QUEST DIAGNOSTICS STD TEST APPOINTMENT SKIN

Information on safe specimen handling may be obtained from the U.S. Specimens must be handled in a safe manner and according to applicable legal requirements or guidance.

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS STD TEST APPOINTMENT SKIN

First aid includes washing cuts and needle sticks with soap and water flushing splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with copious amounts of water and irrigating eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants. In the event of an exposure, administer first aid immediately, notify your manager or supervisor and seek prompt medical attention. Work areas contaminated with blood or serum must be disinfected immediately with 10% bleach (hypochlorite at 0.5% final concentration) or other approved disinfectant. Use universal precautions when handling specimens containing blood or other potentially infectious material. When an inappropriate specimen or unclear test request has been submitted, you will receive notification with instructions for resolving the problem. As an example, if 4 mL of serum or plasma is needed for a test, collect 8 to 10 mL of blood. When serum or plasma is to be submitted for analysis, it is good practice to collect a volume of blood that is 2 to 2.5 times the volume of serum or plasma needed for the test. If repeat or confirmatory tests cannot be performed, the report will indicate that the specimen quantity submitted was “QNS” (Quantity Not Sufficient) for additional testing. If an inadequate specimen is submitted, we may not be able to perform the initial test or required confirmatory procedures. The volume requested in this directory is enough for initial analysis as well as for any confirmatory tests that must be performed. It is critical that an adequate specimen volume is submitted for analysis. If additional information is needed for the interpretation of the test results or there are specific instructions for patient preparation, they are listed along with specimen requirements. Specimen requirements include information such as specimen volume, collection and transport containers as well as transport temperature. Specific specimen requirements for each test are listed in the Test Directory. Please contact the laboratory for clarifications, if needed, prior to specimen collection.

The specimen collection and handling process can be completed by you and your staff, or by referring your patient to a Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center. After all of these activities take place, a quality analysis can be performed. Then, the specimen should be properly processed, packaged and transported to the laboratory in a timely manner and under environmental conditions that will not compromise the integrity of the specimen. Next, the actual collection of the specimen must be completed. The patient must first be properly prepared so that the best possible specimen can be collected.

Your care, skill, and knowledge when preparing the patient and specimen are essential to the provision of the highest quality standards for testing and services. The quality of any laboratory test result is dependent on many variables, the first of which begins with you.

Quest diagnostics std test appointment