Lab Updates

Important announcements regarding tests, procedures and results are reported approximately once per month on this Web page:

May 2010  
Laboratory Testing/Reporting of Antibody to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) | Specimen Handling | JAK2 Exons 12 and 13 Sequencing Testing

April 2010  
Genetic Testing | Changes in Specimen Labeling Requirements | Changes in BNP and ACTH Specimen Collection Requirements

March 2010  
Quad Maternal Screen Test (QUAD) | Hemoglobin A1C for the Diagnosis of Diabetes | HIV (OHIV) Serology Testing | Featured Patient Service Center

February 2010  
UMass Memorial Laboratories - Health Alliance | Involuntary Weight Loss | Featured Patient Service Centers

January 2010  
Celiac Disease | Patient Service Center Locations | Featured Patient Service Center

December 2009  
Drugs of Abuse [DOA] Testing in Urine | DNA Sequence analysis for Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome and Weyers Acrofacial Dysostosis | Arthritis | Highlights of the Educational Symposium

November 2009  
Specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Allergen Tests | Spurious Hyperbilirubinemia Caused by Naproxen | Change in Cytomegalovirus Quantitative Testing | Sequencing Assay for Detecting Pompe Disease Mutations | HBV Quantitation by PCR (COBAS TaqMan) | Enterovirus Detection Assay by Real Time PCR | Featured patient Service Center

September/October 2009  
Proteinuria | Evaluation of Pleural Effusions | Insert: Educational Symposium | Featured patient Service Center

August 2009  
Changes in Syphilis Testing | Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Testing Update | Featured patient Service Center

July 2009  
Specific Ummunoglobulin E (IgE) Allergen Tests | Spurious Hyperbilirubinemia Caused by Naproxen

June 2009  
Fatigue | Genomic Microarray Analysis | Featured Patient Service Center

May 2009  
Changes in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Lyme Serology Test Reports | Sexually Transmitted Diseases

April 2009  
The Anemias | Use of Creatinine Output as a Check on the Completeness of 24 Hour Urine Collections | HIV-1 Quantitation and Hepatitis C Virus Quantitation by PCR (COBAS TaqMan) | Changes in Dilute Russell Viper Venom Time | RVP Panel Stability | QuantiFERON-TB Gold in Tube Assay Now Available | Laboratory Supply Distribution Center Updates | New Vacuette Coagulation Tube Labels

March 2009  
Thyroid Function Tests | Estimated Average Blood Glucose (eAG): A new way to talk to patients about diabetes management | Laboratory Supply Distribution Center Updates | | Featured Patient Service Center

February 2009  
Laboratory Confirmation of Pertussis Infection | Specimen Validity and Drug Testing | New Respiratory Viral Panel Test | Addendum to Changes in Free Testosterone and Bioavailable Testosterone Testing | Special Coagulation Requirements | Changes in H.Pylori, HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG Serology Test Reports

January 2009  
Serum Protein Electrophoresis and Immunofixation | Hypercalcemia | Lab Test Collection Alerts | Featured Patient Service Center

December 2008  
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) Testing | Changes in IgG Antibodies to Glomerular Basement Membrance (GBM) Testing | Non-Invasive Test for the Diagnosis of Heliobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) Infection (UBT) | Changes in Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella IgG Serology Test Reports | Changes in Free Testosterone and Bioavailable Testosterone Testing | Comprehensive HLA Testing | Labeling Guides for Blood Specimens | Featured Patient Service Center

November 2008  
Lab Evaluation for the Jaundiced Patient | Quantitative Urine Chemistry Tests: 24 Hr vs. Random Urine | Patient Service Center Locations in New England | Featured Patient Service Center

October 2008  
New Immunoassay Based Fecal Occult Blood Test (FIT) | Sample Preparation for Uric Acid Testing in Patients Receiving Rasburicase (ELITEK) Therapy | New IgG Cased ELISA Assay for Diagnosis of Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia | Methicillin-Resistant Stahpylococcus aureus Detection - Two Choices | Tips for a Successful Coagulation Blod Draw | Featured Patient Service Center

