On 10 November, we’re upgrading our lab management system.

Standardised comments for specimen discrepancies

You will receive standardised comments in real-time instead of phone calls. If additional input is needed before processing, there will be comments issued and separate comments provided as heads-up if we are able to move forward without stopping the process.

These comments will be called out at the top of the report with ‘NOTE FROM IDEXX’ to highlight updates on processing specimens or actions required to complete processing.

Examples of situations that trigger notification informing that there was a discrepancy, but the specimen will continue to be processed regardless:

• We received a jar at the lab, but a cytology test code is indicated on the requisition form.
• We received a jar at the lab, but there is no test code indicated on the requisition form.
• A test code that is no longer offered is ordered.
• Two main histology test codes are submitted on the requisition form.
   

Examples of situations that trigger notification informing that there was a discrepancy that requires a response:

• The name on the jar and the name on the requisition form do not match.
• An incomplete requisition form is received at the lab.
• A non-IDEXX requisition form is received at the lab.
• There is no patient information on the requisition form.
• There is no species indicated on the requisition form.
• Information needed due to a lack of formalin reagent label on the jar.

Faster notifications about a specimen being too small and/or at risk of surviving but being processed

You will now receive an email and VetConnect PLUS notification about the specimen being too small and at risk of surviving but will be processed if possible. If you wish to cancel an order after receiving this notification, please call Customer Support at 43310439.

Preferred pathologist enhancement

As a part of these upgrades, we will be launching a new feature that allows us to store the names of your preferred pathologists in our database. Once a preferred list has been created and entered, the practice’s cytology and histology cases are automatically assigned to a preferred pathologist when available, giving you a more personalised experience. 

Our teams are collecting preferences received over the last few months to be added to our database. If you would like to request a preferred pathologist for automatic assignment to your submissions, please call Customer Support at 43310439, as we will no longer be supporting handwritten requests as of 10 November.