Sending Lab Specimens That Need Different Temperatures (LabCorp and Quest)

Some lab orders include tests whose specimens must be sent at different temperatures: room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen. Specimens at different temperatures can't travel in the same bag, so each temperature goes in its own specimen bag.

LabCorp and Quest handle this differently. Follow the steps for your lab so that every specimen is matched to the right tests and all results come back into the patient's chart.

Before You Start: Check Each Test's Temperature

Look up the transport temperature for each test in the lab's test directory:

• LabCorp: labcorp.com/test-menu
• Quest: testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com

If every test on the order uses the same temperature, no extra steps are needed.

LabCorp: One Order, One Requisition Copy per Bag

For LabCorp, keep all tests on a single order. Don't split them into separate orders. LabCorp matches the bags back together when they arrive, so you receive one report with all results.

1. Create and submit the lab order as usual, with all tests on one order.
2. Open the requisition (see Accessing Lab and Imaging Order Details).
3. Print one copy of the requisition for each temperature bag. All copies must have the same CTRL number.
   • Room temperature + frozen = 2 copies
   • Room temperature + refrigerated + frozen = 3 copies
4. Put a green LabCorp "Match Up" label on a blank area of each copy, without covering any information.
5. Fold each copy so the Match Up label shows through the bag, then place the specimens in bags by temperature.

Tips

• If the requisition runs to more than one page, put all pages in every bag. If the pages are split between bags, LabCorp may process each bag as a separate order, and some results may not come back into the chart.
• Don't write "Duplicate" on the copies or cross out tests. The Match Up label is what tells LabCorp to combine the bags.
• To order Match Up labels, contact your LabCorp account representative or regional supply warehouse (LabCorp supply item: Label Match Up FL.GRN, PeopleSoft No. 3670).

Quest: A Separate Order for Each Temperature

Quest requires a separate requisition for specimens at different temperatures. Frozen specimens must always be sent with their own requisition. To get one requisition per bag, create a separate lab order for each temperature group.

1. Group the tests by transport temperature (room temperature, refrigerated, frozen).
2. Create one lab order per group. For example, put the room-temperature tests on one order and the frozen tests on a second order.
3. Submit each order and print its requisition.
4. Place each requisition in the bag with the matching specimens.

Tips

• Frozen specimens can't be shared between tests. Each test that requires a frozen specimen needs its own frozen tube.
• Each order generates its own requisition and returns its own results to the patient's chart.

Quick Reference

For additional help, contact our support team.