NE Laboratory

Appointments versus Walk-ins

All laboratory visits for specimen collection can be walk-in and do not necessarily need an appointment. However, many patients do like to make appointments and can do so at any time. Please remember:

Fasting labs need a minimum of 10 hours of fasting (water only and black coffee).

Wet preps need to be reviewed ASAP. Please give specimen to nursing upon collection or deliver to the laboratory. Do not apply saline if you want pH done.

Current Orders

When laboratory orders are pended they need to be signed prior to laboratory staff can release for use and specimen collection.

Ordering future tests

If you order multiple labs but want some done at a later date (not the date of the patient visit), either tell lab staff on the purple sheet so they know what to draw (purple sheet) or date the labs to be drawn at a later date when you order them. Order all of these tests as future tests. Northeast Laboratory staff will provide directions to the patient.

Skin excision/biopsy pathology

If you do a biopsy/excision of lesion at Northeast you need to use a smart set to order dermatopathology and not surgical pathology. All specimens should be labeled with patient information prior to routing to the laboratory department. Use the smartset for pathology See workflow diagram below for more detailed information regarding labeling of specimens.

STI tests

The typical STI blood tests panel includes HIV antibody 1 and 2, RPR confirm if positive, Hep C Ab and tests for Hep B (if not immune) and GC/chlamydia (urine or cervical. For a urine GC/chlamydia, the patient needs to have not urinated for 1 hr before the test.

Specimen Collection

For collecting and labeling tissue containers, see the workflow diagram below

For questions about labs (like which swab to use for a culture), walk to lab and ask the lab staff. They are very helpful!