than present state. Continue Reading

October 23, 2018 by