Most laboratory test orders are made in NGEMR, which is directly linked to the Laboratory Information System (LIS). Electronic ordering and transmission of results allows clinicians access to test results in a timely manner.
Anatomic Pathology (Histopathology and Cytopathology) test orders are also made in NGEMR, but specimens must be accompanied by a hard-copy request form (either printed from NGEMR or completed manually during NGEMR downtime). Refer to NGEMR tipsheet on Pathology orders.
During NGEMR downtime, ordering clinicians must use our manual request forms, which can be downloaded from Forms and specimens must be sent together to the laboratory.
For Hospital to Home (H2H) services, nurses or doctors from Community and Integrated Care (CIC) access NGEMR via Virtual Private Network (VPN). Specimens collected in patients’ homes are initially labelled with sticky labels containing patient’s identification including name and unique identifier (FIN or NRIC). CIC nurses then complete the collection process in the Electronic Collection Module (ECM) in the laboratory where the specimens are delivered.
Test orders that are highly specialized or not commonly requested are outsourced to external laboratories. The inhouse test menu expansion depends on the clinical demand and workload.
There are specimens that are not handled by us which are:
Ordering location must send these specimens directly to the referral laboratories. If required, we can assist you in arranging the transport of these specimens.
General guidelines for specimen submission to HSA
HSA do not operate on Saturday, Sunday or Public holidays, except for requests to do brain-death certification for organ transplant. The organ transplant coordinator contacts HSA laboratory director for such requests.
Seal is required only for medico-legal specimen. Use the perforated seal (see picture) that will break when tampered with. Personnel who collected the specimen should sign on the seal and paste the seal in between the cap and body of the container, such that the seal will break when the container is opened. Seal should be intact (not broken) from the time specimen was collected until receipt in HSA to ensure specimen integrity.
Transnational Group (primary provider)
GIS Couriers (secondary provider)
Add-on test orders are accepted only for certain tests within the specified timing indicated and recommended by the manufacturer. Refer to Add-on Test List for the list of add-on test order.
Add-on test orders involve a lot of work for laboratory personnel (i.e. retrieval of specimen, re-ordering of test, and re-analysis of specimen). Hence, add-on test orders should be made sparingly, and on the understanding that they are not routine practice. Add-on test orders are not considered urgent. If an urgent result is required, clinicians should order a new test and send a new specimen.
Add-on test guidelines
Additional tests may be performed on specimens that have already been received and processed by the laboratory, if the tests are requested within the period allowable for the respective tests.
An add test form or laboratory request form should be sent for all such requests by the ordering clinician.
Add-on test requests are NOT ALLOWED during system downtime, except for non-recollectable specimens.Add-on for referral testing are allowed at the discretion of the referral laboratory.
Note:
Not all tests can be added on. NGEMR helps doctors to know which tests can be added on: when doctors select a test in the Order tab, NGEMR shows the ‘Add on’ option only for those tests that can be added on.
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