September 2008  
UMass Memorial Medical Center Accreditation | VKORC1 Sequencing | Sequencing Assay for Detecting Fabry Disease Mutations | Molecular UGT1A1 DNA Assay | Lab Start Award for "Lab Values/Mission" | Featured Patient Server Center

August 2008  
Optimal Level of Vitamin D | Varicella IgG (VARG) Test Tange Changes | Hemoglobin Evaluation (HGBSCR) Test Changes | Lupus Screen Changes | Patient Service Centers in Central Massachusetts | New Patient Service Center - Worcester, MA

July 2008  
Laboratory Document Control Center | Malaria Update | Featured Patient Service Center - Enfield, CT

June 2008  
Streptococcal Antibody Tests | Changes in CA 27.29 Testing | Reference Range Changes | Featured Patient Service Center - Hartford, CT

April 2008  
Human Cardiolipin Antibodies, IgG, IgM and IgA by Enzyme Immunoassay | Reference Range Changes | Phosphorous Assay Interference Alert | New Procedure for Detection of Cytogenetic Aberrations in Plasma Cell Dyscrasia | Rapid Prenatal Flourescence in Situ Hybridization | Specimen Requirement Changes | New Patient Service Center - Westerly, RI

March 2008  
Creatinine Standardization | Changes in Lamotrigene (Lamictal) Testing | Updates to the Lab Test Directory | Special Coagulation Assays | JAK2 Qualitative Assay for Bone Marrows | Hepatitis B Quantitative Testing | Specimen Requirement Changes/Clarifications | Featured Patient Service Center - Marlboro Lakeview

January 2008  
Direct Group A Streptococcus Detection, Gen-Probe | Full Throat Culture Screens | Supplies Contact Information | Changes in urine Opiate Confirmation and Quantitation Testing | Updates to the Lab Test Directory | Featured Patient Service Center - Worcester

November 2007  
Noninvasive Tests for the Diagnosis of Heliobactor Pylori (H.Pylori) Infection | Changes in Triglyceride Testing | Laboratory Confirmation of Pertussis Infecion | New Patient Service Center - Marlboro | Specimen Submission Form

October 2007  
Directly Measured LDL vs. Calculated LDL | Change in Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) Antibody Testing | New Test: Hemoglobin S Quantitative | Changes in Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) Metabolite Testing| Change in C. Difficile Testing | Change in 10-OH Progesterone Testing | Update on Special Coagulation Assays | New Patient Service Center - Attleboro

August 2007  
Fractional Excretion of Sodium (FENa) | Changes in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Serology Testing| Changes in Lyme Serology Testing | Testing for Shellfish Allergy | Changes in Varicella-Zoster Serology Testing | Changes in C-Peptide Testing | Update on DVT D-Dimer Assay | New Patient Service Center Opens in Cumberland, Rhode Island

June/July 2007  
Change in Cytomegalovirus Quantitative Virus | Consent and History Form Reminders | General Reminders | New Patient Service Center Opens in Raynham | Sample Forms

May 2007  
Patient Height Information is Required for Warfarin Dose Guideline Calculation when Requesting the Anti-Coagulation Pharmacogenetic Panel | Examination of Fecal Specimens for Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other Parasites | New Test: Oxycodone and Oxymorphone | Reference Range Changes for Coagulation Testing | Patient Service Center (PSC) Locations | New Patient Service Center Opens

April 2007  
Non-HDL Cholesterol as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Diabetes | Changes in Therapeutic Drugs Testing Specimen Requirements; RED TOP (No Gel) vs SST (GEL) Tubes | Changes in HIV Serology Testing | New Patient Service Center Opens | Patient Service Center (PSC) Locations

