Emergency (STAT) Services and Tests
AVAILABILITY AND EXPECTED TURNAROUND TIMES (TAT)
Specified STAT services are available at all times. Any test not specifically listed in the following table requires prior approval by a Laboratory Medicine Resident for STAT analysis.
DEFINITION
STAT laboratory tests and services are those that are needed immediately in order to manage medical emergencies. STAT test requests are given the highest priority by the Clinical Laboratory for processing, analysis and reporting. If less urgent tests are also ordered STAT, a backlog may develop and each specimen will be processed in order of receipt, thereby delaying the reports for true emergencies.
PROCEDURE
Each test on the requisition and the biohazard bag containing the specimen must be marked “STAT.” In unusually critical circumstances, it is best to hand deliver the specimen to the laboratory.
DELIVERY OF SPECIMENS TO LABORATORY
Messenger Service: The messenger service pickup schedule is listed under the Delivering Specimens section of this manual. STAT specimens and specimens collected when regular messenger service is unavailable must be delivered by a ward employee, physician or special messenger.
NOTE: In order to ensure STAT processing, STAT specimens must be delivered to the STAT window. The Laboratory cannot guarantee STAT processing for STAT specimens dropped off at the ROUTINE window.
REPORTS:
STAT results will be telephoned to any patient-care unit lacking a computer terminal. A written record of test results telephoned to patient care areas must be made by the physician, nurse or other individual who receives the report. “Read-back” (with confirmation) of all critical results (including both stat and critical values) reported verbally or by telephone is required to verify values and assure accuracy, in accordance with Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals.
For further information about specific tests, call Clinical Laboratory General Information, 206-8590.
DEFINED EMERGENCY (STAT) TESTS
The tests listed below are available 24 hours a day on a priority basis, with minimum delay, after receipt in the Laboratory. Refer to the Microbiology Procedure section for information about Microbiology (STAT) Tests. If test results fall in the critical range, the results will be called to the ordering physician or patient care unit immediately.
* ND = Turn Around Time (TAT) Not Defined
|
EMERGENCY (STAT) TESTS |
LABORATORY |
Pneumatic tube station # |
TAT |
|
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Acid Fast Stain - Direct on Sputum |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND* |
|
Acute Stroke Coagulation Panel (ASCP) |
Hematology |
21 |
30 mins |
|
Albumin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Ammonia (on ice) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Antibody Screen |
Blood Bank |
22 |
ND |
|
Antigen Detection in CSF |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Arterial blood gases |
Hematology |
Do not tube |
30 mins |
|
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
β-hydroxybutyrate |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Bilirubin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Calcium |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Calcium, ionized |
Hematology |
Do not tube |
30 mins |
|
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Carbon Dioxide (Electrolytes) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Cell
Count: |
Hematology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Chloride (Electrolytes) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Complete
Blood Count: |
Hematology |
21 |
45 mins |
|
Cooximetry |
Hematology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Cortisol |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Creatinine |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Crossmatch |
Blood Bank |
22 |
ND |
|
Cryptococcal Antigen (CSF only ) |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Culture |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Digoxin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Dilantin (Phenytoin) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Direct Antiglobulin (Coombs) |
Blood Bank |
22 |
ND |
|
Electrolytes: |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Ethanol |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Ethylene glycol |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
ND |
|
Fibrinogen |
Hematology |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Gentamicin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Glucose, fasting or random (serum, plasma) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Gram Stain |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
HCG ( beta-HCG) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test (for location 6C ONLY ) – 2 hr turn around time for Emergency Department, Urgent Care Clinic, and Occ. Health Svc. |
Microbiology |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Influenza A and B viral antigen |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Iron |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Lactate (on ice) |
Clinical Chemistry |
Do not tube |
1 hour |
|
Lithium |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Magnesium |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Metabolic Panel, Basic |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Methanol |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
ND |
|
Osmolality (serum, urine) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Phenobarbital |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Phenytoin (Dilantin) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Phosphorus |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Potassium (Electrolytes) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Pregnancy test (urine) |
Hematology |
21 |
ND |
|
Protein, CSF Screen |
Clinical Chemistry |
Do not tube |
1 hour |
|
Prothrombin Time (PT) |
Hematology |
21 |
1 hour |
|
RSV antigen on children < 5 years old |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Salicylate (Aspirin) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Sodium (Electrolytes) |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Strep Group A Antigen (Throat Swab) |
Microbiology |
Do not tube |
ND |
|
Theophylline |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Tobramycin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Troponin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Type and Screen |
Blood Bank |
22 |
ND |
|
Uric Acid |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Urinalysis |
Hematology |
21 |
ND |
|
Valproic Acid |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |
|
Vancomycin |
Clinical Chemistry |
21 |
1 hour |