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).
Corewell Health System
Changes to Outpatient Occult Blood (FIT) Stool Testing (Corewell Health Southwest Region)
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.
Client Letter Update: Diagnostic Lab of Michigan
Click here to read the full letter
Effective Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Schistocyte Review (LAB1231565) will be available to order across all Corewell Health Laboratories Hematology Departments.
This new orderable supports alignment across Corewell Health regions by standardizing schistocyte assessment practices, ensuring high‑quality testing, and delivering a consistent patient care experience system‑wide.
This monthly bulletin includes updates about insurance payor nuances, diagnosis coding reminders, and other helpful tips and information regarding all things laboratory billing.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your laboratory account manager.
When ordering a Pre‑surgical Type & Screen, all required order questions must be completed accurately. These answers drive specimen routing, collection timing, and blood bank workflow in Epic.
This monthly bulletin includes updates about insurance payor nuances, diagnosis coding reminders, and other helpful tips and information regarding all things laboratory billing.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your laboratory account manager.
This monthly bulletin includes updates about insurance payor nuances, diagnosis coding reminders, and other helpful tips and information regarding all things laboratory billing.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your laboratory account manager.
Effective March 4, 2026, Corewell Health Laboratories in West Michigan will discontinue performing testosterone testing (LAB173 and LAB2111222) and Corewell Health Southwest Michigan will discontinue Testosterone Free and Total testing (LAB173)
The following replacements will be available as a send out to Quest Diagnostics:
⇒Testosterone, Total, MS – Epic Code: LAB1232313
⇒Testosterone, Free, Bioavailable and Total, MS – Epic Code: LAB1232237
New Test: Antiphospholipid Antibody Panel (Inpatient and Emergency Department)
Effective March 4, 2026, an Antiphospholipid Antibody Panel will be available for adult patients in the emergency, observation, and inpatient settings across the Corewell Health System.
