Requests To The Laboratory

Requesting Procedure

• All requests to the laboratory must be made through the use of the laboratory request form
• The lab form must be correctly filled out and signed by the requesting physician or significant others
• The patient identification on the request form must correctly match the identification on the specimen
• For STAT or urgent test requests the person ordering the test must clearly indicate by ticking the STAT or URGENT box on the request form
• During the on-call hours the on-call technologist must be notified via the Tapion Hospital ER (1-758-459-2207)

Completing The Request Form

It is imperative that the request form be filled out accurately. Filling out the form correctly provides the lab with key information that would help in the proper test selection and further workup of patient specimen as well as in the interpretation and reporting of lab results.

In filling out the request form the following information must be included:

• The client’s first name and last name and initials
• The client’s date of birth using the format DD/MM/YYYY
• The client’s sex
• The name of requesting physician name/signature
• Type of specimen and the date and time of collection
• Test / investigation required
• Clinical details / diagnosis, any medication or treatment administered to the patient

NB: The date of birth and the sex are extremely important and are mandatory fields. These must be input into the computer programme since test ranges are age and sex specific.