University of Virginia Health System
Medical Laboratories
“Quality You Expect, Service You Deserve”
LABORATORY MEDICINE UPDATE
June 10, 2010
Ordering ThinPrep Pap Test Supplies via the Medical Center Storeroom
Since the transfer of the majority of hospital supplies to the Storeroom facility at Northridge, some Cytology Laboratory clients are experiencing problems when ordering ThinPrep Pap test supplies through e-procurement. We have researched this issue and the storeroom explained that there is a “glitch” in their system. Because of the flammable nature of the solution in the ThinPrep vials, these supplies must be stored in a special flammable storage area which is located in the main hospital and not at the Northridge facility. This dichotomy of locations causes some orders to go to the Northridge warehouse where they cannot be filled and not to the in-hospital storeroom where the supplies are located. At this time, there is no way for the ordering client to know that this has occurred and that the order in e-procurement has been routed incorrectly. If you are experiencing this problem and until the “glitch” is repaired, you can fax your orders directly to the in-hospital storeroom using their order form. The order form is located on the Supply Chain Management website, accessible from a Health System computer at www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/intranet/materiel.
After log-in, click on the following:
· Supply chain Analytics
· Online Forms Repository
· (msr) Material Stock Request
Complete the form and fax it to 982-3951.
Item ID 92189 - Tray of 25 ThinPrep Pap test vials
Item ID 92190 - Bag of 25 collector sets (spatulas and brushes)
Body Cavity Fluids Submitted to the Cytology Laboratory
Body cavity fluid specimens sent to the Cytology Laboratory for evaluation must be submitted in tightly covered glass or hard plastic containers with screw-top lids (available in the Hospital Storeroom) and delivered to the laboratory immediately. No fixative should be added to the specimen. A maximum of 500 mL of specimen is generally considered sufficient for testing. Larger volumes of fluid can be submitted in 24-hour urine collection containers (container A). Soft plastic collection bags and E-Vac collecting units are not acceptable for submitting fluid specimens. They are difficult to handle and may leak during transport causing a health hazard to transport, hospital and laboratory personnel. Two such incidents have occurred in recent weeks. In addition, these collection containers should NEVER be placed in the pneumatic tube system. Because of these significant safety concerns, inappropriately packaged specimens may be rejected.
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