January 2022: Changes to Specimen Requirements, Reference Ranges, and More

Special Communication

January 2022: Changes to Specimen Requirements, Reference Ranges, and More

All changes effective February 22, 2022.

Changes to Specimen Requirements

Amylase Isoenzymes (AMYISO)

Alternative Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:
Plasma

Volume:
1 mL

Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL

Collection Container:
Light Green Lithium Heparin PST
Note: Plasma specimens in Sodium Heparin tubes are no longer acceptable.

Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated

Additional Information:
Remove plasma ASAP or within 2 hours of collection.

Beta hCG Quant Tumor Marker (BHCG)

Alternative Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:
Plasma

Volume:
1 mL

Minimum Volume:
0.4 mL

Collection Container:
Light Green Lithium Heparin PST
Note: Plasma specimens in Sodium Heparin tubes are no longer acceptable.

Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated

Additional Information:
Separate plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection and transfer to a standard aliquot tube.

C Telopeptide, Beta Cross Linked (CTELO)

Alternative Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:
Plasma

Volume:
1 mL

Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL

Collection Container:
Lavender K2EDTA

Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated

Additional Information:
Morning fasting specimen preferred.

Patient Prep:
For patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (e.g. greater than 5 mg/day), the specimen should not be drawn until at least 8 hours after the last biotin administration.

Centrifuge and separate plasma from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer plasma to a standard aliquot tube.

HIV 1 Drug Resistance by Next Generation Sequencing (HIVNGS)

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:
Plasma

Volume:
3 mL

Minimum Volume:
2.5 mL

Collection Container:
Lavender K2EDTA

Transport Temperature:
Frozen

Additional Information:
Separate plasma from cells within 24 hours and transfer plasma to a standard aliquot tube. Please submit the most recent viral load and test date, if available.

T3, Uptake (T3U)

Alternative Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:
Plasma

Volume:
1 mL

Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL

Collection Container:
Light Green Lithium Heparin PST
Note: Plasma specimens in Sodium Heparin tubes are no longer acceptable.

Transport Temperature:
Refrigerated

Additional Information:
Separate plasma from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection and transfer to a standard aliquot tube.

Changes to Reference Ranges

Amylase Isoenzymes (AMYISO)

Total Amylase

13-99 Years:
28 – 100 U/L

Pancreatic Amylase

18-99 Years:
13 – 53 U/L

Bioavailable Testosterone/SHBG, Female & Child (BTSTFC)

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin – Female

18-49 Years:
25 – 122 nmol/L

50-99 Years:
17 – 125 nmol/L

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin – Male

18-49 Years:
17 – 56 nmol/L

50-99 Years:
19 – 76 nmol/L

CK Isoenzymes (CKISO)

Creatine Kinase – Female

18 Years and Older:
26 – 192 U/L

Creatine Kinase – Male

18 Years and Older:
39 – 308 U/L

C Telopeptide, Beta Cross Linked (CTELO)

Female, Premenopausal: 
25 – 573 pg/mL

Schistosoma IgG Ab (SCHIST)

Less than 9 U:
Negative – No significant level of Schistosoma IgG antibody detected.

9 – 11 U:
Equivocal – Recommend repeat testing in 2-4 weeks with a fresh sample.

Greater than 11 U:
Positive – IgG antibodies to Schistosoma detected, which may suggest current or past infection.

Changes to Test Build

CYP2C19 – Cytochrome P450 2C19 (2C19CY)

Components Affected

Add component CYP2C19 Phenotype

Test Discontinuations

von Willebrand Disease, Type 2A (VWF) Sequencing Exon 28 with Reflex to 9 Exons (VWFE28)

Reason for Discontinuation:
No longer offered by vendor

Alternative Test:
von Willebrand Disease (VWF) Sequencing (VWFSEQ) – Available 02/26/22

NAbFeron Ab (NABFAB)

Reason for Discontinuation:
No longer offered by vendor