The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, General Information, Main lab, Referral/Sendouts
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Advanced Technology Laboratory, General Information, Main lab, Referral/Sendouts, Test Utilization
Specimen Collection and Test Updates – June 2022
The following information was updated in the Lab Catalog.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Cytogenetics
Discontinuation of Low-Volume and Individual Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) Probes
Effective immediately, due to low test utilization and the high cost of maintaining proficiency, the following FISH tests will no longer be offered:
• Prader-Willi/Angelman (15q11-q13) by FISH
Recommended test is Angelman/Prader-Willi mPCR
• Smith Magenis (17p11) by FISH
If need arises for this test, please place an order for a Send out Genetics Miscellaneous and enter requested test in the comments. The testing will be sent out through Spectrum Health.
Any questions about referral testing may be directed to the Referral Department. Any questions or concerns regarding these changes may be directed to Dr. Salah Ebrahim in the Cytogenetics Laboratory.
MTHFR C677T [LAB7390], the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation analysis, is being discontinued as an obsolete test.
The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have determined that MTHFR C677T testing has minimal clinical utility. Current testing recommendations indicate that this test should not be ordered as part of a routine evaluation for thrombophilia or adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Effective February 1, 2022, the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Carrier Screen test, which includes the 23 common variants for cystic fibrosis recommended by ACOG/ACMG, will be discontinued as an orderable test at Spectrum Health Laboratory.
The recommended replacement test is the Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Analysis (Test ID: CFP) offered by Mayo Clinic Laboratories, a 106-variant panel which includes the recommended 23 common variants.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, General Information, Main lab, Test Utilization
Outpatient Respiratory Viral Testing
Spectrum Health Lab has noticed an increase in outpatient orders for Respiratory Pathogens by Film Array [LAB3359]. This may be due to a shortage of supplies for some Point of Care (POC) testing platforms. Film Array is typically used for emergency and high acuity patients and therefore has a high cost that may not be covered by most patients’ insurance. To lesson out of pocket costs for your patients, please order the below for RSV, COVID, or Flu testing.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Education & Training, General Information, Immunochemistry, Microbiology, Test Utilization
Reminder: COVID Orders and Scheduling
Effective July 1, 2021, Spectrum Health no longer offers patient self-screening through MyChart or telephonic COVID screening appointments to patients. Patients will need an order from their provider prior to scheduling a COVID-19 test. Patients should be symptomatic or have a recent exposure, all other visit types should go through Michigan.gov (travel, athletic, or return to work or school, etc.)
If the patient does not have a provider, they may utilize the SHNow On Demand Visit via MyChart or find testing site options on Michigan.gov.
Once the order is placed, patients may schedule an appointment through MyChart or calling the Covid Hotline (for paper orders).
For more information:
If you are collecting COVID-19 swabs in your office or clinic, please order and collect using the saline swab kits (“liquid media” or “wet collection”) instead of the tube with no liquid media (“dry collection”).
• Liquid media swab kits will provide a faster turn-around time.
• Dry collection kits supplies are low.
Please refer to the COVID-19 PCR test in the Lab Catalog for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 collection.
Advanced Technology Laboratory, Compliance & Safety, Education & Training, General Information, Main lab, Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, Test Utilization
REMINDER: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) PCR and HSV Culture Orders
As of January 13, 2020, the Spectrum Health Microbiology Laboratory will switch any viral culture orders placed on cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesion specimens to molecular PCR testing as the preferred diagnostic method.
Please refer to these documents for specimen collection information and appropriate ordering codes: