Patient Instructions/Preparation

• If the specimen documentation requirements are not met, specimens may be rejected, which will delay final diagnosis. Certain specimens may be rejected with recommendation to recollect.
• Each specimen container/jar must be labeled with the following information: 
  • Full patient name
  • MRN
  • Date of birth
  • Sex
  • Specimen source, including laterality, that fully matches the source on the order requisition. If the source is abbreviated on the printed label, a handwritten source must be provided on the container/jar.
• Specimens are accompanied with Epic orders that include:
  • Full patient name
  • MRN
  • Date of birth
  • Sex
  • Patient location
  • Full name of physician and unique doctor number (if applicable)
  • Date of collection
  • Clinic history, if applicable
  • ICD-9 code of all outpatient specimens
  • Specimen source and description with site specific words, including laterality, that fully matches the source and description on the specimen container.
• Known or Suspected Malignancy for must accompany the specimen to the lab for any resection specimens that may require tumor marker testing. This is crucial for breast, lung, and GI cases, but should be submitted for any resections of concern.