Notices

COVID-19

Revision of access priorities for COVID-19 testing -Update  of the external Requisition for COVID-19 (DM-6310) - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-08-19)

Rapid COVID PCR test (2021-05-10)

Rapid COVID PCR test (2021-04-29)

"Stool Parasite PCR” specimens sent during the COVID Pandemic (2020-06-26)

Temporary suspension or postponement of some tests in order to reallocate resources to COVID-19 (2020-03-23)

Decreasing activity in test center and call for reducing non-essential testing (2020-03-18)


Regular Memos

April Holidays – April 6, 7  and 10 April, 2023

Acceptable Specimen Container for Urinalysis Requests (2023-02-02)

February Holiday - February 6 and February 10, 2023 (2023-01-16)

Discontinuation of test Helicobacter pylori IgG (2023-01-17)

Temporary Unavailability of Lymphocyte Stimulation Testing (2023-01-19)

Avoidance of interfering substances when obtaining a sample for cobas Chlamydia trachomatis /Neisseria gonnorhea  test (cobas CT/NG tttest) (2023-01-16)

New Specimen Requirements: Aldosterone and Renin Assays (2023-01-01)

Pathology specimens no longer accepted (2022-11-22)

JGH - SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses (2022-11-14)

CORRECTION - Updated workflow and Indications for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-11-14)

Reminder – Unlabelled specimens received in Microbiology will be rejected (2022-11-09)

Delay in HbA1c analysis  (2022 10 27)

H. pylori antigen testing on stool samples (2022-10-20)

REMINDER: Expired hemoculture bottles (2022-10-19)

REMINDER: Reference number (2022-10-11)

New kits and platform for BK virus and JC virus quantitative viral load testing - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-10-17)

REMINDER: Rosh Hashanah : September 26, 2022 and Yom Kippur: October 5, 2022 (2022-09-12)

REMINDER: Decentralization of Central Reception – MUHC, Glen Site - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-09-07) 

Reminder - Procedure for sending samples from patients with known or suspected infection with Monkeypox - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-09-06)

Labour Day – September 5, 2022 - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-08-19) 

Decentralization of Central Reception – MUHC, Glen Site - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-08-10) 

Workflow and Indications for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-07-26) 

Conservation and Transport of Specimens - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-08-02)

Workflow and Indications for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-07-26)

Interruption of Estrone and DHEA analysis - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-07-22)

Change of Assay and Reference Range for IGF1 (2022-07-20)

Modified Testing Schedule of Lymphocyte Stimulation Test – Central Laboratory, Glen Site - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-07-11)

2022-2023 Statutory Holidays - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-05-12)

New molecular tests for HIV-1, Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) (2022-05-16)

Changes to Trichomonas vaginalis testing and Correction to Swab Catalogue Numbers (2022-05-16)

Changes to Trichomonas vaginalis testing (2022-04-28)

Changes to the Ordering of Specific Allergy Tests - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-04-08)

Guide on the utilization of blood procurement tubes - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-04-06)

Workflow and Indications for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses- MUHC OPTILAB (2022-03-23)

Changes for allergy testing (Immunoglobulin IGE specific)- MUHC OPTILAB (2022-02-18)

Transfer of Clonazepam testing to Centre de toxicologie du Québec - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-03-15)

Acceptable Specimen Container for Urinalysis Requests – External Clients (2022-03-10)

Updated documentation for pediatric autopsy request - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-03-02)

NT-PRO-BNP Collections Instructions – Central Laboratory, Glen Site (2022-02-18)

New NT-proBNP Assay Central Laboratory, Glen Site - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-02-15)

Transport of COVID samples to the Microbiology lab for molecular testing - Grappe OPTILAB CUSM (2022-01-27)

Urine Catecholamine and metanephrine testing - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-01-24)

Change in Cyclosporine Assay – Central Laboratory – Glen Site - MUHC OPTILAB (2022-01-24)

Central Laboratory, Glen Site: Delay in Turn-Around Times - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-12-17)

Revised placental pathology requisition and new Cytogenetics - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-12-03)

FGFR3 Testing - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-12-01)

HCV qualitative PCR - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-25) 

Introduction of Flow Cytometry Requisition - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-22) 

Replacement of Transferrin by UIBC - UPDATE - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-22)

Glen site, MGH and Lachine Hospital laboratory contact list - Revised - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-12)

Glen site, MGH and Lachine Hospital laboratory contact list - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-11)

Reminder of the Mandatory Requirement of a « pick-up slip » for Products from the Blood Bank - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-10)

Reminder: Computer system update of transfusion service (e-Traceline) - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-02-09)

β-hydroxybutyrate Method Change - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-02)

Replacement of Transferrin by UIBC - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-11-02) 

Remembrance Day – November 11th, 2021 - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-10-19)

Computer system update of transfusion service (e-Traceline) - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-10-25)

Change to BNP assay availability – GLEN Central Laboratory - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-10-21)

New test : NT-Pro BNP - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-10-05) 

Acceptable Specimen Container for Aliquotted Specimens - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-09-29)

Discontinuing Osmometry Testing Onsite at Lachine Campus - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-09-29)

Labour Day – September 6, 2021 - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-08-23) 

Acceptable Specimen Container for Urinalysis Requests - MUHC OPTILAB (2021-08-05)

Central Laboratory, Glen Site: Change in Testing Schedule - Increased Turn-Around-Times - REVISED (2021-08-03)

Night shift staff in the Lachine laboratory (2021-06-25)

Temporary interruption of chromosome breakage testing for Fanconi Anemia (2021-06-25)

Delay in result reporting of pneumococcal antibodies (2021-04-08)

Temporary interruption of BNP analysis (2021-03-08)

Change to automated chemical urinalysis reporting – Glen site & Lachine Hospital (2021-03-09)

Change in testing schedule - Increased TATs  (2021-02-25)

Modified schedule for bone marrow procurement (2021-02-24)