As of March 21, 2022, Spectrum Health Laboratories will adopt a new C. difficile testing approach that no longer reflexes to PCR testing for indeterminate toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results. Rather, PCR testing will only be available upon consultation with Infectious Disease.
gastroenterology
As of February 12, 2020 testing for fecal calprotectin will be brought in-house.
As result Calprotectin, Feces (LAB3290) will be replaced with Calprotectin, Feces (LAB1230580).
Please note the following differences between the new and previous test in terms of specimen requirements and reference ranges.
Questions may be directed to the Toxicology Laboratory using the “Contact Us” link above.
Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis – Serologic Testing is no Longer Recommended
Overview
Clinical guidelines no longer recommend serologic testing as a method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Rather than IgG serology testing, other non-invasive testing methods such as H. pylori stool antigen and urea breath tests may be used to both diagnose and monitor response to therapy for H. pylori infection. In anticipation of an increase in stool antigen testing, currently a reference lab send-out test, Spectrum Health Regional Laboratory (SHRL) will be implementing this test as of October 29, 2018. By offering this test in-house, results will typically be available one day faster than present state.