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Internal Medicine

Corewell Health System, Hematology

Schistocyte Review Test Now Available to Order

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

Schistocytes are red blood cell (RBC) fragments that lack central pallor. They are seen in severe burns, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), microangiopathic hemolytic anemias, and other causes of mechanical hemolysis.

The orderable will always be performed by techs under the microscope and involve examination of the red blood cell (RBC) morphology  to determine the average number of schistocytes observed in at least 8-10 fields.  It will be resulted as none seen, few, moderate, or many.

References:

  • Tefferi A, Elliott M, Schistocytes on the Peripheral Blood Smear, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 79809
  • Scordino, Teresa, Schistocytes, American Society of Hematology Image Bank, January 2016

 

April 23, 2026 by
Southwest Michigan, West Michigan

Testosterone Testing and Ordering Recommendations

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 Continue Reading

February 23, 2026 by
General Information

MRSA PCR: Updated indications for ordering

Effective Date: September 3, 2025

The MRSA Screen PCR [LAB1231076] detects the presence or absence of colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and may be used to guide antimicrobial prophylaxis decisions. To improve and standardize test utilization across all Corewell Health regions, the following restrictions will be added to this test order:

  • Ordering will be restricted to one test every 7 days.
  • An indication for ordering must be provided for each order. Acceptable indications are:
    • Pneumonia
    • Skin and soft tissue (use for non-purulent infections)
    • Surgical prophylaxis

Studies have shown that there is minimal utility in re-testing within 2 weeks as MRSA conversion rates are low and the PCR negative predictive values remain high for at least 14 days after initial testing.

Absence of nasal colonization with MRSA cannot be used to reliably rule out MRSA infection in scenarios other than those listed above.

Test Information

MRSA Screen PCR [LAB1231076]

August 20, 2025 by
General Information

Test Update: Vitamin D Testing Via Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LAB1230925)

Corewell Health Laboratories has discontinued routine Vitamin D testing via Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LAB1230925). The new test for diagnosing Vitamin D insufficiency and monitoring therapy is Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy (LAB1231583), performed daily using an in-house immunoassay method.

Vitamin D screening for deficiency/insufficiency will now be conducted via immunoassay. Current requests for Vitamin D2/D3 by Mass Spectrometry will be sent out.

For any questions or concerns, please contact the Corewell Health West Laboratory.

 

TEST INFORMATION

Discontinue: LAB1230925 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3, Serum

Replacement: LAB1231583 Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy

June 27, 2025 by
Chemistry

βhCG Preliminary Results

Effective June 4, 2025, Corewell Health Laboratories will include a preliminary result of >10000 mIU/mL for Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG + β) (LAB142) specimens that require dilution. The preliminary result will provide a quick insight on the status of the βhCG quantification analysis. It is important to remember that these results are not definitive, therefore final interpretation should be made alongside the fully validated results.

Continue Reading

June 2, 2025 by
Advanced Technology Laboratory

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing Update

Corewell Health South and Corewell Health West Laboratories 

Effective Date: February 3, 2025 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotypic testing will be updated to expand acceptable sources and collection methods. The following HPV test will be available, and the corresponding testing algorithm will be driven by the clinician specified specimen source and collection method/device.  

New Test: Self-Collect HPV High-Risk Screen with HPV Genotype Reflex (LAB1231853)  

  • Testing Restricted to HPV only –Co-testing Not Available: PAP or STI (CT, NG, TV)  
  • Detection of 14 HR HPV genotypes:  
    • HPV Genotype 16  
    • HPV Genotype 18
    • Other HR  HPV – includes 31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,66,68  
  • Collection Information:  
    • Acceptable Source: Patient Self-collected vaginal  
    • Collection Device: Rovers® Evalyn® Brush  (ITM-1303902)
    • Collection Instructions: Patients must use the Evalyn Brush in a healthcare setting (i.e. physician office or clinic) to self-collect a vaginal specimen following the Evalyn Brush collection instructions. (Spanish instructions) 
    • A trained healthcare staff member must immediately suspend the Evalyn Brush into a vial of ThinPrep PreservCyt solution following transport instructions. The ThinPrep PreservCyt vial can then be transported to the lab at 2 to 30°C.  
    • This may not be collected at home or in an outpatient draw site. 

Corewell Health Southwest: Effective February 3, 2025, PAP and HPV results will once again be bundled for all orders placed from that date onward. 

Continue Reading

January 28, 2025 by