Laboratory of Pathology

Specimen Ordering 

CRIS Order Entry Does Not Replace Pre-Approval or Pre-Scheduling. Specimen processing may be initiated upon a verbal request to the pathologist, but processing will not be completed or reported without a CRIS order.

Go to:  Specimen Scheduling and Delivery

No Specimen Will Be Accepted Without an Active CRIS Order Prior to Delivery.

Enter Flow Cytometry orders for all follow-up orders as far in advance as possible (6-month advance order entry is not unusual for follow-up protocol specimens).  Include the fellow’s name and pager number, patient history and clinical question.

1. Peripheral Blood Flow orders:
   
   • In CRIS:  Anatomical Pathology / Flow Cytometry, Blood 
   • Complete the requested information.
2. Bone Marrow Aspirate Flow orders:
   
   • In CRIS:  Anatomical Pathology / Flow Cytometry, Bone Marrow 
   • Complete the requested information.
3. CSF Flow orders:
   
   • In CRIS:  Anatomic Pathology / Flow Cytometry, CSF
   • Complete the requested information.
4. Other fluids or non-BM biopsies and aspirates (LN/Tissue/FNA): 
   Non-CSF fluids require Cytopathology triage.  

Enter two (2) CRIS orders with Specimen source / Site indicated for both:  

1. Anatomical Pathology / Cytopathology – Non-GYN

• Special Instructions: “Send aliquot for Flow Cytometry”
• Enter Specimen Type & Anatomic Site of Specimen

      2. Anatomical Pathology / Flow Cytometry, Other

• Enter Specimen Type & Site

STAT Requests

If rapid diagnosis and notification of result is required to begin treatment:

• Contact a Flow Cytometry Pathologist to communicate the reason why it is a STAT.
• Only Dr. Wang and the Flow Cytometry Pathologist can approve a STAT status on a specimen.  Triage (301) 480-7179
• Indicate STAT nature in the CRIS order "Special Instructions" section. 
• Include name and pager number of fellow on evening call in the "Special Instructions" section.

 SPECIMEN LABELING REQUIREMENTS

ALL CRIS orders must match the specimen label information. 

 Unlabeled, incomplete, incorrect or mismatched specimens missing required label element(s) will not be processed until corrected identification is made IN PERSON. 

 REQUIRED SPECIMEN LABEL ELEMENTS on all specimen tubes and vials must include each of the following identification elements:

• FULL NAME:       Patient first & last name (patient abbreviations or initials are not sufficient)
• UNIQUE #:          One or more unique identifiers such as MRN, CRIS, NIH lab accession # or DOB
• DATE:                 Sample collection date
• SOURCE:            Bone marrow aspirate, apheresis product, CSF, FNA, tissue.  EXCLUSION:  Blood.
• Source location:  Left or right aspirate, FNA or biopsy site, fluid source (pericardial, pleural, BAL)
• OTHER:               List anticoagulants, transport media, stabilizers or other reagents present in sample