Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory
Outpatient/Regional Laboratory Test Index
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Health System
Regional Hospitals
Mercy Family Care Network Clinics
1000 Fourth Street
Mason City, Iowa 50401
800-243-6086
A greeting from the Medical Director:
Following the Mercy Health Services mission of sharing in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by striving to improve the health and well being of those we serve, Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory strives to provide the utmost in quality laboratory and diagnostic services to our clients.
The Laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, a tradition maintained for over twenty years. In addition, the Blood Bank is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks.
Over one hundred laboratory employees analyze, assess, and report findings on a 24-hour per day basis. Four board certified pathologists oversee the quality and performance of the technical areas, including Hematology, Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology, Blood Bank, Serology, Microbiology, Anatomic Pathology, and Cytology.
The technical functions of the laboratory are supported by competent secretarial and clerical staff, manning the phones, computers, and fax machines to speed reports to clients. Daily specimen pickup is provided to regional customers by a dedicated group of couriers, who take pride in carefully handling and delivering an average of over 500 clinical samples per weekday. In addition, our technical consulting to regional clients keeps them informed and in compliance with the latest methods as well as mandated regulations.
By serving our clients, we display the Mercy values of Mercy, Human Dignity, Justice, Service, and Preference for the Poor. We welcome you to the services and benefits of Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory, and appreciate the opportunity to assist in your therapeutic and diagnostic quests.
Sincerely,
Steven P. Goetz, M.D.
Medical Director
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Laboratory
A. Staff, Client Services, and
Support
Professional Staff
Mercy
Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory Professional Staff
All may be reached through our toll free number, 800-243-6086, or directly:
Steven P. Goetz, M.D. 641-422-7487
Laboratory Medical Director
Chief Pathologist
David C. Sloan, M.D. 641-422-7638
Pathology
Stephen A. Betz, M.D. 641-422-7862
Pathology
Chady Meroueh, M.D. 641-422-6977
Pathology
Rita Baird, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7531
Director of Clinical Laboratory
Valerie Westhoff, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7912
Regional Laboratory Manager
Kent Pitzen, MT(ASCP), CLS, NCA 641-422-7496
Regional Laboratory Technical Consultant
Lora Holding 641-422-7491
Lab Billing Clerk
Rose Hanson 641-422-7258
Lab Support Services
Melissa Eastvold, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7256
Section Supervisor, Core Lab
Pam Gilbert, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7256
Technical Specialist
Mona Kraft-Harle, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7256
Microbiology Supervisor
Marlys Nederhoff, MT(ASCP),BB,SBB 641-422-7256
Section Supervisor, Blood Bank and Serology
Marcia Funk, HT(ASCP) 641-422-7256
Section Supervisor, Histology
Deb Allen, MT(ASCP) 641-422-7812
LIS Supervisor
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Laboratory
CLIA number 16DO384014
CAP number 17594-01
Reference Laboratories used by Mercy
Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN
CLIA number 24DO404292
CAP number 55901-002
University Hygienic Laboratory, Iowa
City, IA
CLIA number 16DO648109
University Hygienic Laboratory, Des
Moines, IA
CLIA number 16DO709301
University of Iowa Hospitals/Clinics, Iowa City, IA
CLIA number 16DO648109
CAP number 52240-002
The Blood Center of Iowa, Des Moines,
IA
CLIA number 16DO383665
Specialty Laboratories, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
CLIA number 05DO550302
Viromed Laboratories, Minnetonka, MN
CLIA number 24DO400424
MedTox Laboratories, St. Paul, MN
24DO665278
Marshfield Laboratories, Marshfield, WI
CLIA number 52DO663760
CAP number 17885-01
United States Drug Testing Lab, INC.
2201 W. Campbell Park Drive
Chicago, IL 60612-354701
CLIA number
14D0712964
Mercy Laboratory's client service staffed by thoroughly trained and experienced personnel, familiar with requests from laboratorians, physicians, and nurses. They provide preliminary and final test results, specimen requirements, any assistance your laboratory may need. Our toll free line is staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Calls outside these hours are answered by laboratory clerical staff or testing personnel in the laboratories. Access client services locally by dialing 422-6086; or call toll free 800-243-6086.
