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Women’s Health

Advanced Technology Laboratory

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Update

Corewell Health South and Corewell Health West Laboratories 

Effective Date: February 3, 2025 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotypic testing will be updated to expand acceptable sources and collection methods. The following two HPV tests will be available, and the corresponding testing algorithm will be driven by the clinician specified specimen source and collection method/device.  

New Test: Self-Collect HPV High-Risk Screen with HPV Genotype Reflex (LAB1231853)  

  • Testing Restricted to HPV only –Co-testing Not Available: PAP or STI (CT, NG, TV)  
  • Detection of 14 HR HPV genotypes:  
    • HPV Genotype 16  
    • HPV Genotype 18
    • Other HR  HPV – includes 31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,66,68  
  • Collection Information:  
    • Acceptable Source: Patient Self-collected vaginal  
    • Collection Device: Rovers® Evalyn® Brush  (ITM-1303902)
    • Collection Instructions: Patients must use the Evalyn Brush in a healthcare setting (i.e. physician office or clinic) to self-collect a vaginal specimen following the Evalyn Brush collection instructions. (Spanish instructions) 
    • A trained healthcare staff member must immediately suspend the Evalyn Brush into a vial of ThinPrep PreservCyt solution following transport instructions. The ThinPrep PreservCyt vial can then be transported to the lab at 2 to 30°C.  
    • This may not be collected at home or in an outpatient draw site. 

Corewell Health Southwest: Effective February 3, 2025, PAP and HPV results will once again be bundled for all orders placed from that date onward. 

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General Information, Microbiology, Test Utilization

Discontinuation of Placenta Microbiology Cultures

As of April 12, 2022, Spectrum Health Laboratory will no longer add microbiology cultures to placental tissues received based on paper requisition forms.

Viral and bacterial cultures from placental tissue are rarely clinically beneficial and are no longer the gold standard diagnostic approach due to the relative insensitivity of culture methods.

If viral studies are desired (possible indications could include known CMV exposure with positive IgM or intrauterine fetal demise at < 28 weeks), then molecular testing is the recommended diagnostic approach. HSV and CMV PCR tests may be ordered in Epic.

Herpes Simplex 1/2 Qualitative PCR, Tissue (LAB1230413)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Qualitative PCR, Tissue (LAB1230291)

Bacterial cultures are challenging to interpret since they typically grow normal genital flora and histopathological analysis used to diagnose acute chorioamnionitis correlates poorly with growth from bacterial placenta cultures. If indicated, culture and PCR tests may be ordered in Epic.

Tissue Culture (LAB2111173)

Metamycoplasma hominis, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies (LAB848)

Ureaplasma species, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies (LAB848)

Placenta tissues sent to the lab in formalin are not acceptable for PCR or culture orders.

Chemistry, General Information, Immunochemistry

Test Update: Rubella IgG Antibody Testing

On January 24th, 2022 Rubella Antibody, IgG, Serum (LAB496) and Rubella IgG Antibody Quantitative (LAB3544) will be combined as LAB496 and moved to the Immunochemistry laboratory due to reagent constrains with the current vendor.

Testing will be available Monday-Friday with a turn-around-time of 1-3 days. Results will be reported qualitatively as Immune or Not Immune.  If quantitative results are needed, please fax Immunochemistry at 616-267-2771 or call 616-267-2770. Continue Reading

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. Continue Reading