Communique

April 2013 Laboratory Communique

Laboratory Operations
Laboratory Operations
New Physician Leader in Pathology
FedEx Delivery of Samples
Kidney Stone Collection Kits
H. pylori Breath Test Kits
Clinician Self Treatment: Fletcher Allen Policy

Test Changes
Body Fluid Cell Counts
EBV Panel
Test Inactivation: Urine Culture and Smear and Shiga Toxin sent to Mayo
Fecal Lactoferrin for WBC
Fecal Culture: Addition of Shiga
Toxin Testing
HCV RNA Detection Quantitative
HIV Rapid
HIV 1 RNA Quantitation
HSV Type 1 & 2 Antibody, IgG
Lead Testing Reporting change
Lyme (IgG and IgM) Antibody Confirmation

Attachments
Clinician Self Treatment Policy
Antibiogram Results

January 2013 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Holiday Schedules
Vacutainer Holder and Needle change
Outpatient Lab Hours Change
Molecular Testing Swabs
Pathology News
Styrofoam Tube Carriers

Test Changes
Urine Albumin Reference Range Change
Pertussis Testing Change
Protein Electrophoresis
Addition of Monoclonal Quantitation and Inactivation of SQM

Compliance Update
Non-Fletcher Allen Providers Amending Diagnosis Form
Vitamin D LCD Effective Date
Reflex Hercept Test on Gastric and Gastroesophageal junction cancers

October 2012 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Safe SyringeDisposal
New Director of Microbiology

Test Changes
Automated Assessment of Specimen Indices
IgE Instrumentation Change
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Quantitative Reports
LH Reference Range Update
Lipid Profile Reflex Measured LDL
Vaginitis/Vaginosis

Compliance Update
LCD Updates for Quantitative Drug Screening and B-type Natriuretic Peptide
Draft Future LCD Policy for Vitamin D Assay Testing

July 2012 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Holiday Hours
Important Needle Info

Test Changes
aPTT Range Change
AFP: Change in Location of Testing
Chlamydia/GC Detection On Thin Prep
Bordetella pertussis PCR
Cervical Screening Guidelines
HPV Detection Change
JAK2 Mutation (V617F) Analysis
NT-proBNP replaced BNP

Compliance Update
Medicare STI Testing Changes
Reflex Testing Review
Reflex KRAS Mutation Testing

April 2012 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operation
National Medical Lab Week
Lab Order End Date
Weekend Post-Mortem Exams
Fasting Vitamin Levels

Test Changes
B-Hydroxybutyrate Replaces
Acetone Testing
Urine Glucose Reporting Change
Hepatitis C Antibody Reflex Criteria
HCG Tumor Marker
Phenylalanine Testing
Anti-Thyroglobulin and Anti-Thyroperoxidase Assays
Varicella Zoster Detection
NT pro-BNP Replaces BNP
Skin Scrapings for Scabies

Compliance Update
Drugs of Abuse LCD
HA1C Frequency Limits

January 2012 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Lab Holiday Hours
Cigna Patients: No Co-pay ACC
Scheduled Tests

Tech Tip
Centrifuge Spacers

Test Changes
Cardiac Markers Assay
Creatinine Reference Range
Culture Without Gram Stain Requires Path Approval
HCG Assay
Leishmaniasis Exam
Lipid Reference Range
Monoclonal Protein Test Panels Offered
Parasite Exam
Schistosoma Exam, Urine

Compliance Update
Personal lab orders on Employer Requisitions

Attachment
Yellow Tube Still Required for Some Send-Outs

October 2011 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Thanksgiving Hours

Test Changes
CA 19-9 Test Update
GFR Change
Free Light Chains
Microalbumin Name Change
Opiate Screening Change
Quad Marker Interpretion
Troponin & CKMB Change
HCG Assay Change

Compliance Update
ABN Revised Form
Physician Signature on Lab Forms
Medicare Preventative Services

