Page 43 - COVID-19 Inpatient Training Resources

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

Table 1.0 List of restricted lab tests for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients SJHC
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
Medicine is imminent major surgery.
 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. 6277
Manual microscopic urine testing not done
Biochemistry
A1C delayed TAT up to 7 days.
TAT delays will occur for some tests (eg. SPE, IFA, ELISA)
Immunology
All STAT requests still require approval by Biochemist ext. 6263
CSF cell Count not performed
Haematology Body Fluid Differentials not performed.
Urine Eosinophil not performed.
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 Hematology Consult Dr. Kim or Dr. Blondal
All test send out to external labs (except SMH) require approval from Biochemist ext.
Specimen Receiving
6263
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

SPECIMEN COLLECTION & LABELLING:
 Collect specimens using appropriate precautions as per .infection prevention and control
 Label ALL specimens with patient information and double bag. Place a fluorescent green
“PRECAUTION” sticker on the outside of the sealed the bag
 If ordering in Soarian/ Sunrise, place the extra specimen labels in the outer pocket of the outer
biohazard bag so that registration clerk does not have to open the bag to retrieve patient
information for registration in the lab.
 If using a paper requisition, place the completed requisition in the outer pocket of the biohazard
bag.

SPECIMEN TRANSPORTATION
 HAND-DELIVER ALL SPECIMEN. DO NOT SEND SPECIMENS VIA PNEUMATIC TUBE.
 For offsite centers, transport specimens in approved TDG (Transportation of Dangerous Goods)
approved packaging under appropriate temperature. See Specimen collection manual for
information: http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/programs/labs/tests/

TEST RESULTS
 Due to special handling in the lab, there may be a delay for some test results
 Please DO NOT call the lab for COVID-19 results. Kindly check test results in Soarian/ Sunrise,
Connecting Ontario.

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