Communique

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 Communique′

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 Communique′

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

April 2011 Laboratory Communiqué

Laboratory Operations
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Changes to Outpatient Phlebotomy

Tech Tips
Getting Ready for Your Courier Pick-up
 

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

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

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