Source
Mnemonic	ECG
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Handling
Additional Information	Testing is performed at all Patient Service Centres. Appointments are strongly recommended. As of March 1, 2012, STAT ECGs are no longer available. Electrocardiogram Protocol: Please note that patients suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome or serious arrhythmia should not be sent to a laboratory for an ECG and/or tests for cardiac markers. Rather, they should be sent to the nearest hospital emergency department. A Priority Interpretation (PI) is available for patients requiring an urgent report. PI ECG reporting will be available from our default reader within 2 hours Monday - Friday if performed before 4:00 pm. PI ECGs requested after 4:00 pm and on weekends or stat holidays will be read on the next business day. If other cardiologist is designated to read PI ECG, arrangements are the responsibility of the requesting physician. For more information, see Patients Having an ECG RRL: If patients arrive at outpatient labs with CLS requisitions for ECG testing, refer the patient to their nearest Patient Service Centre. PSC: All adult STAT ordered ECGs will be directed to Carodiology Consultants for reading and reporting.
Testing Location
Testing Frequency	Daily
Alternate Name(s)	EKG, Electrocardiogram
Reference Interval	Not applicable. NOTE: If the electronic interpretation of an ECG tracing indicates one of the following possible serious abnormalities, CLS staff will obtain patient consent to call Emergency Medical Services to assess the need to transfer the patient to the nearest emergency department. Acute infarct Ventricular Tachycardia Complete Heart Block For more information, contact the CLS Division Head for Clinical Pathology at 403-770-3756 or 1-800-661-3450.