Test entries list minimum acceptable specimen volumes. If there is insufficient specimen volume for testing, attempts will be made to locate any additional specimen at ARUP that was collected at the same date and time. In this case, there may be delays, and the request may be referred to ARUP’s Exception Handling Department.
Pediatric minimum acceptable specimen volumes are also published. This volume is defined as the amount sufficient to perform one test, with no repeat or confirmatory testing.
All specimens must be collected, labeled, transported, and processed according to procedure. Review the appropriate container type, volume, and special handling requirements needed for analysis before the specimen is collected. If any of the guidelines for these processes are not met, the specimen may be rejected; or the test may be canceled. ARUP’s Exception Handling Department will contact the client for resolution. The following list represents some possible causes for specimen rejection or test cancellation:
*The source of specimen, when appropriate, must be included on the paper or electronic request form. The source of specimen is REQUIRED for all infectious disease testing, including PCR tests, including PCR tests.
ARUP communicates laboratory results to clients by several means which include printed reports, Web-enabled electronic results, direct interfaces, and access to Client Services for verbal results. Clients may request a phone notification or fax report by writing the request on the test request form or by adding a footnote to an electronic order.
Preliminary results may be offered for infectious diseases and other tests in which a final report follows. Final results are generated at the completion of the test and may contain updated information from the preliminary result. When critical values are obtained, results are called to the physician or requesting lab.
ARUP Laboratories complies with state laws by reporting certain state-defined reportable diseases and conditions to state departments of health. These reports include patient demographics and test information as required by each state’s regulations. It is the responsibility of the referring laboratory to follow applicable local and state reporting requirements.
ARUP’s testing laboratories operate 24 hours a day/7 days a week and critical results will be reported as soon as testing has been completed and a critical result has been identified. ARUP reports critical results immediately to the contact(s) provided by our client(s) in accordance with the Laboratory Accreditation Program Inspection Checklists from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), GEN.41320.
ARUP offers groups of tests based on accepted clinical practice, as well as those that are defined by the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). All individual components of these “panels” may also be ordered individually, unless otherwise indicated.
ARUP offers reflex testing, in which additional testing will be performed on specimens, depending on the results of the initial test. There are two types of reflex panels: standard reflex test panels and compulsory reflex test panels. A standard reflex test panel allows the physician the option of ordering either the reflex test group or a single test. A compulsory reflex test panel automatically generates a request for additional testing if the result of the initial test meets or falls outside certain ranges. In many cases, and especially in infectious diseases and blood bank procedures, the compulsory reflex test panels have been predetermined based on specific medical criteria accepted as standard-of-care by the medical community. These panels may not be available for ordering at the individual component level.
ARUP strives to provide clear, unambiguous reference intervals and has adopted a non-overlapping style for age groups. For example, an age group listed as 0 to 2 years should be used for all subjects from birth up to their third birthday. When reference values have been obtained from the literature, ARUP conducts validation testing to confirm the values. The literature-provided age groups may be revised by ARUP in order to conform to our standard style. Reference intervals are available on the ARUP Web site.
One of ARUP Laboratories’ service goals is to support clients by providing comprehensive service for all reference laboratory testing. To accomplish this goal, ARUP has enhanced its in-house test menu of over 2,000 tests and test combinations by selecting primary vendors to perform additional tests not performed at ARUP. Primary referral vendors are selected based upon a corporate protocol that considers the aspects of service, quality, reliability, turnaround time, and price.
Every effort will be made to test specimens at ARUP or at a primary vendor’s laboratory. If a client requests that a test be sent to a specific outside vendor, and the test is performed at ARUP Laboratories or designated to be performed by one of ARUP‘s primary vendors, an additional fee will be added. Such requests will only be honored in cases of reference range or methodology differences.
All specimens for referral are shipped for next-day delivery, Monday through Thursday. Specimens are also shipped on Friday to referral laboratories that accept weekend delivery. To provide the best patient care, specimens for tests with short stabilities should not be shipped to ARUP Friday through Sunday.
ARUP’s transport carriers recognize the following as official holidays. As a result, specimens will not be shipped to referral laboratories on the day before or the day of the following holidays:
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Christmas | December 25 |
Specimens submitted for referral testing are shipped on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day.
If you would like additional information about ARUP’s referral testing services, please contact the Referral Testing Department at (800) 242-2787, extension 5145.