SMILE

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD USA

Specimen Acceptability Criteria - Guidelines

Specimen Acceptability Criteria / Guideline Number / Pro80-07-G
Heidi Hanes BS, MT (ASCP) SH / Effective Date / 28-Oct-09
Subject
Specimen Acceptability Criteria - Guidelines / Page / 1 of 2
Supersedes / New
Review by / Mark Swartz / Review date / 15-Apr-13
SMILE Comments: This document is provided as an example only. It must be revised to accurately reflect your lab’s specific processes and/or specific protocol requirements. Users are directed to countercheck facts when considering their use in other applications. If you have any questions contact SMILE

Audit:

Sections pertaining to Specimen Acceptability Criteria can be found in:

·  Specimen Transport and Management Section

·  Vertical Audit of SOP/Practice Section under Pre-test Specimen Handling.

CAP Accreditation Checklist:

Questions referring to Specimen Acceptability Criteria can be found in:

·  Laboratory General Checklist– Specimen Collection, data handling, and reporting

·  Immunology Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling

·  Limited Service Laboratory Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling, pages

·  Microbiology Checklist- Specimen Collection and Handling.

·  Urinalysis Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling

·  Hematology-Coagulation Checklist - Specimen Collection and Handling

·  Flow Cytometry Checklist- Specimen Collection and Handling.

·  Chemistry and Toxicology Checklist-- Specimen Collection and Handling

All revised 9/27/2007.

Background Information:

The Appendix A is gives you an example of a Specimen Acceptability Criteria Table. The information included in the table was collected from the references listed below. Use your own method/instrument and reagent package inserts to confirm specimen criteria at your laboratory.

Appendices:

1.  Appendix A -Specimen Acceptability Criteria Table

Resources

1.  DSHS Laboratory - http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/serologyTestReq.pdf A weblink to DSHS Laboratory Serology Testing specimen criteria.

2.  Kansas Health Laboratory - http://www.kdheks.gov/virosero/download/Viral_Culture_Specimen_Collection_Guide.pdf Weblink to Kansas Health Laboratory guidelines for virology and serology testing.

3.  Sacramento County Public Health -

a.  http://www.dhhs.saccounty.net/PUB/Laboratory/Documents/Specimen%20Collection%20Manual/PUB_SpecManTestInformation.pdf#search=serology%20specimen

b.  http://www.dhhs.saccounty.net/PUB/Laboratory/Documents/Specimen%20Collection%20Manual/PUB_SpecManSerology.pdf#search=serology%20specimen

4.  North Carolina Public Health - http://slph.ncpublichealth.com/virology-serology/hepatitis.asp Weblink to North Carolina Public Health for specimen criteria.

5.  Quest Diagnostic weblink to specimen guidelines. http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/physicians/testing-services/specialists/hospitals-lab-staff/specimen-handling/general.html

6.  Public Health Ontario Test directory for specimen collection, handling and transport - https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/ServicesAndTools/LaboratoryServices/Pages/Index.aspx

7.  Palomar Health specimen collection and handling manual - http://www.palomarhealth.org/media/file/Lab/SpecimenCollectionHandling%20Manual.pdf

8.  Stanford Health Care Specimen collection - http://www.stanfordlab.com/pages/specimengeneral.htm

9.  Lab Corp Test Menu website - https://www.labcorp.com/wps/portal/provider/testmenu

10.  BRMC Chemistry, Hematology, TB and General Acceptability Criteria.

11.  Gamma Dynacare Test lists.

12.  County of Orange California Public Health Laboratory Manual.

13.  Sacramento County Public Health Laboratory collection guidelines for Laboratory test.

14.  Santa Barbara Public Health Laboratory specimen Requirements Manual.

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