Test request

All specimens must be accompanied by the standard laboratory requisition form (PER-PAT-301) except otherwise specified.

All requisition form must be filled in completely, signed and stamped by HO, MO, or specialist.

Clinical history and provision must be provided and clearly written.

For culture request, state important information such as whether antimicrobial treatment administered or planned for the patient management. 

For non-culture request, it is important to document disease onset so as to guide the appropriate test to be done. 

Specimen container for each patient should be labelled and placed into one biohazard plastic bag and stapled to request form.

All specimens must be sent to the respective counters (refer to page 2). 

All requests from wards and clinics should be accompanied by despatch book.

Pneumatic tube system is ONLY available in Integrated Laboratory. 

Specimen that CANNOT be sent via pneumatic tube:

1. All Urgent Tests

2. Haematology Tests

3. Arterial / venous blood gases

4. Biological fluid (Urine, CSF, Pleural fluid, etc.)

5. COVID/ PAW/ SARI/ PUI samples

Urgent requests must be justified by clinical history, diagnosis, and reason for urgency.

All urgent requests must be communicated directly to the Medical Officer/Pathologist in charge or on-call. 

The word URGENT must be stamped or written (in red ink) on the upper right-hand corner of the request form.

Urgent requests must be separated from non-urgent requests.

The Laboratory accepts add-on tests in the following situations:

1. Additional test on samples already sent to the laboratory.

2. Received approval by the Laboratory Medical Officer / Pathologist.

All add-on tests must be followed by confirmatory request forms within a specified timeframe.

Refer to specific units and test for details on add-on tests.

The Laboratory accepts oral request in the following situations:

1. When an early result/report is required.

2. When laboratory approval/consultation is needed before sending the samples.

3. Additional test on samples already sent to the laboratory.

All oral requests must be followed by confirmatory request forms within a specified timeframe.

Refer to specific units and test for details on oral requests.

Lab will inform the first critical result via phone according to current guidelines.

Lab results can be viewed via Lab information system (Web-based). 

Please refer to person-in-charge in respective wards/clinics regarding the access to the system.

Requests that DO NOT FULFILL the laboratory requirement WILL BE REJECTED. 

Criteria for rejections are:

1. No patient name or identification number 

2. No location (ward/ clinic/ hospital) 

3. Test name not stated 

4. Contaminated form (details illegible) 

5. No requestor's / specialist’s name, signature or stamp 

6. No clinical summary / required clinical details (including tests) 

7. No date and time of specimen taken 

8. Incomplete donor declaration (drug of abuse) 

9. Wrong form 

10. Incomplete labelling (Name / IC/ Test Name) 

11. Information on form and label not tally 

12. Wrong container/fixative 

13. Hemolysed 

14. Blood clotted 

15. Improper specimen volume (underfilled/overfilled) 

16. Specimen leaking 

17. Specimen not sealed / seal query broken 

18. Specimen decomposed/degenerated 

19. Wrong specimen/ wrong sampling time 

20. Unsatisfactory specimen/slides 

21. Tube/container expired 

22. Repeated test 

23. Test not done after office hours 

24. Test not indicated 

25. Test not offered 

26. Sharing form (multiple test) 

27. No sample received

28. Error in remote demography.

The rejection comment and the suggestion (if applicable) will be available in the LIS.