July 2011 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Summer Schedule
The Sun Sets on Maple

Test Changes
AFP Tumor Marker
GTT Update
Amikacin Assay
Chemistry Analyte Maximum Reportable Range
Cryoglobins Collection Change
PTH Sample Stability
FLM Change to Lamellar Body Count
H. Pylori & CMV IgG Antibody Change
Quad Marker Method
S. Pneumoniae Antigen Dection, Urine
Thyroid Antibody: Thyroglobin Ab & Thyroperoxidase Ab Change
Platelet Aggregation

Test News
Adenovirus Detection (VIRD) GI Biopsy: Transition to 10% Formalin
New Reflex Tests: Anti Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Ab, Hemoglobin A1c, and Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
Hepatitis C Reflex Testing Change
Name Changes for Total Bilirubin, Total and Free Testosterone, and Total Protein
Pap Smears: Determining Sample Adequacy
Quantification of Light Chains
Semen Fructose Discontinued
Tumor Markers: Change in Reporting of Previous Results
Volatile Screen and Ethylene Glycol

Compliance Update
Reflex Testing Policy Review

January 2011 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
PSC Winter Holiday Hours
UHC Patient Service Center
New Lab Outreach Specialist
PrismLink Keeps an Eye on your Patients

Tech Tip
Blood Sample Processing Affects Results

Test News
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Change in Reportable Range
Light Pink Blood Bank Tubes Replace Yellow
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG Change
Estradiol Assay Change
RBC Folate Testing Now ObsoleteHeliobacter pylori Antibody IgG
Change PAP and HPV Reports
PTH Assay ChangeRubella Antibodies IgG Change
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin and Calculated Free Testosterone Change
Toxoplasma Antibody IgG Discontinued

Compliance Update
Physician Signature on Laboratory Requisitions

October Communiqué 2010

Laboratory Operations
PSC Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
New Phlebotomy Site on the Horizon

Tech Tip
Sample Retention Time

Test News
Test Announcements
Cardiolipin Antibody
Von Willebrand Factor Activity
CA125 Change in Reportable Range
Creatinine, Urine Changes in Lower Reporting Limit
Fetal Fibronectin Result
HIV Test Results
Bacterial Pharyngitis
Factor Assay Misorders
Sugar Water Test Discontinued

Compliance Update
Physician Signatures on Orders

July Communiqué 2010

Laboratory Operations
PSC Summer Holiday Hours
Medical Waste Disposal
Special Send Outs
Patient Financial Assistance

Tech Tip
Draw Date and 30/60 Rule

Test News
Aminoglycoside Reference Range Changes
ASO Reporting Change
Celiac Disease Testing Change
Drugs of Abuse Testing Change
Thyroid Antibodies

Compliance Update
Medicare Preventative Screening Quick Reference
Alert: CBC or CBC with Diff

April Communiqué 2010

Laboratory Operations
Lab Week Celebrated
EHR: Availability of Financing Announced by VITL

Tech Tips
Safe Sharps Use and Removal

Test News
BNP Processing Change
Calculated Phenytoin Change
Chlamydia/GC Molecular Detection in Urine
Cortisol Assay Calibration Change
CSF Glutamine Testing Discontinued
CSF VDRL Testing Change
Drugs of Abuse Testing
Hemoglobin A1c Change in Reference Range
HPV Testing Schedule
Lead Level Change in Critical Value
Plasma Free Hemoglobin Testing Change
Progesterone Assay Calibration Change
Sperm Antibody Testing
Sweat Chloride: New Reference Range for CF Testing
Syphilis Testing Updates
Theophylline Assay Calibration Change
Trichomonas Culture (TRIP)
Unconjugated Estriol Assay Change in Calibration
Viral Detection Parainfluenza Virus Test Update
Vitamin B12 Change in Reference Range

Compliance Update
Review Reflex Testing

January Communiqué 2010

Laboratory Operations
Holiday Phlebotomy Hours
STAT and EXPEDITE Stickers Get Attention
Report of Death