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional laboratory provides full service courier pickup of specimens and delivery of reports to clients Monday through Friday. Hospital clients may request weekend pickups as needed. The courier staff is dedicated to preserving specimen integrity and identification, assuring quality of testing in the preanalytical handling phase. Supplies and requisition forms are delivered to clients through the courier network as well. Contact courier services through Client Services by calling locally at 422-6086; or toll free 800-243-6086.
Mercy Regional Lab Manager and Technical Consultants
The team of Regional Lab Manager and Technical Consultants is your direct link between your laboratory and Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Lab. These team members make regular visits to you, solving problems, correcting billing, setting up new pricing and codes, training you and your staff on new testing and procedures, and with technical or regulatory assistance. You can reach your team directly by phone as well in between visits. Periodic technical visits are provided to assist the laboratory in monitoring internal quality and accuracy of test systems. Documentation is provided in summary form upon completion of the visit for supervisory review.
Validation, Normal Range, Method Studies
To assist you in implementing new procedures, contact the Regional Laboratory Manager or the Technical Consultant to obtain samples, perform data analysis, or to recommend procedures to follow in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
Calibration Services
Quarterly instrument check visits are provided on site to assist your laboratory in upkeep and monitoring of its sensitive equipment. This includes:
Educational seminars and meetings
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory holds bimonthly meetings for hospital and clinic laboratory personnel. Educational information, from basic skills updates to new test offerings and their clinical application, is covered. Regulatory updates, along with networking and sharing of technical expertise among the group, keeps staff up to date and in tune with their profession. Clients may request specific training to address specific needs. Our laboratory technical staff and pathologists are available for speaking engagements and phone consultation, to assist in interpretation of test results and technology. Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Laboratory publishes a news letter called Lab Links that focuses on new tests and information needed by our clients; and other patient and physician oriented literature pieces.
General Laboratory requisitions
Our three-part requisition form, utilized for routine lab tests and microbiology cultures, are preprinted with your facility name and account number. Requisition forms contain commonly ordered tests. Columns are provided for documenting Medical Necessity or Screening test orders. On the reverse is a key to tests included in the panel groupings. Clients are requested to label tubes and requisitions identically, including the patient's full first, last name and middle initial, second patient identifier i.e. date of birth or medical record number, and all other requested information. Complete the billing information and check proper Bill To box if your clinic or hospital is to be billed, or if third party billing/patient billing is to be performed by us. Diagnosis code, verbal diagnosis, signs or symptoms must also be included. The third copy of the requisition may be retained by the referring laboratory. Enclose the first and second copy of the requisition in the biohazard ziplock bag with its specimen. Labels are provided at the top of the form as a second form of positive patient identification, to be placed on specimen tubes or culture samples. Please indicate culture source for microbiology specimens. Complete draw times for therapeutic drug levels. Indicate volume of 24 hour urine collections when aliquots are sent. Creatinine Clearance samples require a serum sample submitted along with the urine aliquot.
Pathology requisitions
Pathology specimen request forms are a pink, four-part form. They are prelabeled with client name and account number. Clients may retain the fourth copy for their records, and submit parts 1-3 with the specimen. Frozen section consultation request forms are a white, two-part form. Clients are requested to label specimens and requisitions identically, including the patient's full first, last name and middle initial, second patient identifier i.e. date of birth or medical record number, and all other requested information. Complete preoperative or clinic visit history related to specimen must be provided. Please complete billing information and check proper Bill To box if your clinic or hospital is to be billed, or if third party billing/patient billing is to be performed by us. The Pathology Associates of Mason City billing information form may also be completed and attached with billing information; or we will accept hospital or computer printouts of admission/billing forms. Diagnosis code, verbal diagnosis, signs or symptoms must also be included.
Cytology requisitions
The cytology requisition is a three-part form. Requisitions are prelabeled with client name and account number. Clients may retain the third copy, and send the first and second copy with the specimen. Clients are requested to label specimens and requisitions identically, including the patient's full first and last name and middle initial. Frosted end glass slide should be labeled in pencil. Include other requested information such as birth date, physician, etc. Complete patient history of LMP, clinical history, medications, and previous pap history. Please complete billing information and check proper Bill To box if your clinic or hospital is to be billed, or if third party billing/patient billing is to be performed by us. We will accept hospital or computer printouts of admission/billing forms; please staple these to the requisition. Diagnosis code, verbal diagnosis, signs or symptoms must also be included.
University Hygienic Laboratories
University Hygienic Laboratory Lead requisition. UHL requests specific patient information for certain assays. Please fill out the UHL form with required information, to accompany the Regional Laboratory General test requisition.
