Category: Immediate Test Changes

January 2024: Send-Out Test Delays Caused by Weather

Immediate Test Notification

January 2024: Send-Out Test Delays Caused by Weather

Due to the recent winter weather, there are ongoing delays in the shipment of specimens from Cleveland Clinic Laboratories to reference laboratories, including ARUP, Mayo, LabCorp, Quest, National Jewish, Eurofins Viracor, and others.

Transportation vendors are working through operational backlogs, and we are communicating with vendors to ensure sample stability and perform testing as quickly as possible.

Please get in touch with your CCL Sales Manager or Client Services with any questions.

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November 2023: Product Discontinuation – BD CultureSwab™

Immediate Test Change

Product Discontinuation: BD CultureSwab™ Liquid Amies Double Swab

Effective November 14, 2023.

Replacements: eSwab™ or Cepheid Collection Device

The eSwab™ (Copan Diagnostics) collection device—utilized by Cleveland Clinic for 8+ years—will now be the primary swab for bacteriology.

No change to the swabbing collection process is needed when using an eSwab™.

Although typically tissue or fluid is a superior quality sample for bacteriology, collecting a swab is often more feasible. The eSwab™ uses a patented flocked swab, which enables the elution of the primary sample into 1 mL of liquid contained within the collection tube. The bacteriology laboratory then uses this liquid for testing.

Swab discontinued by the manufacturer.

Choose the appropriate collection device: 

eSwab™

Use for:
Group A Strep PCR GASPCR

Fungal Screen for Candida FUNGSC

Bacteriology cultures:
• Abscess & Wound Culture WCUL
• Anaerobe Culture ANACUL
• Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Culture CFRCUL
• Ear Culture & Stain EARCSM
• Eye Culture & Stain EYECSM
• MRSA culture screen MRSASC
• MRSA/S. aureus culture screen SANSAL
• Throat Culture THRCUL
• VRE Culture VRESC

Order eSwabs™

Cepheid Collection Device

Use for:
Routine Prenatal Group B PCR GBPCR

S. aureus PCR SAPCR

Order Cepheid Collection Devices
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November 2023: Test Update – Chromogranin A, New Assay

Immediate Test Change

Test Update – Chromogranin A (CHROMA), New Assay

Effective November 9, 2023.

Chromogranin A (CHROMA) will be updated to a new assay effective November 9, 2023.

The results of the current and new tests are not interchangeable. Due to a reagent shortage, the laboratory will not be able to undergo a rebaseline/parallel testing process.

Please contact Client Services for laboratory assistance with interpreting results in patients undergoing serial monitoring.

Test Change Overview

Chromogranin A (CHROMA)

Update?

Details

Methodology

Yes

New Assay:
Immunoassay, BRAHMS CGA II Kryptor Kit

Discontinued:
Cisbio CGA II, ELISA

The results in the new assay are, on average, 20% lower than the previous assay. The bias is more pronounced at concentrations below 200 ng/mL, where the observed bias is 30%.

Test Code

No

CHROMA

Specimen

No

Type
Serum

Container
Gold Serum Separator Tube, or
Red Plain (No Additive) Tube

Stability

Yes

Ambient:
48 hours

Refrigerated:
48 hours

Frozen:
3 months

Transport samples frozen.

Days Performed

Yes

Days Performed
Tuesday, Friday

Reported
1-4 days

Reporting

Yes

Reference Interval
<187 ng/mL

The results of the new and old assays will not trend together in the laboratory information system (e.g., Beaker/EPIC).

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November 2023: Test Delay – Oxalate, Plasma and Oxalate, 24-hour Urine

Immediate Test Change

Test Delay – Oxalate, Plasma (OXLATE) and Oxalate, 24-hour Urine (UOXALD)

Effective November 6, 2023.

Oxalate, Plasma (OXLATE) and Oxalate, 24-hour Urine (UOXALD) will be delayed effective November 6, 2023, due to a global reagent shortage.

Currently, there are no alternative testing options available.

The vendor expects the reagent to be available in late November/December 2023.

For Existing Orders/Specimens
Specimens will be stored frozen, pending the arrival of the reagent. However, if specimens exceed validated stability (4 weeks for plasma specimens, 7 days for urine specimens), testing will be canceled.

Questions?
Please contact Client Services for assistance.

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August 2023: Test Discontinuation – HIV-1 Western Blot (HIV1CO)

Immediate Test Change

Test Discontinuation – HIV-1 Western Blot (HIV1CO)

Effective August 28, 2023.

HIV-1 Western Blot Antibody Confirmation (HIV1CO) has been discontinued by the performing reference laboratory.

As an alternative, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories recommends HIV-1 p24 Ag + HIV-1-2 Ab, with reflex to differentiation (HIV12C) testing.

This test, which is performed in-house, follows the CDC-recommended screening algorithm of reflex to differentiation.

HIV-1 p24 Ag +HIV-1-2 Ab, with reflex to differentiation (HIV12C)

CPT Code
87389

Performing Laboratory
Cleveland Clinic Laboratories

Methodology
Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)

Specimen Type
Serum: Gold Serum Separation Tube
Plasma: Sodium Heparin, Lithium Heparin (Green), or Lavender K2EDTA Tube

Volume
1 mL

Stability (after separation from cells)
Ambient: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen ≤ -20°C: 14 days

Clinical Information
HIV screening and diagnosis

Reference Range
Negative

Additional Information
The screening assay is an antigen-antibody combination; when reactive, an HIV confirmatory assay is automatically added and performed.

