This winter, West Michigan influenza infections peaked in December 2022 and significantly declined throughout February and March 2023. Now with a low prevalence of circulating influenza, using the most sensitive diagnostic test is recommended in order to obtain accurate and actionable results. Influenza antigen testing (e.g. Sofia instrument) is no longer appropriate at this time and Influenza PCR testing should be ordered when clinically indicated.
Browsing Tag
Infectious Disease
Advanced Technology Laboratory
New Tests: Trichomonas PCR, Mycoplasma genitalium PCR, and STI Panel (Alinity)
New Test Announcement
Corewell Health Advanced Technology Laboratory is pleased to announce the addition of Trichomonas, Mycoplasma Genitalium (Mgen), and STI Panel testing on the Alinity m platform.
As of 1/5/2023, Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) STI tests are available using the Alinity m collection kit and a panel which includes the above plus Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG).
All four tests may be run on one urogenital sample, saving cost and time, and reducing human error.
Compliance & Safety, Education & Training, General Information, Main lab, Test Utilization
Inform: RSV Testing – Age Restrictions
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) primarily infects pediatric patients, but occasionally infects adults and may be of particular concern for the elderly and immunocompromised. Corewell Health Laboratories offers two tests for RSV. A rapid antigen test may be used to confirm RSV diagnosis in pediatric patients. This test is not approved by the FDA for testing adult patients, so tests will be cancelled if ordered on an off-label age group. There are no age restrictions for RSV testing by way of a molecular panel that also includes COVID and influenza as viruses with overlapping symptoms.
| Test name | Epic Test ID | Methodology | Specimen | Age restriction |
| RSV Rapid | LAB495 | Antigen | Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab | Approved for patients 0 – 18 years of age |
| COVID, Influenza, RSV PCR | LAB1230746 | Molecular/PCR | Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab | No age restriction |
Influenza cases numbers are currently increasing throughout West Michigan. Influenza prevalence guides the most appropriate testing approach and sufficient prevalence has now been reached for influenza rapid antigen testing (e.g. Sofia instrument) to have improved performance. The use of rapid antigen testing as a screening method during high prevalence reduces both the cost to the patient and turn-around-time as compared to lab-based molecular methods. Rapid antigen tests generally have high analytical specificity, but lack the sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification methods (e.g. PCR). For this reason, PCR testing is still recommended for hospitalized patients and for outpatients with a negative antigen result if influenza is still suspected and if the result will impact clinical decision making.
Effective immediately, the following Regional Hospital Laboratories have the 4-Plex (COVID-19, Influenza A, Influenza B, RSV) test available for ordering and testing:
- Big Rapids Hospital Laboratory
- Blodgett Hospital Laboratory
- Gerber Hospital Laboratory
- Ludington Hospital Laboratory
- Pennock Hospital Laboratory
- Reed City Hospital Laboratory
- United/Greenville Hospital Laboratory
- Zeeland Hospital Laboratory
Advanced Technology Laboratory, General Information, Molecular Diagnostics
Test Update: Chlamydia and Gonococcus Testing (Alinity m)
Effective October 31, 2022, the Advanced Technology Laboratory’s Molecular Diagnostics Department will accept oropharyngeal and rectal swab specimens as testing sources for Chlamydia and Gonococcus testing using the Alinity m multi-Collect Kit. This specimen type is FDA approved on the Alinity m platform.
NOTE: Specimens collected on patients under the age of 14 or collected for Child Protective Services, will still be sent out to a reference laboratory.
Beginning October 1, 2022, Spectrum Health Laboratory will update the current Chlamydia and Gonococcus testing using Abbott multi-Collect kit and Abbott m2000 platform to the Abbott Alinity m multi-Collect kit and Alinity m platform. This platform update will include an orderable name change and change in collection materials.
Compliance & Safety, Education & Training, General Information, Main lab
COVID-19 Test Update for Regional Hospital Lab Clients
Effective Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the following laboratories will be going live with the GeneXpert Xpress for COVID-19 testing: Big Rapids, Gerber, Ludington, Pennock, Reed City, United, and Zeeland.
Please ensure your sites are stocked with the correct collection devices listed below in preparation of the changeover.
Effective September 21, 2022, the resulting options for the following Hepatitis lab result components will be updated from “Positive”/”Negative” to “Reactive”/”Nonreactive”. Any additional current resulting options, such as “Equivocal” or “See Comment”, will remain available. This will only affect applicable tests that have not yet been resulted.