Provider Notifications and Memos
Notifications and Technical Bulletins
May 15, 2008
Standardization & Centralization of Highland Hospital Cytology & Surgical Pathology Reports
Changes will allow us to reduce report delivery time by at least 24 hours, improve Quality Assurance tracking, and assist in problem resolution.
April 25, 2008
Anticoagulation Therapy & the Use of PTT, anti-Xa, PT/INR
Laboratory testing is frequently needed for managing anticoagulant therapy, but some issues have come to our attention based on reviews of current patterns of test use.
April 1, 2008
Adjusted hours at 1820 South Clinton Avenue Patient Service Center (PSC)
The new hours are Monday- Friday 8:30 am – 12:30 pm; a listing of other Brighton area PSCs includes 1815 South Clinton Avenue, 300 Meridian Center, & 125 Lattimore Road.
March 24, 2008
Coagulation specimen transport requirements
All coagulation testing samples are requested to be delivered at room temperature, and in certain instances need to be tested within four hours of collection.
March 12, 2008
Methodology change for analyzing amphetamine and cocaine metabolite confirmations
Toxicology has switched to Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS), increasing sensitivity and reducing interference; this change also applies to the Fentanyl assay.
March 12, 2008
On Tuesday, March 18th, the following tests will be run in-house: Free Testosterone, Thyroglobulin, ACTH, Anti-Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibody, Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibody (TPO), and Free T3. Please note the corresponding changes in reference ranges.
January 31, 2008
Methodology change for analyzing benzodiazepine confirmations
Toxicology has switched to Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS), increasing sensitivity and reducing interference.
January 31, 2008
Nasopharyngeal "flocked" transport swab
A new "flocked" transport swab for the collection of nasopharyngeal specimens is now available, which offers improvements for both the patient and sample collector.
January 8, 2008
Reproductive Genetics & Maternal Serum Screening programs have new phone & fax numbers due to their recent relocation.
December 13, 2007
New patient service center location (replacing 1860 Buffalo Road PSC)
December 5, 2007
The Automated Laboratory is switching to a new creatinine assay.
December 5, 2007
Homocysteine and other new tests
Now being run in house on a Siemens Diagnostics analyzer: Androstenedione, Beta-2 Microglobulin, C-Peptide, DHEA-SO4, Growth Hormone, Homocysteine, IGF-1, Insulin, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin.
December 5, 2007
Updated review of laboratory test offerings for seasonal viruses.
November 26, 2007
Lead testing is now being performed in-house in Strong's Regional Toxicology Lab.
October 29, 2007
Anaerobic specimen collection and transport
Anaerobic bacterial specimen collections guidelines and Port-A-Cult tube ordering instructions.
June 25, 2007
Changes
in 1st Trimester and Quad Screen Reports
1st Trimester Screening reports will now be formatted in a layout similar to our URMC Quad Screen reports. At the same time, our Maternal Screening software will be adjusted to provide all risk calculations in terms of "risk at the time of screening".
May 18, 2007
1st Trimester Screening Update
Since 1st Trimester Screening became available in Rochester in Fall of 2004, its popularity has exploded. Here's some important tips regarding its use and limitations.
May 4, 2007
New Appointment - Dr. Rana Hoda Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory
Dr. Rana Hoda will join our Department in September as Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory.
March 19, 2007
Maternal Serum AFP Screening for Neural Tube Defects
In our continuing effort to refine our Maternal Serum Screening Program, we are using new analytical software with improved methods to identify women at increased risk for open neural tube defects (NTD's).
January 11, 2007
PSA Testing
Starting on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, the laboratory will complete the Total PSA conversion and offer Bayer test results exclusively.
November 22, 2006
2006-2007 Winter Virus Season
Review of laboratory test offerings for the "winter" viruses.
October 19, 2006
Coagulation Testing (memo, reference
ranges)
Switch to new instrumentation for high-volume coagulation tests. Changes in reference ranges for PT, INR, APTT, Fibrinogen, Thromb Time, D-dimer, and Factor Assays.
September 15, 2006
Discontinuation of Troponin T
On Tuesday, September 19, 2006, the laboratory completed conversion to the Bayer Ultra Troponin I assay and discontinued Troponin T.
August 1, 2006
Revised Labeling Requirements in Accordance with National Patient Safety Goals
It is the policy of Strong Memorial Hospital that all Clinical Laboratory specimens submitted to the laboratory for testing require complete and consistent labeling on the specimen and requisition.
June 15, 2006
Changes in Cardiac Markers, Fertility Hormones, Digoxin, intact PTH and HCG
(pdf)
Reference Range Changes (pdf)
June 27, 2006 move of immunoassay tests to new instruments made by Bayer Diagnostics, Phase II, with changes in reference ranges and collection tube changes for PTH and BNP (both change from an SST to a LAVENDAR TOP tube).
June 15, 2006
Changes in Thyroid Function Tests, Tumor Markers and Anemia Markers (pdf)
Reference Range Changes (xls)
June 20, 2006 move of immunoassay tests to new instruments made by Bayer Diagnostics, Phase I, with changes in reference ranges.
March 27, 2006
Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Testing (pdf)
Beginning on April 3rd, 2006, the laboratory will begin reporting both the qualitative and quantitative results for anti-HBs...