Mayo Medical Laboratories
Use only the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Reference Laboratory forms for Mayo requisitions. If the Mayo Reference Catalog indicates a special form needs to be utilized and it is not supplied in their catalog to be copied and completed, call our Client Services to request needed supplies.
Labels
Specialty labels are available for frozen assays such as PSA, for further testing such as MONOSCREEN IS NEGATIVE when Monolert is requested. Please affix label to requisition.
Mercy Regional Laboratory provides a monthly bill, which includes service date, patient name, test performed, and price. Third party billing is performed by Mercy when patient-billing information is provided, and the PATIENT/INSURANCE box is checked on the requisition. If credits, or a change to third party billing is required, simply provide the information on the Billing Change Form. Return this via your courier and your account will be credited. For pricing errors or other discrepancies, contact the Regional Lab Manager or Technical Consultant for assistance.
Daily Billing Report
The laboratory can provide on a daily basis, a report on surgical pathology charges or microbiology charges generated from specimens and their testing. The daily billing report assists the client in charging appropriate CPT codes and dollar amounts on specimens which, when submitted to the Mercy Regional Laboratory, may not be known what the charges will be.
Pricing
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory has set a tone to compete for its clients with reasonable prices, excellent service, and local support. In a business where lab tests are becoming a commodity, we believe that the patients of Northern Iowa can enjoy VALUE: that is, services performed cost effectively, at the highest quality level possible, expediently, with dignity and respect. Prices are published on a listing corresponding to the tests and abbreviations used in this Lab Test Index. Provided on the price list is Test Name, Test Abbreviation, CPT code, client bill price and Mercy patient bill price. See separate tab for Price List.
A Mercy Regional Laboratory supply request form follows as illustration. Supplies are provided free of charge for transfer tubes, shipping containers and biohazard bags, forms, and catalogs. Supplies are shipped immediately on request or availability.
Labels for shipping specialty tests or specimens requiring special handling are also furnished.
Requisition forms are provided as needed for Blood, Pathology, and Cytology testing, and will be preprinted when supplied with client identity.
See the following pages for supply request form and supplies provided.
C. Specimens and Specimen Collection
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional
Laboratory takes all measures to complete testing expediently and with care
for quality. Specimen requirements are completely listed in the Laboratory
Test Index for each test. Specimens are to be labeled with full patient name,
medical record number if available or second patient identifier, date and time
of collection, and initials of collector. Serum separator tubes (gel tubes)
are acceptable if spun adequately, and the Lab Test Index indicates that type
of test is acceptable for use of gel tube. Generally, blood bank and therapeutic
drug monitoring tests cannot use the gel tubes. Culture specimens, urine specimens,
tissue and biopsy specimens should all be labeled on the container's side, not
lid. As above, include patient's full name, medical record number if available,
source of specimen, date and time of collection, and initials of collector.
Computer generated labels are acceptable if they contain the above information
or if this information can be added by the collector. Please put one patient
and one requisition per each biohazard specimen bag. It is recommended to make
out separate requisitions per patient if blood and culture specimens are both
being submitted. Place tube or specimen inside of the zip lock portion and
zip closed. Place folded requisition inside pocket of bag.
Collection Procedures
2. After cleansing the puncture site with an alcohol swab, allow the site to air dry and then puncture with a lancet. (Lancets must not puncture deeper than 2.4 mm deep.) Wipe away the first drop of blood as it is contaminated with tissue fluid. There may be a one to two minute lag after puncturing before the blood starts flowing freely. Enhance blood flow by holding site downward and applying continuous pressure to the surrounding tissue.
3. Collect CBC's in capillary EDTA tubes. After recapping the container, it is important to shake down like shaking down a thermometer as this avoids micro-bubbles and clots. Collect routine chemistries in the serum-separator capillary tubes. Use the plain (not heparinized) capillary tubes if needed.
After collection, sterile gauze is pressed against the site until the bleeding is stopped. It is best not to apply adhesive bandages over puncture sites in children less than two years of age. Label the patient's specimen with a minimum of the draw date and time, collector's initials, patient's full first and last name and a second patient identifier i.e. date of birth or medical record number. Because the quantity of blood removed and the avoidance of injury during specimen collection are important considerations, blood collections by skin puncture may be the technique of choice for obtaining small amounts of blood from some patients. Skin puncture blood specimens are especially useful in pediatric patients and also certain adult cases of severely burned patients, obese patients, patients with tendency for thrombi, geriatric patients and those patients on chemotherapy when venipuncture is used for therapeutic purposes.
