• Turn-Around Times
• Requisitions
• Specimen Acceptance Policy
• Sites for Anaerobic Cultures

Turn-Around Times

STAT Requests

Gram stains are the only Microbiology tests routinely available on a STAT basis. STAT requests for any other tests must have the Microbiologist’s approval.  For most specimens, Gram stains results will be phoned within 60 minutes of receipt in the testing laboratory, depending on the specimen type and preparation time.

Protocol for Sending STAT Specimens

Capital Region Hospitals

• submit STAT specimen to the site laboratory.
• the STAT request must be clearly marked on the requisition along with all the pertinent patient, specimen and test request information.
• include name and phone number of Nursing Unit or person to contact with results.

For all other locations submitting to DynaLIFE_Dx

Please phone Microbiology with the STAT request at (780) 447-8499, ext. 8227. Have the following information available:

• name of submitting location
• name of patient
• specimen type and tests requested
• method of transport/delivery
• name and phone number of contact person (should specimen not arrive in expected time frame).

The STAT request must be clearly marked on the package and accompanying requisition along with all the pertinent patient, specimen and test request information.

*Include name and phone number of person to contact with results.

Routine Cultures

Preliminary results are usually available 1 day after receipt. Antimicrobial susceptibility results are usually available 2 days after receipt of the specimen. Negative cultures are held 2 - 10 days depending on specimen source.

Anaerobic Cultures

Preliminary results are usually available 3 days after receipt. Negative cultures are held 5 days.

Fungal Cultures

Preliminary results are available after 1-2 days. Negative cultures are held 4 weeks.

Parasitology

Results from stool examination for ova and parasites are routinely available within 2 days.

Virology

Viral detection studies are performed at UAH / Provincial Laboratory of Public Health (Virology). STAT RSV testing is available at the Rapid Response Laboratories during RSV season (approx. Nov-June).

Mycobacteriology

Cultures for Mycobacteria are performed at UAH/Provincial Laboratory of Public Health (Mycobacteriology). Positive results on new patients are phoned immediately, then reported; negative reports may take up to 12 weeks. STAT AFB stains are available through UAH/Provincial Laboratory.

Specimen Acceptance Policy

Proper specimen procurement, specimen labelling, specimen handling and requisition information are critical for valid and timely laboratory test results.  The information provided to the laboratory must be sufficient to positively identify the patient so that patient care will not be compromised.

DynaLIFE_Dx Microbiology will reject specimens not meeting necessary standards.  See the following list for reasons laboratory testing will be delayed or test will not be performed:

Unlabelled Specimens

• Specimens received in the laboratory without a name identifier are considered unlabelled and will not be processed.

Mislabelled Specimens

• A specimen is considered mislabelled if the information on the specimen does not match the patient information on the requisition.  Specimen name identifiers which do not match the name provided on the requisition will not be processed.

Inadequately Completed Requisitions

• Appropriate information must be recorded on the requisition:
  • Patient full legal name (last and first)
  • Collection time
  • Personal health care number (PHN)
  • Collection date
  • Physician’s name
  • Specimen source
  • Test request
  The laboratory will make every reasonable attempt to contact the physician if critical information is missing from the requisition, however, there may be instances where contact is not possible.  Inadequately completed requisitions may result in delayed testing and/or the specimen being rejected for processing.

Specimens Which Pose Hazardous Handling Conditions

• The following pose a safety hazard to laboratory staff:
  • specimens submitted in syringes with attached needles.
  • cracked or leaking containers with external contamination
  • specimens contaminated by breakage or leakage from other specimens.
  • specimens received in inappropriate containers.
  Specimens received that pose a danger to laboratory personnel and compromise the specimen will not be processed.

Unsatisfactory or Suboptimal Specimens

• Unsatisfactory or suboptimal specimens include:
  • specimen collection problems including wrong collection device, container or preservative
  • specimen handling problems, including packaging, transportation, temperature and storage
  • specimen integrity problems, i.e. delay in transport
  • insufficient specimen for the test procedure
  Each specimen will be evaluated on an individual basis.  If collection, handling or specimen quality is determined to be unacceptable, the test will not be performed.

Excessive Number of Tests or Specimens

• Repeat cultures from the same source may be rejected. Excessive culturing from the same source gives no new information.  Repeat cultures at appropriate time intervals will conserve resources and yield more clinically useful information.

Poor Quality Sample

• Some specimens are determined to be of poor quality and will not be cultured.  Sputum cultures will be rejected if microscopic screening suggests oropharyngeal contamination.

Transportation of the Specimen to the Laboratory

Microbiological organisms are adversely affected by a variety of environmental conditions.   It is essential to maintain specimen integrity from the time of specimen collection to the moment the specimen is processed in the laboratory.

Prompt submission of the specimens to the Microbiology laboratory increases the recovery of fastidious and anaerobic organisms.  If transport to the laboratory will be delayed, please refer to the Specimen Collection Guidelines for specific specimen storage recommendations and transport advice.

SITES FOR ANAEROBIC CULTURES

The success of isolating anaerobic organisms depends on carefully collected specimens from appropriate sites and proper transport to the laboratory.

ACCEPTABLE SPECIMENS FOR ANAEROBIC CULTURE