February 2007  
Measurement of Ammonia in Blood| Changes in Serum Ketone (ACE or BHY) Testing| Changes in Zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP) Testing | Clarification Regarding the Anticoagulation Pharmacogenetic Panel

December 2006 - January 2007  
Changes in Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Testing | Recommendations for Ordering D-Dimer Assay | Reference Range Changes | Patient Service Center (PSC) Locations

November 2006  
Changes in HCV Genotype Testing | Reference Range Changes | Laboratory Confirmation of Pertussis Infection

October 2006  
Changes in Testosterone and Free Testosterone Testing | Changes in Ferritin Testing | Changes in C_Reactive Protein (CRP) Testing | Changes in Measles, Mumps and Rubella IgG Test Reference Changes | Changes in Cytomegalovirus Quantitative Testing | Sample Submission Change for Stone Risk Testing | Changes in Urine Toxicology Screening | Additional Testing Changes | Patient Service Center Move

September 2006  
Changes in Maternal Serum Screening | Changes in Testing for PNH| Changes in Performing the Ristocetin Cofactor Assay | Changes in Reporting of i-STAT Potassium | Critical Value Changes

August 2006  
Changes in Maternal Serum Screening | Recommendations for Use of Molecular Diagnostic Requisition and Genetic Consent Form | Changes in Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Test (ACTH) | Changes in 17 Alpha-Hydroxy Progesterone Resulting | Changes in Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Testing | Chlamydia and Neisseria Gonorrhea Urine Collection | Reference Range Changes | Tube Recall

July 2006  
Sputum Culture Specimen Collection | New Test: Protein-Creatinine Ratio | Changes in Lipoprotein-a Testing | Recommendations for Specimen Collection and Processing | Workup for a Patient with Suspected Hemostatic Diathesis | Sedimentation Rate Methodology Change | Reference Range Changes | Critical Value Changes

June 2006  
Lyme Disease Testing| Changes in High Sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) Reporting Units | Changes in Alpha-FeteoProtein (AFP) Reporting Units | Changes in Urine Cannabinoids Confirmation Testing | Reference Range Changes | Specimen Requirements Change: LDL Subclasses | New Test: Osmolal Gap | Changes to Platelet Aggregation Studies | Molecular Testing for Genetic Diseases | Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetic Testing | Genetic Testing Support Services | Phone System Upgrade Notification | | New Patient Service Center Locations | New Laboratory Report Format

April 2006  
Cell Counts on Body Fluids | Absolute CD4+ T Cell Counts by Flow Cytometry | JAK-2 (Janus Kinase-2) Gene Testing | Carrier Screening for Cystic Fibrosis DNA Mutations | New Patient Service Center Locations

March 2006  
Changes in Erythropoietin (EPO) Testing | Specimen Requirement and Testing Changes | Quantitative BCR/ABL Replaces Ultraquant® Assay for Bone Marrow Specimens | Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM): Optimal Specimen Collection Times in Relation to Drug Dosing

January/February 2006  
Changes in Thyroid Testing Hormone | Change in CA19-9 Testing | Renin Testing Availability | Osmotic Fragility Testing Availability | Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) | Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in Treated CLL Patients | Carrier Screening for Cystic Fibrosis | Cytokines and Growth Factor Assays | Reference Range Changes

December 2005  
Urinalysis Methodology Change | Lead Testing Methodology Change | 17-α- Hydroxyprogesterone (17-α-OHP) | Fecal Occult Blood (Guaiac) Testing | Schistocyte Reporting on Peripheral Smears | CPT Code Changes for 2006

October/November 2005  
Quantitative BCR/ABL Assay Replaces Ultraquant Assay | Division of Anatomic Pathology Has Moved | New Patient Service Center | Molecular Genetics Test Ordering Changes | Stool Culture Billing Modification | Changes in Drugs of Abuse (DOA) Tests in Urine | Changes in Urine Amylase Testing | Changes in Vitamin B12 Reference Range | New Test: Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) Stimulation Test | New Test: Growth Hormone Stimulation Test

   
   

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