Notifications & Alerts

ANCA and ANTI-CCP have been added under the Ministry of Health’s Community Access Pilot program coverage for collection and testing when ordered by select health care specialists in Ontario.

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our operations will continue as normal on Saturday the 30th, but we will be closed on Monday, October 2, 2023, to observe the holiday.

Due to a global supply shortage, the enzyme used for oxalate measurement is temporarily unavailable. LifeLabs has limited supply of the reagent and will suspend testing on September 28, 2023 in Ontario, and on October 5, 2023 in B.C.

We’re pleased to share that we have introduced the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score (ELFTM) in Ontario as a convenient option for screening for liver fibrosis in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

***Update on Test Ordering [Clarification]*** When ordering Stool Ova & Parasites testing, if helminthic infestation is suspected, the patient has immunocompromised status, or if testing is for immigration/refugee screening purposes, then please collect stool samples in SAF containers. Please provi...

**Update in Testing** This test is currently unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.

**Update on Test Availability**

The back order from July 1, 2023 on the Paladin (Isodiagnostika) H. pylori breath kits has been resolved. Specimen Collection and Testing has resumed.

**Resumption of Testing with New Method**

in-house testing of Anti-CCP will resume, but this testing will be performed on the Roche Cobas e801 platform.

While the clinical performance of the assay remains unchanged, the reported values a...

As part of ongoing efforts to improve our quality of service, LifeLabs Ontario will implement a new analytical platform for all in-house performed trace metals tests.

We are pleased to share an update on the replacement of Roche Cobas and Abbott Architect analyzers used nationally at LifeLabs.

All core chemistry and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) tests will transition to the Abbott Alinity c platform. This will take place gradually, starting on May 28th 2023 for the tests performed at the Sudbury and Thunder Bay sites, followed by June 11th 2023 for the tests performed at Belleville te...

**Clarification on Specimen Collection** The Aptima collection swabs are suitable ONLY for molecular testing of CT/GC and TV and not suitable for culture. Culture requests for specimens collected in Aptima molecular collection swabs will be rejected. For any culture request such as Genital Cultur...

Starting April 03, 2023, LifeLabs will temporarily refer out all testing for Anti-CCP to an external site to ensure uninterrupted service.

LifeLabs will replace its current platform for molecular testing of Chlamydia/Gonorrhea and Trichomonas in Ontario from the BD Viper System to the Hologic Panther system this spring.

**Removal of race modifier comment**

Aligning with LifeLabs commitment to promoting equity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) test reporting the race modifier comment will be removed from all eGFR results.