Client Services
Gaston Memorial Hospital offers outreach services to assist physicians and provide convenient laboratory services to their patients. Through outreach services, we are able to provide testing to area physician offices, home health agencies, nursing homes, veterinary clinics, community and industry health fairs.
For inquiries, please contact the Outreach Manager who can assist you with questions regarding test options, pricing, and other client services.
Outreach Manager: Karen Taylor, MT(ASCP)
Phone: (704) 834-3413
Email: taylork@gmh.org
Courier Service:
Laboratory couriers transport specimens safely and under controlled conditions to ensure specimen integrity is maintained. To discuss courier services available, please contact our client services department. The availability of courier service is dependent on referred specimen volume and location. Pickups are routinely available Monday - Friday. Special holiday courier service needs should be requested and scheduled in advance. STAT courier pickups are available for outreach laboratory clients based on courier location and availability at the time of the request. Requests for STAT services should be limited to critical and emergency patient situations.
Client Services: (704) 834-2881, Option 1
Client Supplies Print Request for Supplies Form
Routine supplies used for the sole purpose of specimen collection and transport for testing at GMH Laboratory are available upon request. To request supplies, a Request for Supplies form may be completed and forwarded to the laboratory via COURIER or by FAX to (704) 834-2154. Please place supply orders in advance and allow sufficient delivery time.
Specimen Labeling
All specimens submitted to the laboratory must be appropriately labeled. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) Patient Safety Goals, requires two identifiers to label collection containers in the presence of the patient, a process established to maintain positive identity throughout the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes. A properly labeled specimen should contain the patient's full first name, last name and at least one unique identifier such as date of birth, social security number, or GMH Medical Record number. The specimen label should also include the date and time of collection.
Clients will be notified of inappropriately labeled samples which will be discarded and recollection will be required. Specimens may not be relabeled.
Specimen Preparation for Transport
Clients are responsible for preparing and packaging specimens for transport to the laboratory. All specimens must be in leak-resistant primary containers (transport tubes) and should be placed in leak-resistant secondary containers (specimen bags). Couriers are prohibited from picking up specimens that are leaking or are not in secondary containers (specimen bags).
Labeled specimens should be placed and sealed in dual compartment biohazard bags.
Specimens for a single patient should be placed in an individual specimen bag.
The requisition should be placed in the side pocket of the bag, folded with the patient name facing outward. Requisitions should not be placed in the same compartment with the specimens.
Caution: Be sure to tighten caps on tubes and close bags securely.
Indicate the temperature requirements for each specimen bag with a a (check) in the appropriate box.
♦ Frozen ♦ Refrigerate ♦ Room Temperature (Ambient)
Note: If submitting more than one specimen per patient, and specimens need to be stored and transported at different temperatures, use separate bags and test request forms for each temperature type.
Lockbox Specimens:
Cold gel packs are provided to maintain temperature for specimens which require refrigeration.
Frozen specimens should be placed in the special frozen storage containers provided.
Unacceptable containers / Conditions:
•Glass tubes, unless otherwise specified
•Leaking Specimens
•Syringe with needle attached
•Specimen container secured with parafilm
•Specimen in expired transport container or media
Instructions for Test Request Forms
Manual laboratory test requisitions are available from GMH Laboratory Client Services
A test requisition form should accompany all specimens to the laboratory and include all information required for testing, reporting and billing of services. Both state and federal laws prohibit testing without a written order from an authorized provider.
Specimen label identifiers must match requisition and include date and time of collection as well as name or initials of collector.
Requisition must include:
• Patient full name, DOB, and social security number.
• Mark or record complete name of test(s) requested, record total number of tests ordered
in box provided on form.
• Ordering provider full name.
• Specimen source for all non-blood (i.e., urines, cultures) and tissue samples.
• ICD-9 or Diagnosis code for each test.
• Patient history and clinical information should be provided for anatomic pathology,
cytology and other specimen types when necessary for interpretation of results.
• Indicate method of billing, i.e,. insurance, patient, office
The following information must be provided either via an additional attached sheet or record directly on laboratory requisition:
• Patient address and phone
• Responsible party name, DOB, SS#, address, phone, relationship to patient
• Insurance Company name, Subscriber ID and Group #, employer name, claim address
• Indicate primary and secondary insurance for coordination of benefits.
