All Posts By

Laboratory Services

Compliance & Safety, Referral/Sendouts, Test Utilization

Reminder: Send Out Referral Testing Notice

As a reminder, referral testing, tests that are sent to another laboratory to perform, is dependent on the weather. Inclement weather can affect both the turnaround time of testing, and the testing capabilities of the organization. Our referral testing is dependent on outside transportation facilities (such as FedEx and UPS). When those organizations face challenges in weather, our testing capabilities must remain flexible. 

If there is inclement weather in and around Memphis, TN (the main FedEx hub), there may be delays and cancellations of testing. We will try our best to communicate these changes as soon as possible via our blog: https://lab.corewellhealth.org/

For any questions or concerns please “Contact Us” via the link above. 

January 19, 2024 by
Test Utilization

Influenza Testing Recommendation (December 2023)

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 or point of care testing (e.g. Sofia instrument) to have improved performance. The use of point of care 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. Point of care 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 result if influenza is still suspected and if the result will impact clinical decision making.

Low influenza prevalence High influenza prevalence
Recommended order Influenza PCR  Influenza Point of Care Testing
or
Influenza PCR 

Continue Reading

December 14, 2023 by
General Information

Ludington Lab Testing Update

In pursuit of best practice and alignment, as the only regional laboratory performing Legionella Antigen testing,  Corewell Health Ludington will be consolidating this low volume testing by sending it to our core lab.

Beginning January 1, 2024, all specimens for Legionella Antigen, Urine testing collected at Corewell Health Ludington sites will be sent to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory West in Grand Rapids for testing.  All other details regarding the test remain the same. Continue Reading

December 12, 2023 by
Toxicology

Discontinuation Pyruvic Acid

Effective Wednesday, November 29, 2023, the in-house test, Pyruvic Acid, will be made inactive. Recommended alternative testing is Pyruvic Acid, Blood [LAB1231461] which is referred to Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Please review the lab catalog for information on new specimen requirements and updated reference range information. Due to the update in reference ranges, this may disrupt trending data.

The test Lactate/Pyruvate Ratio will also be inactivated with no alternative testing. If you require assistance with obtaining the ratio, please Contact Us. Continue Reading

November 29, 2023 by
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Compliance & Safety, General Information

Genetic Testing Informed Consent

Submission of an order for any predictive genetic tests and pre-symptomatic genetic tests, as defined by MCL 333.17020, contained in Corewell Health laboratory catalog constitutes certification to Corewell Health Laboratories that the ordering physician understands that written, informed consent is required for these tests and that, by submitting an order for these genetic tests, ordering physician has obtained “Informed Consent” of subject patient as required by any applicable state or federal laws with respect to each test ordered. On occasion, we forward a specimen to an outside reference laboratory. Corewell Health laboratories may request that ordering physician provide such consent to Corewell Health upon a reasonable request.

Continue Reading

November 20, 2023 by