Specimen Reception update – more on getting the most from your diagnostic laboratory
Jim Fairles
Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.
AHL Newsletter 2021;25(3):2.
Your relationship with your diagnostic laboratory is vital in the continuum of patient care. I wrote recently about this (1) with some excerpts from an excellent write-up by Dr. Belinda Thompson (now retired) from Cornell (2). As a follow-up from this article, below are some questions that you may want to ask as you assess laboratory testing and how to minimize diagnostic error:
- Am I trying to rule out the worst-case scenario? Am I trying to rule out all important scenarios?
- Does the diagnostic test requested reflect the problem list and differential diagnoses?
- Will I be able to use the results of each of the tests I have requested for decision-making/treatment/management changes?
- Have I considered which test is the best test (“fit for purpose”) if more than one are available? Is there a reason to use more than one test for the same disease/condition?
- Do I have the correct specimen for each test?
- Have I collected every specimen that would be required? If not, can they be collected?
- Have I handled each sample exactly according to the guidelines provided by the laboratory? Do I know what those guidelines recommend?
AHL has many resources to help you with these questions – all are available on our website:
User Guide and searchable Fee Schedule (access to fees available to veterinarians and researchers by following the instructions on the website):
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/tests-users-guide/ahl-users-guide
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/tests
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/user/login?current=tests
Labnotes – provide more detailed information on specific tests:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/publications/ahl-labnotes
Previous AHL Newsletters – many updates on testing:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/publications/newsletters
Diagnostic Plans (currently ruminant and small ruminant are available – more being added):
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/diagnostic-plans/diagnostic-plans-bovine
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/diagnostic-plans-small-ruminant
We are also glad to discuss any testing questions and concerns. Please feel free to reach out! AHL
ahlinfo@uoguelph.ca 519-824-4120 extension 54530
References
1. https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/getting-most-out-your-diagnostic-laboratory-submissions
2. Thompson BS. On the journey for great diagnostics – Tips and tricks to let the magic happen. AABP, St. Louis, Sept. 2019.