New APL test directory

Effective Tuesday, July 28, a new Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) test directory will be released for healthcare providers who do not have access to Connect Care (Epic).

Directly integrated with Epic (the software that powers Connect Care), the new test directory will make accurate, up-to-date laboratory test information readily available and replace two existing interim laboratory test directories with a single provincial resource.

Please be aware that the new test directory will function differently than the current test directory:

• Your location must be selected prior to searching for test information.
• Collection container information returned will be specific to the location selected when collected outside an APL/AHS facility and is specific to performing location.
• Complex tests may have additional guidance provided through a test selection guidance button.
• Panel tests (e.g., Protein Electrophoresis) will show the performable tests under the order.
• Anatomical Pathology and Cytology testing information will be accessed by a button next to location search.

The new test directory will be launched on albertaprecisionlabs.ca.

You can review the laboratory bulletin for more information and the test directory basic instructions sheet.

Additional lab bulletins:

• Effective Tuesday, July 28, the Analytical Toxicology laboratory at the APL Calgary Hub Lab will resume in-house testing for Plasma Catecholamines (PCAT; test components include Dopamine, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine); please note the new PCAT reference intervals in the lab bulletin.
• A nucleic acid test (NAT) for Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Ureaplasma parvum will be implemented at the Alberta Provincial Public Health Laboratory, enabling testing to be performed in-province:
  • Routine Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma culture will be discontinued.
  • Requests for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma NAT will no longer be referred out of province.
  • A dedicated specimen for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma NAT will be required.
  • This testing will begin in a staged approach based on specimen source: Thursday, July 23 for genital and urine specimens and Monday, Aug. 10 for all other accepted specimens.
  • Please open the lab bulletin for more details.