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.
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.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic Spectrum Health Laboratory implemented a protocol to call providers and patients to notify of positive COVID-19 PCR testing. The pandemic has shifted to an endemic phase and a positive COVID-19 test is no longer considered a critical value. Effective Friday, August 26, 2022, Spectrum Health Laboratory will no longer call positive COVID-19 PCR testing, for inpatient or outpatient specimens.
Results for COVID-19 PCR will still file to the patient’s chart in Epic and reported to the ordering provider through usual means of receiving results (fax or electronic) and to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Patient’s will still be notified via their MyChart as well.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the “contact us” link above.
The Enteric Pathogens PCR test performed by Spectrum Health Laboratory may be used to detect common pathogenic bacteria and viruses in stool collected from individuals with symptoms of gastrointestinal infection. Specifically, this test detects Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Yersinia enterocolitica, Norovirus, Rotavirus, and the Shiga toxin virulence factor. Effective August 17, 2022, Spectrum Health’s Epic EMR will contain new ask-at-order questions to help improve the clinical decision support and appropriate utilization of this testing.
West Michigan influenza infections peaked mid-March 2022 and have been declining in the weeks that followed. 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.
| Low Influenza Prevalence |
High Influenza Prevalence |
|
| Recommended Order | Influenza PCR (LAB3255) | Influenza Rapid Antigen (LAB2111530) or Influenza PCR (LAB3255) |
More detailed information can be found as published by the CDC:
| Test name | Epic code | Interface EMR Code | CPT Code |
| Influenza PCR | LAB3255 | 11594 | 87502 |
| Influenza Rapid Antigen | LAB2111530 | 11208 | 87804 x4 |
Spectrum Health and Spectrum Health Medical Group (SHMG) Supply Chain Update:
AbbottTM has discontinued their Mono Test Kit. The identified replacement product is from Cardinal HealthTM. This product is already in use in some spaces throughout Spectrum Health. Please see ITM number for the replacement product below and update your ordering processes accordingly.
Discontinued Product: ITM-1002651 Kit Test Mono CLIA Waived (Abbott 92407)
Replacement Product: ITM-1049839 Test Mono II Rapid (Cardinal Health CH1145)