Collection Sites:
Sites for collecting skin-puncture blood may include the following:
NOTE: No edema should be present in the puncture site as the accumulated fluid will contaminate the blood specimen.
Fasting Specimen Collection
Fasting, for the laboratory, means absolute restriction of solid and liquid food following the evening meal prior to the specimen collection. Water should be taken in normal amounts to prevent concentration of the blood constituents. Lipoprotein Analysis and Lipid Panels require further dietary restrictions. Nothing should be eaten 12 hours and no alcohol 24 hours prior to specimen collection. The evening meal prior to the test should contain no fatty foods and should be completed before 1800. Contact the physician if there is any question regarding administration of medication during a fast.
Urine Collection
Random collections: For routine analysis and microscopic evaluation, provide the patient with a clean container. Midstream urine collection is recommended.
24-Hour Urine Collection
Containers for 24‑hour urine specimens are to be obtained from the laboratory. The laboratory will need to know which test is ordered so that proper preservative will be placed in the container. Instruct the patient to use caution when handling the container as it may contain an acid preservative. When the 24-hour collection period is to begin, the patient should empty their bladder and discard that urine specimen. All urine collected in the next 24 hours is to be placed in the container. The container should be kept in a cool place during the collection period. At exactly 24 hours after the start of the collection, the patient should empty their bladder and place that urine in the container. Direction cards for collection of 24-hour urine specimens are available from the laboratory. Additional urine containers may be obtained from the Laboratory, which is open 24 hours a day.
NOTE: Creatinine Clearance Test requires that a blood specimen is drawn within 48 hours of urine collection and sent to Mercy Laboratory for serum creatinine.
Specimen Centrifugation
Centrifuges vary in size, capacity, and speed capability. Clinical centrifuge is the name given to tabletop models which can be used for urinalysis or serum separation. These usually have a speed capacity of from 0-3000 rpm (revolutions per minute), and will hold tubes ranging from 5 to 50 ml sizes, depending on the adapters. Micro centrifuges, or microfuges, are also becoming widely used. These will spin special microtubes (0.5-1.5 ml capacity) at high speeds, usually about 12,000 rpm. The speed of the centrifuge should be checked at periodic intervals with the use of a tachometer.
Procedure:
Notes:
Spin samples with the lids on to avoid creating aerosols. Do not open the centrifuge lid until the rotor has stopped spinning. Use only tubes that are specified as appropriate for that particular centrifuge. The sooner centrifugation is accomplished, the more reliable the result. A time limit of 60 minutes is set by the NCCLS between venipuncture and completion of centrifugation.
Mislabeled specimens
If a specimen name and requisition name do not match in spelling, a phone call will be placed to your facility the following morning for clarification. If information is omitted such as doctor name, birthdate, diagnosis, etc., a phone call will be made to your facility the following morning. For culture specimens, if source is omitted, or if test desired is omitted, our policy is to plate the specimen if at all possible, to promote growth of the organisms and turnaround time. A phone call to your facility the following morning will be made to gather the needed information. If requisition name and specimen name are not the same, or, if specimens are unlabeled, specimens cannot be accepted. They will be returned by courier to your facility. Exceptions must be handled by the laboratory Medical Director. Comments regarding labeling and corrections will be noted on final reports, for documentation purposes.
For cost efficiency, certain tests are performed on specific shifts or days of the week. The testing schedule is provided to you for your information and planning. See Special Helps, Testing Schedule.
Any portion of a sample not used in testing is stored refrigerated for :
If a result is inconsistent with clinical findings, the physician may request repeat testing. This will be performed at no charge. If the original specimen is not available, a new sample may be submitted. Please use a new requisition form and note that it is a repeat test per physician request.
If medical staff demands change or your needs change, please feel free to contact us, we will make every attempt to accommodate your scheduling requirements. A phone call ahead to Client Services will alert our staff to handle your specimen expediently. Please mark the requisition form with STAT request, and indicate phone number/fax number and recipient of report when completed.
