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DIRECTOR: James G. Flood, Ph.D.
LOCATION: Gray 5
The Acute Care Laboratory is operated 24 hours/day, 7 days a week
to service all acutely and critically ill patients. Tests currently
provided by the laboratory include:
- Blood Gases (pO2, pCO2)
- Carbon monoxide
- Methemoglobin
- pH
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Ionized Calcium
- Hemoglobin
- Osmolality
- Blood Glucose
- Gastric Occult Blood, Gastric pH
- Fetal fibronectin
The Acute Care Laboratory is the central hospital laboratory for
blood gas analysis, and this service is available to all patients.
The other tests provided are restricted to acutely and critically
ill patients. Routine tests should be sent to the appropriate hospital
laboratory.
Specimen Collection
Each specimen container must be labeled with the patient’s
name and unit number, and must be accompanied by a completed requisition,
containing the following information:
1. Patient’s full name and unit number.
2. Location and telephone number of care unit from which sample
originated. In addition, please indicate the patient’s original
or future care unit if the sample was sent from a transient unit
(i.e., operating room, recovery room, etc.). The latter is required
so that printed reports may be inserted into the patient’s
record.
3. Physician’s name.
4. Type of specimen.
5. Date and time of day specimen was drawn.
6. Initials of person who drew the specimen.
7. Inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2) and temperature, whenever
blood gases are requested.
8. Test required.
Specimen Delivery
Specimens may be sent via the pneumatic tube system. Check the
station chart at the tube station for the correct station number
in your zone (listed as STAT LAB). All samples are considered STAT
and are processed immediately upon arrival. Arrest samples should
be designated as such on the requisition, and these will be given
priority. If hand delivered, the carrier should verbally communicate
the urgency to the technologist at the receiving window.
Results
All results are reported directly to the care unit either by computer
or by telephone.
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