May 2021: National Supply Shortage of Light Blue Coagulation Tubes

Special Communication

Light Blue Coagulation Tubes: National Supply Shortage – Update

There is a severe nationwide shortage of light blue sodium citrate blood collection tubes used for coagulation laboratory tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, and D-dimer.

Currently, no other substitute tube is readily available for coagulation testing.

Given coagulation testing’s critical role in many areas of medicine and surgery, Cleveland Clinic is implementing several supply conservation measures, including:

  • Using a “no additive” tube as a waste tube (instead of a light blue tube) when collecting other blood specimens. 
  • Restricting light blue tubes for use in the ED only for coagulation testing rather than in a routine rainbow draw.

For Ordering Providers:

If a patient is not on anticoagulants or is not going to surgery:

Reconsider the need for routine coagulation testing or consider extending the interval between daily coagulation testing orders. 

If a patient is undergoing treatment with direct oral anti-Xa anticoagulants, such as apixaban or rivaroxaban:

Consider not ordering PT and APTT (they are usually normal in these patients and not helpful in anticoagulant management).  

Due to the severe nationwide shortage, the Robert J. Tomsich Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute has updated specimen collection quantity guidelines for 1.8 mL, 2.7 mL, and 3.5 mL light blue sodium citrate coagulation tubes. Refer to the table below for details.

Test Name

Order Code

# of 1.8 mL light blue tubes needed

# of 2.7 mL light blue tubes needed

# of 3.5 mL light blue tubes needed

Platelet Aggregation

12

8

7

Aspirin/Clopidogrel Resistance (Aggregation) Panel

4

3

3

Hypercoagulation Diagnostic Interpretive Panel

5

4

3

Lupus Anticoagulant Diagnostic Interpretive Panel

5

4

3

Platelet Function Screen

4

3

3

PTT Incubated Mixing Study

4

3

3

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will communicate further updates when available.  Please continue to check our website or contact Client Services at 800.628.6816 for assistance.

April 2021: Changes to AIDYSA, ENCSER, PARNEO, LAMBRT, & MYGRAV Panels

Special Communication

Changes to AIDYSA, ENCSER, PARNEO, LAMBRT, & MYGRAV Panels

Changes to Reference Ranges

Effective May 11, 2021.

These changes will affect interfaced clients.

Autoimmune Dysautonomia Evaluation, Serum (AIDYSA)

Remove:
• (MUSBND) ACh Receptor (Muscle) Binding Ab
• (PARGAD) GAD65 Ab Assay
• (VGKC) Neuronal (V-G) K+ Channel Ab
• N-Type Calcium Channel Ab
• P/Q-Type Calcium Channel Ab
• Striational (Striated Muscle) Ab
• Reflex (MUSMOD) Muscle modulating antibody
• Reflex (CASRFX) CASPR2-IgG CBA
• Reflex (CRMPSX) CRMP-5-IgG
• Reflex (LG1RFX) LGI1-IgG CBA
• Reflex (PURK2X) Purkinje Cell Cytoplasmic Ab Type 2

Add to Panel:
• (CASRFX) CASPR2-IgG CBA
• (CRMPSX) CRMP-5-IgG
• (LG1RFX) LGI1-IgG CBA
• (PURK2X) Purkinje Cell Cytoplasmic Ab Type 2

Autoimmune Encephalopathy Evaluation, Serum (ENCSER)

Remove:
• (GANG3) AChR Ganglionic Neuronal Ab, S
• N-Type Calcium Channel Ab
• P/Q-Type Calcium Channel Ab
• Reflex (MUSMOD) Muscle modulating antibody

Paraneoplastic Autoantibody Evaluation, Serum (PARNEO)

Remove:
• Striational (Striated Muscle) Ab
• N-Type Calcium Channel Ab
• Reflex (MUSMOD) Muscle modulating antibody

Add:
• Reflex (ACMFCS) AChR Modulating Flow Cytometry, S

Test Discontinuations

Effective May 11, 2021.

