Key Update
Effective July 29, 2026, inpatient Enteric Pathogens PCR Panel (LAB3618) orders will be restricted when screening criteria are not met.
To help ensure accurate results and avoid specimen collection delays, please note the specific collection requirements for this test. Cyclospora testing requires specific collection and preservative requirements that may differ from routine stool studies. Please ensure your office has the appropriate collection supplies available if you anticipate ordering this test.
As a reminder, in observance of the Independence Day holiday, all Corewell Health Laboratory Patient Service Centers (drawstations) will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
Per our holiday schedule, when a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. Therefore, our drawstations will be closed on Friday, July 3, as the observed holiday, and will remain closed on Saturday, July 4.
Effective June 1, 2026, Corewell Health Microbiology Laboratory in Southeast Michigan is updating specimen collection criteria for body fluid specimens. Microbiology will no longer accept red top vacutainer tubes as a collection device for body fluids (i.e. synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, etc). Collection criteria information has been updated in Corewell’s Lab Test Directory to reflect this change. Test order for body fluid cultures is LAB2111016 (aerobic culture) and commonly accompanied by LAB233 (anaerobic culture).
Effective Tuesday, May 26, 2026, outpatient occult blood testing (stool) will no longer be performed at Corewell Health Lakeland St. Joseph Laboratory and will instead be routed or mailed to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory in Grand Rapids, MI (35 Michigan St.) for processing.
In addition, the collection kits will be updated from OC-Light™ S FIT collection kits to OC-Auto™ collection kits.