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa is a regional center, providing trauma care, cancer diagnosis and therapy, cardiac, dialysis, birth, and numerous other diagnostic and support services. The campus is located near downtown Mason City. A map is provided should you need to deliver or pick up emergency blood samples, blood supplies, and so on. Parking for brief pickup and delivery of lab needs is permitted adjacent to the Emergency Center garage, to the east. Entering the hospital from the Emergency Center's patient door, proceed through the waiting room to the hallway. Take the elevator or stairs to the second floor. The laboratory is to your left off the elevator or stairwell.
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Regional Laboratory publishes its critical limits list as a guideline for testing staff for calling abnormal results to its clients. Testing personnel phone critical results when tests are completed and verified. You can specify what phone numbers, pagers, etc., to be contacted in your facility with critical values, especially for after hours and weekend needs. Client services make phone calls the early morning hours as well if testing personnel are unable to reach anyone in your facility.
Use the following tables as guidelines for quantitative critical values:
|
TEST |
LESS THAN |
GREATER THAN |
|
Bilirubin, Neonatal |
15 mg/dl |
|
|
BUN |
100 mg/dl(non-dialysis) |
|
|
Calcium, Total |
6.0 mg/dl |
14 mg/dl |
|
Calcium, Ionized |
0.75 mmol/l |
1.6 mmol/l |
|
CO2 |
10 mmol/l |
40 mmol/l |
|
CK |
5000 IU/L |
|
|
Creatinine |
7.5 mg/dl (non-dialysis) |
|
|
Glucose, CS Panel |
80 mg/dl |
500 mg/dl |
|
Glucose (Newborn - serum) |
30 mg/dl |
300 mg/dl |
|
Magnesium |
0.6 mg/dl |
7.3 mg/dl |
|
Osmolality |
240 mOsm/kg |
325 mOsm/kg |
|
Potassium |
2.5 mmol/l |
6.5 mmol/l |
|
Potassium (Newborn) |
2.5 mmol/l |
8.0 mmol/l |
|
Protein Total, 24 hour urine (Pregnant patients only) |
300 mg/24 hours |
|
|
Sodium |
120 mmol/l |
160 mmol/l |
|
Troponin I (ER/Outpatient/Outside) |
0.49 ng/ml |
|
|
Uric Acid |
13 mg/dl (dialysis) |
|
TEST |
GREATER THAN |
TEST |
GREATE THAN |
|
Acetaminophen |
150 mcg/ml |
Phenobarbitol |
60 mcg/ml |
|
Alcohol,Blood |
400 mg/dl |
Phenytoin |
30 mcg/ml |
|
Carbamazepine |
20 mcg/ml |
Salicylate |
50 mg/dl |
|
Digoxin |
2.5 ng/ml |
Theophylline |
25 mcg/ml |
|
Gentamicin (Peak) |
12 mcg/ml |
Tobramycin (Peak) |
12 mcg/ml |
|
Lithium |
2.0 mmol/l |
Valproic acid |
200 mcg/ml |
|
Vancomycin |
80 mcg/ml |
|
TEST |
LESS THAN |
GREATER THAN |
|
Hemoglobin (on admission and for outpatients, with the exception of Cancer Center patients) |
7.5 g/dl |
20.0 g/dl |
|
Hemoglobin (inpatients and dialysis patients) |
6.0 g/dl |
|
|
Hemoglobin (CVRU patients) |
< 5.0 g/dl |
|
|
Hematocrit (newborn) |
40% |
65% |
|
Malarial smear |
Positive |
|
|
Platelets |
40.0 K/mcl |
1000.0 K/mcl |
|
Platelets (CVRU patients) |
<100.0 K/mcl |
|
|
Prothrombin time (Protime) |
INR > 4.5 |
|
|
Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) |
> 130 seconds |
|
|
WBC (OP and OS) |
> 25.0 K/mcl |
|
|
WBC (IP) |
1.0 K/mcl |
50.0 K/mcl |
|
TEST |
RESULT |
|
Cold Agglutinin (Pre-cardiac patient) |
> or = 8 |
|
TEST |
RESULT |
|
Chem Screen Glucose |
3+ in infants, |
Use the following tables as guidelines for qualitative critical results:
|
TEST RESULT |
NOTIFICATION OF: |
||
|
PATHOLOGIST |
LAB DIRECTOR |
PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN |
|
|
Hemolytic Transfusion reaction |
X |
X |
X |
|
Technical error affecting patient care, safety, life |
X |
X |
X |
|
Unresolved incompatible crossmatches which mujst be referred to The Blood Center of Iowa Reference Laboratory |
X |
X |
|
|
Inability to oabtain compatible blood due to patient antibodies (The Blood Center of Iowa reference laboratory consulated). |
X |
X |
|
LABORATORY SECTION: MICROBIOLOGY
|
TEST |
RESULT |
|
Positive direct gram stain or culture result |
|
Bacterial Antigen |
Positive |
|
Cryptococcal Antigen |
Positive |
|
Acid-fast Culture/Smear |
Positive |
|
RSV Antigen |
Positive |
|
Stool Culture |
Presence of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, or E. coli H7:0157 |
|
Tissue or Wound Culture |
Presence of Group A Streptococcus |
|
Eye Culture |
Presence of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa |
|
Vancomycin-Resisitant Enterococcus (VRE) |
Present (isolated) |
The laboratory automatically performs additional testing on the following assays when defined conditions are met. Refer to the Special Helps section of the Lab Test Index for a complete listing of reflex testing.