Myasthenia Gravis/Lambert-Eaton Syndrome (LAMBRT)

Reason:
Discontinued by reference lab (Mayo Clinic Laboratories)

Alternative Test:
Myasthenia Gravis (MG)/Lambert-Eaton Syndrome (LES) Evaluation, Serum (MGLESE)

Myasthenia Gravis Evaluation, Adult (MYGRAV)

Reason:
Discontinued by reference lab (Mayo Clinic Laboratories)

Alternative Test:
Myasthenia Gravis Evaluation with Muscle-Specific Kinase (MuSK) Reflex, Serum (MYSGRV)

Restrictions to PSA and β-HCG, Plasma Add-On Orders

Special Communication

Restrictions to PSA and β-HCG, Plasma Add-On Orders

Due to a potential for falsely-increased results from carryover on analytical laboratory instrumentation, add-on orders for PSA and β-HCG, Plasma are restricted.

Tests affected:

Please refer to the Test Directory for more information.

• PSA (PSA)

• PSA, Free (PSATF)

• PSA, Screening (PSAS1)

• Beta HCG, Quantitative, Blood (HCGQT)

• Beta HCG, Quant Tumor Marker (BHCG)

February 2021: Inhibin B – Changes to Reference Ranges

Special Communication

Inhibin B – Changes to Reference Ranges

Effective February 16, 2021, methodology and reference intervals for Inhibin B (INHIBB) will change.

Test results obtained with the new ANSH Ultra-Sensitive Inhibin B ELISA method and the previous Beckman Coulter Inhibin G Gen II ELISA method cannot be used interchangeably.

Beginning February 16 through May 16, 2021, specimens will be analyzed with both methods to establish a new baseline for individual patient results. Results from the previous method and reference intervals will be posted in a comment on the patient’s chart.

This change increases the detection of inhibin B in all clinically relevant cases and expands the testing range to improve sensitivity.

Additional details are available in the February 2021 Technical Update.

Changes to Reference Ranges

Effective February 16, 2021.

Inhibin B (INHIBB)

Female

1 day – 12 years:
1 – 182 pg/mL

13 – 41 years (regular cycle, follicular phase):
8 – 223 pg/mL

42 – 51 years (regular cycle, follicular phase):
1 – 107 pg/mL

51 – 76 years (postmenopausal):
1 – 11 pg/mL

Male

< 15 days:
68 – 373 pg/mL

15 days – 6 months:
42 – 516 pg/mL

7 months – 7 years:
24 – 300 pg/mL

8 – 30 years:
47 – 383 pg/mL

31 – 72 years:
10 – 357 pg/mL

Methodology

ANSH ultrasensitive Inhibin B ELISA method
formerly Beckman Coulter Inhibin B Gen II ELISA method

November 2020: Temporarily Unavailable – Stool Gastrointestinal Panel by PCR

Special Communication

Temporarily Unavailable: Stool Gastrointestinal Panel by PCR

Beginning November 13, 2020, Stool Gastrointestinal Panel by PCR (STGIPR) testing is temporarily unavailable to order from CCL.

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories is experiencing severe supply constraints for Stool Gastrointestinal Panel by PCR (STGIPR) testing. These shortages impact laboratories nationwide, resulting in the inability to identify a reference laboratory to forward this testing.

Alternative Testing Options

The tests listed below cover the range of pathogens detected in the Stool Gastrointestinal Panel by PCR (STGIPR) test. Depending on clinical circumstances and judgment, various combinations of these tests may serve as an appropriate substitution for STGIPR:

Test Code

Components

Performing Lab

STLPCR

Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter jejuni/coli, and Shiga-toxin (stx1 and stx2) genes

CCL

OVAPSC

Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium species

CCL

CRYSPO

Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Cystoisospora sp.

