Acceptance Criteria for Specimens/Test Requests

Definitions

Access Number The unique identifier assigned by the Environmental Laboratory linked to a particular sampling location or supply (water or ice) or a sterilizing device
Clinical sample A sample derived from the human body (ISO 15189)
DOB Date of birth
Environmental sample Water, ice, or biological indicator
Exposure Investigation (EI) Number A number assigned by the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health for the purpose of tracking laboratory specimens associated to a specific event (e.g. potential outbreak) at a specific location and time
FID # Feature Identification Code - a unique identifier assigned by First Nations and Inuit Health linked to a specific sampling location for water or ice
Hazardous sample A sample that poses a safety risk to laboratory personnel such as:
  • broken or leaking containers or contaminated by breakage or leakage of other samples
  • samples received in inappropriate containers (e.g. fluid in bags)
  • samples in syringes with needle attached
Non-clinical sample A sample derived from sources other than human beings such as animal or pharmaceutical, exclusive of environmental samples
Preferred information Information that is beneficial but is not required for sample/test request acceptance
Primary collection container The body of the innermost container received by the laboratory that actually holds the sample
Recipient The physician/healthcare provider and/or program or individual authorized to receive results
Requestor For clinical and non-clinical samples means the individual authorized by CPSA to request laboratory testing; for environmental samples means the authorized submitting individual/agency utilizing environmental laboratory services
Requirement Information that must be provided and criteria that must be met before the laboratory will accept, collect, or test a sample
Test Request (Requisition) A request for testing of a laboratory sample made in either electronic (e.g. order/entry) or paper format (e.g. laboratory requisition, physician office requisition) that is legible with clear orders (no undefined mnemonics or phone orders)