Mayo Medical Laboratories has been the primary referral laboratory of Mercy over 20 years. We have worked closely to keep quality at a maximum, as well as value and cost effectiveness. The MayoLink provides the Mason City laboratory on-line test requesting and results reporting. Any tests not performed at Mercy are expediently forwarded to Mayo Medical Labs; and results are input into our laboratory system daily for printing and reporting to you. Billing for referred tests appears on your Mercy Regional Laboratory monthly statement with no additional handling fees or costs to you. University Hygienic Laboratory in Des Moines performs Lead levels, maternal alphafetoprotein, and specialized microbiologic testing. Please submit the UHL Blood Lead patient information form with lead samples; and the UHL Alphafetoprotein-HCG-estriol examination form with these specimens. Other reference laboratories utilized include MedTox Laboratories in St. Paul, ViroMed Laboratories in Minneapolis, and others as special needs arise. Final reports will specify when referral laboratories performed testing.
All report formats are designed to be clear, concise, and uncluttered. They clearly distinguish abnormal values from normals by flagging abnormals. Age and sex specific reference ranges are given when applicable. Specimen characteristics or comments appear on reports when noted by testing personnel.Reports are available in preliminary and final form, or, in final form only. You may specify which types you would like for your facility. Reports are printed nightly and returned to you by courier.
FAX transmission has become our most popular method of results reporting. It requires no expensive dedicated phone lines; and is extremely flexible. Many clients use the faxed copies as their preliminary or doctor copy results. Through our computer modem, reports are routinely faxed to clients to speed turnaround time. A routine time is established with each client for faxing of reports on a daily basis, if desired. In addition to routine faxing, stat and call-back results are faxed to the referring laboratory. Clients may request results to be faxed to specialists, clinics, and hospitals by providing the recipient's name, phone number, and fax number, on the Mercy requisition form.
Client reports are printed nightly at Mercy Regional Laboratory. Each courier then picks up reports for delivery during the next scheduled stop. Clients are encouraged to use these final reports on patient medical records and other official documents.
Specialized Testing and Reports
Cell Morphology Requests
The pathology staff will perform morphology examinations on blood and body fluids upon request. Information required by the pathologists include CBC results, manual differential results, and abnormalities noted; also previous or known patient history is very helpful.
Blood Bank or Microbiology identification referrals
If your laboratory should require assistance in identifying positive immunohematology reactions or microbiologic isolates, these may be referred. Please fill out and submit referral forms with specimen or plates.
Pap Smear Correlation; Follow-up of Abnormal Paps
Mercy Regional Laboratory employs credentialed cytotechnologists to perform gynecologic and non-gynecologic examinations, in-house. The cytotechs consult daily with the pathologists on unusual findings. An extensive quality assurance system is in place, in which:
This attention to correlation and follow-up is key is assisting the practitioner in delivering the highest level of quality care to his or her patients.
Frozen Section Reports and Consultation
Pathology Associates of Mason City have contracted with your facility to provide frozen section coverage. Details of this coverage are outlined in your hospital's contract with Pathology Associates.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Reports; Nursing Home Epidemiology Reports
Each year, all isolates on which sensitivity studies were performed, are statistically tabulated for sensitivity and resistance patterns to antibiotics. This report is published and available to all clients, physicians and practitioners. A monthly epidemiology report is able to be generated for nursing home clients, which lists date of culture, isolates, sensitivities, ordering physician, and patient data. Staff may use this information to track trends in antibiotic resistance.