Education & Training – Corewell Health Laboratory

Summer Lockbox Preparation

Follow these steps for loading your outdoor lockbox during the summer months to prevent overheating of refrigerated and ambient specimens: lockbox summer

1. Place a frozen cool pack in the bottom of the lockbox.

2. Layer 3 – 4 paper towels over the cool pack for insulation.

3. Place refrigerated temperature specimens on top of the paper towels.

4. Layer 3 – 4 paper towels over the refrigerated specimens for insulation.

5. Place ambient temperature specimens on top of the paper towels.

Frozen specimen should not be left in the lockbox for after-hours pickup. These tests may be better preserved in the office freezer until the next day’s courier pickup.

Spectrum Health Laboratory is committed to specimen integrity. The specimen transport integrity guide is available in the online test catalog. If you have further questions please contact Laboratory Services at 616.774.7721.

June 1, 2016 by Laboratory Services

Reminder: Fasting Tests

Several tests performed by Spectrum Health Laboratories and our Reference Laboratories (Mayo Clinic Lab) require and recommend fasting.

Please check the Lab Catalog prior to sending your patient to a draw site or sending a patient’s specimens to the lab. Help remind patients to arrive fasting if fasting tests are required.

Spectrum Health Laboratories recommends

No caloric or caffeine intake for 8-12 hours prior to testing. Do not eat or drink anything except normal amounts of plain water. This also includes no smoking, chewing gum, candy, cough drops, etc. Some tests also require no alcoholic beverages for 24-48 hours prior to testing.

Take normal dosages of medications, unless the provider has instructed otherwise.

Results may be inaccurate if fasting was not done prior to the test and may lead to improper diagnosis or treatment. Testing will need to be repeated if patient was not fasting properly before testing.

List of fasting tests

updated: 12/27/2021

March 1, 2016 by Laboratory Services