The confirmatory assay is FDA-approved and can differentiate HIV-1 from HIV-2, making it an integral part of the testing algorithm.

If a client performs a fourth-generation screen, HIV-1/2 Ab Confirmatory (HIV12M) testing may be ordered following a repeatedly positive screen.

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Cleveland Clinic and LabConnect Announce Strategic Alliance

Clinical Update

Cleveland Clinic and LabConnect Announce Strategic Alliance

Collaboration on lab services will accelerate clinical trials to better impact patient care.

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories and LabConnect have announced a strategic alliance to accelerate clinical trials and connect patients to new medicines for improved patient care.

Through this alliance, LabConnect will utilize Cleveland Clinic Laboratories, the reference laboratory within Cleveland Clinic. LabConnect will leverage the health system’s extensive array of testing and assay validation services to support laboratory testing for an increasing number of clinical trials.

Read More: Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

May 2023: Discontinued – Natural Killer Cells, Functional (NKFUNC)

Immediate Test Change

Test Discontinuation – Natural Killer Cells, Functional (NKFUNC)

Effective May 22, 2023.

Natural Killer Cells, Functional (NKFUNC) testing has been discontinued.

Discontinuation is due to limited availability, logistical limitations, and short specimen stability (less than 23 hours).

Please do not order Natural Killer Cells, Functional (NKFUNC) testing. If you have an urgent need for testing, please get in touch with Client Services.

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May 2023: COVID-19 Testing – CPT Code Update

Immediate Test Change

COVID-19 Testing – CPT Code Update

Effective May 11, 2023.

In accordance with recent guidance provided by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 9, 2023, the CPT code associated with COVID-19 testing will change.

Beginning May 11, 2023, the CPT code is changing as a result of the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

The new CPT code will display in the Test Directory starting May 11, 2023.

COVID-19 Testing

New CPT Code
87635 (previous: U0003)

Additional Information
For more information, please refer to HHS’s Fact Sheet: End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

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April 2023: Updates to H. pylori Urea Breath Test

Immediate Test Change

Updates to H. pylori Urea Breath Test (HPYLBR)

Effective May 2, 2023.

Updated Test

Helicobacter pylori Breath Test (HPYLBR)

Effective May 2, 2023, the Immunopathology Laboratory section of Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will provide a new H. pylori urea breath test.

The qualitative test, based on infrared spectroscopy using 13C, is an aid in diagnosing active infection with Helicobacter pylori and post-treatment monitoring in adult and pediatric patients ages 3-17 years old.

Changes to Specimen Collection

Specimens must be collected with the Meridian Bioscience collection kit; otherwise, testing will be canceled.

Collection Kits

The BreathID® Hp® Two test requires specimen collection with the BreathID® IDkit Hp® Two kit.

One box contains five kits. Each kit contains:

  • (1) Blue baseline breath collection bag
  • (1) Grey post-ingestion breath collection bag
  • 75mg 13C-urea tablet
  • 4.3g package of Citrica (citric acid)
  • Straw
  • Drinking cup
  • User guide
  • (4) Labels
  • Sample transport bag
  • Package insert

Order BreathTek® Urea Breath Test Kits
Collection Instructions

Test Overview

Test Name

Helicobacter pylori Breath Test

Test Code

HPYLBR

CPT Code

83013

Methodology

13C Infrared Spectroscopy

Specimen Type

1 baseline (blue) and 1 post-dose (gray) breath sample bag collected with a BreathID® IDkit Hp® One kit

Stability

Ambient
14 days

Refrigerated
Unacceptable

Frozen
Unacceptable

Reference Range

Negative

Clinical Information

The Urea Breath Test is used as an aid in the diagnosis of current infection with Helicobacter pylori.

Limitations

Despite very high specificity, false positive results may occur due to other gastric organisms, such as H. heilmanni, as well as in patients with hypo- or achlorhydria.

False-negative results may occur in patients who have received antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, or bismuth preparations.

Clinical correlation is required.

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July 2022: Test Delay – Testosterone, Total and Free, Serum (TFTEST)

Immediate Test Change

Test Delay – Testosterone, Total and Free, Serum (TFTEST)

Effective July 18, 2022.

Delayed Test

Testosterone, Total and Free, Serum (TFTEST)

Send-out Testosterone, Total and Free, Serum (TFTEST) testing performed at Mayo Clinic Laboratories is currently delayed for approximately three weeks.

At this time, Mayo Clinic Laboratories does not have an estimate for when turnaround time will return to the expected value of four to six days.

Note:
Specimens are stable for 60 days when frozen.

Alternative Tests

Bioavailable Testosterone, SHBG, Adult Male (BTESTO)

In-house test for total testosterone by immunoassay and calculated bioavailable testosterone for adult males.

Bioavailable Testosterone/SHBG, Female & Child (BTSTFC)

Send-out test for total testosterone by LC-MS/MS and calculated bioavailable/free testosterone for children and adult females.

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