Page 42 - COVID-19 Inpatient Training Resources

COVID-19 – Specimen Collection and Transportation Instructions for NP and Throat Swabs
Version 8
April 24th, 2020

COVID-19: Laboratory Tests for Suspected (PUI) or

Confirmed COVID-19 patients

PURPOSE
The Department of Laboratory Medicine, Unity Health Toronto is committed to providing high quality
medical care to all patients and to ensuring the safety of all patients, healthcare workers, staff and visitors.
COVID-19 is classified as a Risk Group 3 organism. Specimens collected from PUI and positive patients
can pose a biohazard risk to the laboratory staff.
This document is created to provide guidance to clinicians when ordering, collecting and transporting
specimens to laboratory

TEST ORDERING:

 COVID test can be ordered in Soarian/ Sunrise and/or using PHOL requisitions.
 All other tests can continue to be ordered as per usual methods, however some restrictions may
apply for certain tests to avoid any exposure to laboratory staff (Please table 1.0 below).

Table 1.0 List of restricted lab tests for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients SMH
Laboratory Section Restrictions imposed on the following tests

 Compatibility testing (group and screen, ABO verification, crossmatch) on
patients suspected/confirmed to have COVID-19 will only be performed if a
patient’s hemoglobin is less than 80g/L, or there is significant bleeding, or there
Transfusion is imminent major surgery.
Medicine
 Other transfusion medicine tests (DAT, cold agglutinin, isohemagglutinin titre,
etc.) on patients suspected/confirmed to have COVID-19 will require approval
by the Head of Transfusion Medicine or delegate ext. 5084
Biochemistry Manual microscopic urine testing not done
Special tests (e.g. tumor markers, hormones, vitamins, stones, lipids etc.) require
Special Chemistry
approval from Biochemist ext. 5125
TAT delays will occur for some tests (eg. SPE, IFA, ELISA)
Immunology
All STAT requests still require approval by Biochemist ext. 13-6263
Haematology Bronchio-alveolar lavage (BAL) cell count not performed.
Flow Cytometry BAL fluid specimens require approval from Hematology Medical Director ext. 5125

Any special coagulation studies beyond PT/ PT1:1, APTT/ 1:1, TT, fibrinogen, anti-
Coagulation Testing Xa, DOAC, D-dimer, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, Unfractionated Heparin,
LMW Heparinrequire approval from Coagulation Medical Head ext. 5123
All test send out to external labs (except SJHC) require approval from Biochemist
Specimen Receiving
ext. 5125
Frozen Sections, Autopsies require approval from Pathology Medical Head ext.
Pathology
5858
Onsite Cytology Evaluations require approval from Cytology Medical Head ext.
Cytology
5850 / 6289

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