Test News
Test Updates:
Lyme Antibody (Borrelia burgdorferi)
Syphilis Serology
25-OH Vitamin D (Total)
Clostridium difficile toxin PCR
Viral Detection
TSH Reagent Change

Compliance Update
Expanded ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Codes

October Communiqué 2009

Laboratory Operations
Holiday Phlebotomy Hours
Dragonheart Vermont

Tech Tips
Spinning for Results

Test News
Test Update: Urine Screen for Methadone
Lead Reference Range Update
Herpes Simplex Virus PCR
Compliance Update
Telephone Orders for PSA & PSAS

July Communiqué 2009

Laboratory Operations
Summer Holiday Phlebotomy Hours
Additional Copies of a report
Critical Result Calls
Fasting Labs

Test News
Method Change Immunosuppressive Drugs
Urinalysis Reporting and Reference Range Change
Ammonia and IINR Reporting Linit Change
Urine Specific Gravity & Ph Reference Range Change

April Communiqué 2009

Laboratory Operations
Summer Holiday Phlebotomy Hours
ACC Phlebotomy Hours
Ordering Lab Forms
Maximum Sample Load Per Bag
Staffing in Cytopathology

Test News
Ketone Change
A1C Test Code Change
Alpha Fetoprotein Stability
Water Testing Change
CPT Code Update

Compliance
Pregnancy & the PAP Smear
New Required Information for ABN's
New LCD's
Irradiated Blood Products
Parathyroid Hormones (PTH)
RAST Type Test
Syphilis Testing
Viral Hepatitis Testing
More Medicare Coverage Decisions on the Horizon

January Communiqué 2009

Laboratory Operations
What's in a name?
Special Send Outs
Courier Pickups

Test News
HIV Consent
Test Schedule Changes
Porphobilinogen
Hepatitis Reference Range
Estimated Average Glucose (eAG)Hemoccult Slides
CSF Electrophoresis Change
Vitamin D 1, 25 Volume Change
Lead Demographic Update
Collect Date for Quad Markers

Compliance Update
Ordering PSA & FREPSA

October Communiqué 2008

Laboratory Operations
Patient Service Center Hours
Laboratory Newsletter Print
Duplicate Physician Orders
Proper disposal of Sharps

Test News
LPR Change in Reference Ranges
Low Vitamin D May Raise Death Risk
HIV Testing
Cytomegalovirus: Tests For Diagnosing Infection Ordering Parasitology Examinations

Compliance Update
Magnesium Testing
Hepatic Function Panel Immunohistochemistry
Lipid Profile/Cholesterol testing
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
Flow Cytometry

July 2008 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Patient Service Center Hours
Mayo Pediatric Book
New Paper for Lab Reports
From the Lab Bench
Getting Samples Ready for the Lab

Test News
Buprenorphine Test Change
Celiac disease Testing
Cortisol Stim. Test vs ACTH Quantification

Compliance Update
New ABN Form on Horizon

April 2008 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Blood Collection Device Change
Provider On-Call Changes

Test News
Amniotic Fluid AFP Reporting
Insulin Reference Range Update
Hepatitis B Viral DNA Assay
A1c Reference Range Update
Cessation of LAP Testing
Change in Reference Lab: HIT

Compliance Update
Update on Medicare LCDs:
BNP Testing
hsCRP Testing
Update on Reflex Testing Policy:
Cytogenetic Testing On Soft Tissue And Bone Tumors

January 2008 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
Holiday Phlebotomy Hours
Phlebotomy cards

Test News
Poly stat® Mono Test
Testing for Vitamin D

Compliance Update
New LCD's
Sed Rate
Homocysteine
Acid Phosphatase; Total & Prostatic
Plasma vs Serum Glucose

Test Updates
Cystic Fibrosis Gene Mutation
Factor V Leiden Mutation
Prothrombin G20210A Mutation
Genetic Informed Consent Form

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