Effective Dec. 24, 2019, WDL will transition testing of Heavy and Light Chains for IgA, IgG, and IgM to a new analyzer.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING URINE SPECIFIC GRAVITY RESULTS. Testing performed at WDL between Mar. 4, 2013, and Nov. 8, 2019, may have been affected.

Effective Dec. 3, 2019, WDL will update the result reporting structure for Volatile Alcohol + Ethylene Glycol Screen (mnemonic VOLAT GLYC), Volatile Alcohol – Monitoring (mnemonic VOLATILE) and Ethylene Glycol – Monitoring (mnemonic ETHY GLYC) tests.

Effective Sept. 26, 2019, WDL will begin offering the American Medical Association (AMA) approved Obstetric Panel with HIV. This panel combines the currently available Obstetric Panel and the HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab, 4th Generation test.

Effective Sept. 18, 2019, WDL will begin offering a new panel combining the current Volatile Alcohol Panel and Ethylene Glycol tests. This new test panel, named Volatile Alcohol + Ethylene Glycol Screen (mnemonic VOLAT GLYC), will become the preferred first-line screening test when ingestion of any alcohol or glycol is suspected.

Effective Sept. 10, 2019, WDL will be implementing a new FDA-approved test for detection and quantitation of Cytomegalovirus DNA in plasma.

Effective Aug. 29, 2019, Mycoplasma pneumoniae Antibody (combined IgG and IgM) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM testing will be inactivated in Epic due to poor specificity of the test.

Effective Aug. 19, 2019, WDL is making a change in  Epstein Barr Virus reporting.

Effective Aug. 5, 2019, the Cytogenetics Laboratory began offering a new fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panel for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) – like B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL).

Effective July 15, 2019, WDL will discontinue in-house testing of H. pylori antibody IgG.

Effective July 10, 2019, WDL will transition to a new automated method for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) that will significantly reduce the time to result as compared to the manual method.

Effective July 10, 2019, the CANCER CENTER CBC and DIFF (CCCBCD) [85025.002] test order, will be inactivated in Epic, since it is a duplicate test to the standard CBC and DIFF. 

Important notice regarding Urobilinogen Results.

Effective June 20, 2019, WDL will begin testing Cytomegalovirus Antibody IgG, Beta-2 Microglobulin and Homocysteine using new instrumentation.  Reference ranges for each analyte will change.

Effective June 17, 2019, WDL will be removing the combination of 3+ Glucose with 2+ or greater Ketone in urine specimens from our critical value listing.  Urinalysis Critical Value Reporting Update.

Effective June 4, 2019, WDL is implementing a new Coagulation Instrument System in the WDL Main Lab only.  Reference ranges and reportable ranges will change for PTT, PTT HEP, FIBRGN, D DIMER, and PT.  Also, please note, PTT specimen stability is changing from 24 hours to 4 hours.

Effective June 4, 2019, D-Dimer assay performance specifications have been updated for testing at the WDL Main Lab

Effective May 15, 2019, Respiratory Virus Extended Panel Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (V RESPEXP NAAT) will be replaced with the Respiratory Extended Pathogen Panel Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (RESP EPP NAAT).

Effective April 1, 2019, WDL will be changing the reference range and the Heparin Therapeutic Range for Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT).

Effective March 26, 2019, WDL is expanding the Testing Menu in the Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center Laboratory.

Effective March 18, 2019, WDL is replacing the 3-tube QuantiFERON TB Gold test with the QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus 4-Tube test.

Effective March 18, 2019, Salivary Cortisol reference range will change.

Effective March 15, 2019, WDL will only accept the H. pylori BreathTek collection kit.

Effective Feb. 20, 2019, WDL will update reference ranges for electrolytes reported in the Code 4 (Medical Emergency) Panel.

Effective Feb. 20, 2019, the reference range for Prothrombin Time (PT) testing will change.

Effective Feb. 4, 2019, WDL will transition to a new test method for Thyroglobulin and Thyroglobulin Antibodies testing.

Effective Jan. 30, 2019, WDL will implement a new culture order, specifically for the isolation and identification of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsy specimens, H. pylori Culture.

Effective Jan. 16, 2019, WDL will implement a new test for Whole Blood Electrolytes.

Effective Jan. 16, 2019, WDL will begin performing Beta-Hydroxybutyrate testing in-house.

WDL is updating Allergy Test Panel offerings.

Effective Jan. 3, 2019, WDL has a  Factor XIII Testing Update.