On Monday, February 27, we will be transitioning three assays from the instruments used at our Victoria Reference Laboratory onto the instruments used at our Burnaby Reference Laboratory.

This implementation will offer you and your patients an improved experience in managing health information by receiving test results electronically rather than through manual faxes.

LifeLabs has partnered with Natera, Inc. to offer SignateraTM, a molecular residual disease test that detects and monitors cancer status by examining an individual’s unique tumour genetic profile.

LifeLabs BC has implemented a new analytical platform for clinical immunoassay-based urine drug screens, and for blood glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase and serum/plasma/red blood cell cholinesterase testing.

During this work, our patient service centres will remain open, however, please note there will be delays up to 24 to 36 hours in the turnaround time of test results during the downtime to complete this work. In addition, during set hours, we will be unable to process certain tests.

Patient Service Centres in BC were closed at 2:30 PM today (October 25, 2022), due to an unplanned power outage that affected IT systems used to process testing.

In November, we will be moving to the Abbott Alinity testing platform at our Burnaby Reference Lab (BRL) and Victoria Reference Lab (VRL) by replacing Roche Cobas and Abbott Architect analyzers in a staggered approach.

**Update on Test Availability & Delay in Turnaround Time**
Due to an analyzer issue, we are temporarily referring this testing to London Health Sciences Centre. There will be a temporary delay in turnaround time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

LifeLabs reintroduces its Lactose Tolerance Hydrogen Breath Test

We’re pleased to share that LifeLabs has reintroduced its H. pylori Urea Breath test to its roster of tests for supporting gastrointestinal health.

Client Notice: Recent evidence has emerged that suggests a reassessment of the formula for calculating estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may be in order.

Due to issues with our referral laboratory, Free Valproic Acid will temporarily be unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.

**Update on Testing**

Due to issues with our referral laboratory, LP-PLA2 Activity will temporarily be unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.

**Update on Testing**

Due to issues with our referral laboratory, LP-PLA2 Activity will temporarily be unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.

LL #28581-  BD LAVENDER TUBE 13X75 LAVENDER 4.0ML HEMOGARD, PLASTIC, (BD item #367861) 100/SP LL #28642 - BD GOLD TUBE 13x100 GOLD 5 0ML HEMOGARD PLASTIC 0268397 (BD item #367986) 100/SP

The referral laboratory where LifeLabs sends Copeptin testing to will discontinue parallel Osmolality testing due to concerns about pre-analytical factors affecting accuracy of osmolality results. This will go into effect on Dec 16, 2021. The reports will continue to provide comments that can be use...

As part of a large process and quality improvement initiative around our referred out testing program, a selection of referred out tests will be changing test locations over the coming months. On December 5th, 2021, a number of tests will be performed at UHN (University Health Network). This may res...

LifeLabs is upgrading our macroscopic and microscopic urinalysis instrumentation at our labs in British Columbia and Ontario, starting September 2021.

Previously, ANA and ENA could be ordered separately or together. Moving forward, ENA testing will not be conducted unless the patient has a positive ANA test within the previous 12 months.

**Discontinuation of Tests** URINE BILIRUBIN AND UROBILINOGEN will be discontinued as of June 14, 2021. Please request serum liver function test(s) instead, as clinically appropriate (including ALT, AST, GGT and/or Total Bilirubin).

**Update on Turn Around Times** Due to supplier issues, we are currently experiencing a delay in turnaround time for ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME testing. We apologize for the inconvenience.

On March 3rd 2021, LifeLabs sent a memo to all clients informing them of a positive bias on the serum creatinine assay, causing a positive shift of up to 8 umol/L in creatinine results, along with the concurrent negative shift in eGFR. The root cause was the manufacturer reagent lot bias. An interpr...

FastTRK is a clinical testing program for the diagnosis of NTRK gene fusions. Funded by Bayer Inc., this is a complimentary service for clinicians to determine whether their patients’ cancer has an NTRK gene fusion.

A new creatinine reagent was started at all LifeLabs sites in BC on March 11, 2021. Creatinine and eGFR results are now similar to values reported prior to November 25, 2020.

LifeLabs has recently become aware of a positive bias on the serum creatinine assay. Test results for serum creatinine are an average of 8 umol/L higher, and values for eGFR are lower.

Effective April 4th, 2021 LifeLabs will introduce a new methodology for C- Reactive Protein (CRP) testing. The new method shows improved accuracy and precision across the CRP clinical range, including low concentrations used in cardiovascular disease assessment and high concentrations important for ...

Effective Mar 01, 2021, LifeLabs will be performing vitamin A and E testing in-house.

**Limited Test Availability** Due to safety precautions implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, H. PYLORI BREATH TESTING is temporarily not available for collection in our Patient Service Centres. Specimens collected by healthcare providers will continue to be accepted. We apologize for the...

PLASMA CATECHOLAMINES testing has returned to routine turn-around times. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In February, the Ministry of Health announced that Fecal calprotectin (FC) testing would be covered by MSP only for those diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel disease.

LifeLabs is pleased to share that we will resume distributing and collecting FIT kits in coordination with the BC Cancer Colon Cancer Screening Program, starting on June 8. FIT collection kits are available in labs across British Columbia. If you have a requisition, you can visit a LifeLabs PSC ...

Due to pandemic related resource re-allocation at our referral laboratory, we are currently experiencing a delay in turnaround time for OSTEOCALCIN testing. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Attention Health Care Practitioners: Please ensure requisitions are signed either as a wet or digital signature. Following Ministry guidelines, unsigned requisitions will not be honoured and patients will be turned away.

Attention Health Care Practitioners: Please ensure patients with Standing Orders have a request that is < 6months old. Standing orders are only valid for a 6-month period. Expired Standing Orders will be rejected and the patient turned away.

Consistent with recommendations from provincial ministries of health that all non-essential health care services be delayed until after the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) along with BC Cancer Colon Screening have decided to postpone fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) used fo...

IMPROVEMENTS TO my results™ PORTAL – LIFELABS PARTNERING WITH LAB TESTS ONLINE TO HELP PATIENTS LEARN ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

Please note that iLabLink being retired on January 31st, 2020

On May 13, 2019, LifeLabs will transition to a new vendor for FIT testing.

Civic Hotel, Autograph Collection in Surrey, BC

We have received notice from our Supplier, Fisher Edmonton, to quarantine the following supplies IMMEDIATELY:

New Urine Drug Screen Instrument

Due to supply issues, we are currently experiencing a delay in turnaround time for SELENIUM (SERUM) testing. We apologize for the inconvenience.