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Department of Pathology Reference Testing Policy |
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Ordering sendout tests through BWH Department of Pathology |
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Introduction
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A reference
laboratory formulary has been established for all reference laboratory tests (“sendout
tests”, “sendouts”) that can be ordered by BWH clinicians. The formulary has been
set up by the Advanced Laboratory Diagnostics Review Committee in collaboration with experts in individual clinical areas. It includes the status of all tests that can be
ordered through the BWH Laboratory, including the approved reference lab for sendout
testing.
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Sendout test requests fall into one of the four following categories, each to be handled in a different manner:
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1.
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Unrestricted |
Unrestricted
sendouts will be automatically sent to a predetermined CLIA certified reference
lab upon specimen receipt in the BWH Clinical Laboratories Lab Control. |
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2.
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Restricted |
Restricted sendouts will be sent to a predetermined CLIA certified
reference lab upon specimen receipt in the BWH Clinical Laboratories Lab Control provided specific prerequisites are met. All complex genetic and other expensive tests fall into this category. |
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3.
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Unauthorized
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Unauthorized sendouts were deemed not appropriate for BWH patients when reviewed by the Advanced Laboratory Diagnostics Review Committee and will not be sent to a reference lab. These include but are not limited to Research Use Only
(RUO) and Investigational Use Only (IUO) tests.
Physicians ordering these tests will be notified that the testing will not be performed.
An alternative unrestricted or restricted test may be offered and the order will
be modified accordingly if the ordering clinician agrees with the change.
If there is no alternative approved test, the order will be canceled and the sample
will be discarded. |
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4.
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Undefined |
Undefined sendouts will not be sent to a reference lab, except in the case of medical emergency or irreplaceable specimen, which must be indicated on the requisition. Undefined sendouts include tests that are not registered
in BICS/LMR, have no assigned reference laboratory, sample requirements, and/or
charge code and tests where the clinician is requesting an alternative
lab other than the one for which the test is defined. |
Physicians ordering non-emergency undefined
sendouts will be asked to submit a written proposal justifying the importance of this test for BWH patient care. This
proposal will be reviewed by the Advanced Laboratory Diagnostics Review Committee
which will classify the test as unrestricted, restricted, or unauthorized.
Undefined sendouts will be classified as
a medical emergency test request if the test is
urgently needed for a medical care decision and/or the specimen is irreplaceable. This includes specimens collected
from a procedure that cannot be repeated without jeopardizing the patient’s safety
(i.e. a surgical specimen). Emergency
tests will be handled as exceptions and, after a real-time discussion between the
lab, the clinical service and the Committee members, will be sent out once, upon
receipt in Lab Control. Any subsequent
requests for the same test will require that the test has been added to the formulary
with the full Committee review and approval process.
An updated list of
Unrestricted and Restricted sendout tests can be found at
http://bwhpathology.partners.org/labmanual.aspx,
which includes (1) the test name used by the reference laboratory, (2) the approved
reference laboratory, (3) specimen/fluid type, (4) test category as described above,
(5) the type of restriction if the test falls into the Restricted category and (6)
additional information, such as whether or not the reference laboratory is billing
BWH or directly billing the patient.
Procedure
Physicians who wish to request a sendout
test should follow this procedure:
1.
Consult the online catalog of defined sendout tests and predetermined reference
laboratories at
http://bwhpathology.partners.org/labmanual.aspx,
2.
If the test is Unrestricted, then the
sample may be submitted as any other in-house lab test.
3.
If the test is Restricted, it will be listed
as such under the test name at
http://bwhpathology.partners.org/labmanual.aspx. If the restriction
includes an approval by a member of the Advanced Laboratory Diagnostic Review Committee,
contact the clinician specified on the website.
a. If
the testing is approved submit the sample and indicate on the requisition that pre-approval
has been received.
b.
If the testing is not approved, do not collect a sample and do not request the test.
4.
If the test is Unauthorized, do not
collect a sample and do not request the test.
5.
If the test is not listed, then it falls into the
Undefined category. Do not
collect a sample unless it is a medical emergency, in which case the appropriate
Medical Director should be notified prior to specimen collection and submission
and the emergent nature of the test request should be indicated on the requisition.
6.
If you plan to order such test in the future, complete and submit the “
New Test
Request Form” to the Reference Testing Coordinator.
You will be contacted by a member of the Advanced Laboratory Diagnostics
Review Committee who will work with you to better understand the need for this test,
and present the data to the Committee for review. You will be notified about the
Committee’s decision in a timely manner.
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| < | Wednesday, May 16, 2012 | > |
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