CCL

OVAP

Cryptosporidium and Giardia

CCL

CDPCR

C. difficile toxin B gene

CCL

EROTA

Rotavirus antigen

CCL

VIBCUL

Vibrio

CCL

YERCUL

Yersinia

CCL

NORPCR

Norovirus 1 & 2

ARUP

SADNO

Adenovirus antigen

Focus

COVID-19: Supply Constraints Affecting Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR Testing

Special Communication

Supply Constraints Affecting Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR Testing

Due to supply constraints related to COVID-19, supplies for Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR (STLPCR) testing are in extremely limited supply.

While supplies are constrained, culture and antigen testing will be used in place of PCR testing to interrogate specimens for the same pathogens as STLPCR: Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC/EHEC).

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will temporarily cancel and credit any STLPCR test requests, then substitute clinically-equivalent culture and antigen testing.

The associated CPT codes for these substitutions are:

• 87449 (x 2)
• 87045

COVID-19: Unacceptable Specimen Transport Media for COVID-19 Testing

Special Communication

Unacceptable Specimen Transport Media for COVID-19 Testing

Due to incompatibilities with our COVID-19 testing laboratory equipment, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories has determined that specimens in the following media are not acceptable for COVID-19 testing performed by CCL:

Beaver Biomedical Viral Transport Media (VTM)

NEST Solution for swab sample collection, transportation and storage

The following specimen types are accepted by CCL for COVID-19 testing:

Universal Transport Media (UTM), 3 mL

Viral Transport Medium (VTM), 3 mL

Saline Transport Media, 3 mL

Sterile Container*, 3 mL

Specimen Type:

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab – preferred

• Nasal (anterior nares) swab

• Oropharyngeal (OP) swab

Specimen Type:

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab – preferred

• Nasal (anterior nares) swab

• Oropharyngeal (OP) swab

Specimen Type:

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab – preferred

• Nasal (anterior nares) swab

• Oropharyngeal (OP) swab

Specimen Type:

• Sputum

• Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)

*lower respiratory specimens only

Want More Information about COVID-19 Testing?

Review our Coronavirus 2019 Testing Overview for additional details, including collection instructions, required patient demographics, and more.

Need Collection & Transport Media?

If you are having difficulties obtaining appropriate COVID-19 specimen collection and transport supplies, please contact your CCL Account Manager.

Have a Question?

Please contact Client Services at 800.628.6818.

COVID-19: Supply Shortages Impacting Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis Testing

Special Communication

Supply Shortages Impacting Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis Testing

As a result of nationwide supply shortages caused by COVID-19 demands, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories may periodically be unable to provide Aptima® Urine Specimen Collection Transport Tubes for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis testing.

Aptima tubes will continue to remain an acceptable specimen collection container for testing.

Because of the severe shortage of urine tubes, providers should reserve urine testing for men with persistent urethritis. This practice aligns with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What Tests Are Affected

GC/Chlamydia Amplification, Urine (UGCCT)

Ordering Options for Gonorrhea/Chlamydia Testing

  • GC/Chlamydia Amplification, Urine (UGCCT) using self-supplied Aptima Urine Specimen Collection Transport Tubes
  • GC/Chlamydia Amplification, Genital, Rectal and Oral Specimens (GCCT) using an Aptima Swab Kit

Trichomonas vaginalis Amplification (TRVAMP)

Ordering Options for Trichomoniasis Testing

Specimen Collection for GCCT & TRVAMP

Samples can continue to be collected and submitted with either Aptima kit shown below.

Although CCL cannot provide this item, Aptima tubes will continue to remain an acceptable specimen collection container for testing.

For women:
Women can be swabbed with either Aptima Kit.

For Men:
Men can be swabbed with Aptima Unisex Swab (urethral).

Unacceptable Specimen Containers

Do not send urine in a sterile cup.

Because of the limited stability of unpreserved urine for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis testing, Cleveland Clinic Laboratories is currently unable to accept urine in a sterile container (i.e., specimen cup) for UGCCT and TRVAMP orders.

Other Considerations

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will notify clients when Aptima urine tubes are back in stock and available to order. Conservative ordering practices may be necessary until supplies stabilize.

For help in prioritizing which patients to test for these pathogens, please refer to the recently-issued considerations from the CDC.