Lab bulletins: Result delays, reminders

There is a delay in lab test result reporting for the Calgary Zone due to an instrumentation upgrade.

A typical 24-hour turnaround will now take up to 48 hours for routine chemistry and immunoassay tests due to changes at the Clinical Biochemistry Hub Lab.

If possible, please have patients present at least 48 hours for outpatient blood work before results are needed. The delay is expected to last until September 2025. Get the details.

UTM, VTM collection process changes: Effective Friday, Aug. 1, all samples submitted to labs in expired universal transport medium (UTM) or viral transport medium (VTM) will not be processed. Please check the expiry date. Get the details.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum changes: The acceptance criteria for serology and molecular (PCR/NAT) testing for Anaplasma phagocytophilum has changed. Get the details.

Delays in urea breath testing reminder: Alberta Precision Laboratories is temporarily referring all Urea Breath Tests (UBTs) out of province to Dynacare. Get the details.