The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
All changes are for Corewell Health Laboratories West.
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
All changes are for Corewell Health Laboratories West.
This winter, West Michigan influenza infections peaked in February 2024 and significantly declined throughout March and April 2024. 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 antigen testing (e.g. Sofia instrument) or Influenza PCR (LAB3255) |
More detailed information can be found as published by the CDC:
With several suspected cases of measles within Michigan, we thought it would be an excellent time to highlight Corewell Health West’s guidance on testing suspected patients. Specimens are sent to a reference lab for testing, which must be coordinated with local public health departments. Typically an upper-respiratory swab (throat or nasopharyngeal) is collected for PCR testing in addition to a serum for measles IgM if collection is possible.
The preferred testing specimen is a throat or nasopharyngeal swab collected in office. Corewell Health Laboratories do not collect swabs.
For further collection and ordering instructions, please visit: Measles PCR – Laboratory Test Catalog | West
Any additional questions or concerns, please use the contact us link above or reach out to your local health department.
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
All changes are for Corewell Health Laboratories West.
Effective Thursday, April 18, 2024, Corewell Health Laboratory will discontinue the send out test Hepatitis A IgG Antibody, Serum (Mayo Test ID: HAIGG). This test has been made obsolete by Mayo Clinic Laboratories. We recommend to our healthcare providers the following in-house testing:
1.Hepatitis A Total Antibody (LAB1230596): intended for the clinical laboratory diagnosis of acute or past hepatitis A virus infection in persons with signs or symptoms of hepatitis and in persons at increased risk for hepatitis A infection, to identify HAV susceptible individuals and to determine the presence of an antibody response to HAV in vaccine recipients.
2.Hepatitis A Antibody, IgM (LAB7980): intended for use as an aid in the laboratory diagnosis of an acute or recently acquired hepatitis A virus infection.
This issue is resolved. It was identified as an issue within Corewell Health Epic Preference Lists. If you are still encountering issues, please reach out to Service Now. This post will be archived in 7 days.
Due to an error from our system changes that happened on Sunday, March 17, 2024, the HPV reflex on the Pap testing orderable is not reflexing appropriately based on ASCCP Guidelines.
The Cytology Laboratory (Corewell Health Reference Laboratory West) and our Digital Services teams are aware of the error and working on a solution to correct the missed HPVs that were processed this week. As the correction may cause a slight delay in HPV results, please hold add-on requests for HPV until Friday (3/29). If you are concerned about an HPV being missed after this date (3/29/24), please fill out an Add-On form and fax to the number on the form (Note: Pap Specimens are held for 30 days).
We apologize for any inconvenience and confusion. If you have any further questions or concerns, please use the contact us link above.
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Effective Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the policy for home collected specimen drop offs for Outpatient Laboratories (“draw sites”) has been updated.
For all Corewell Health West Michigan locations: after registration, patients or their designated person will verify the specimen at the laboratory. Laboratory team members will verify the specimen is properly labeled and ensure they have everything needed to be able to test the specimen before the patient or their designated person leaves the building. This does not include specimens collected by a home health nurse or provider.
This will standardize our patient flow when arriving with a home collected specimen and will reduce the need for recollection due to missing information or improper collection.
When specimen collection orders are placed, please notify patients of the change to this process.
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