Versiti - Diagnostic Laboratories
 

Diagnostic Laboratories

Pioneering patient care through focused diagnostic testing and interpretation of results.

Diagnostic Labs

 

Focused Diagnostic Testing Services

Our wide range of diagnostic laboratory services include highly specialized functional and genetic diagnostic tests and are seamlessly integrated to provide comprehensive laboratory solutions for patient diagnosis and treatment. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Versiti has a unique collaborative approach to testing and diagnosis, bringing together clinical expertise and laboratory innovation, resulting in actionable solutions for patient care.

Client Services
  • 800-245-3117 x 6250
  •  
    Donor Testing Laboratory
    The Versiti Donor Testing Laboratory conducts blood bank tests that determine donor and recipient matches and suitability for transfusion.
     
    Hematology Testing
    Versiti provides von Willebrand factor tests, aHUS diagnosis, hemophilia lab tests and other laboratory diagnosis of bleeding and clotting disorders.
     
    Hematology Genetics Testing
    The Hematology Genetic Testing Lab provides specialized hematology genetics custom testing panels, single gene testing and more.
     
    Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Typing
    Versiti Diagnostic Labs’ Histocompatibility Lab provides human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing for solid organ transplant and HCT patients.
     
    HLA Loss of Heterozygosity
    Versiti Diagnostic Labs’ Histocompatibility laboratory conducts an HLA loss of heterozygosity evaluation for post-transplant relapse patients.
     
    Immunohematology Reference Lab
    Versiti’s Immunohematology Reference Laboratories (IRL) are highly specialized areas that focus on the identification and resolution of red cell transfusion-related problems.
     
    Requisitions
    Access requisitions for Versiti Diagnostic Laboratories.

    Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Central Time
    Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time

    After hours email or call 800-245-3117 x6250 and leave a message.

    For local sample pick up or urgent testing needs, call 800-245-3117 x6250 and select an option.

    Please note Client Services is closed on Sundays and the following dates in observance of national holidays. We cannot accept samples on these days.

    Memorial Day May 27, 2024 (Monday)
    Independence Day July 4, 2024 (Thursday)
    Labor Day September 2, 2024 (Monday)
    Thanksgiving November 28, 2024 (Thursday)
    Christmas Day December 25, 2024 (Wednesday)
    New Year’s Day January 1, 2025 (Wednesday)

    Shipping

    No. While we are open to accept delivery on Saturdays, some samples should not be sent for Saturday delivery. Contact Client Services prior to sending to discuss stability. Samples should not be shipped out of your location on Saturday or the day before an observed holiday to ensure viability of the sample (see “What are Diagnostic Lab hours” for holiday dates). If special circumstances arise, contact Client Services at 800-245-3117 ext. 6250.

    Yes. 800-245-3117 ext 6250

    Diagnostic samples and/or infectious substances must be packaged in compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the specific requirements of the overnight carrier used.

    Frozen samples should be shipped on a minimum of 5 pounds of dry ice. Use only plastic tubes and cushion them to protect from breakage during shipment. Please be aware that dry ice is also considered a hazard for shipping and must be packaged in compliance with DOT, IATA, and the requirements of the overnight carrier used.

    Refrigerated samples should be shipped on ice packs. Protect samples from freezing by wrapping them in paper toweling.

    Versiti Wisconsin / Client Services
    638 N. 18th Street
    Milwaukee, WI 53233-2121

    Billing

    If Versiti does not contract with your facility for laboratory testing services, we can offer the option for your patient to pay directly for laboratory testing performed in Wisconsin only. We will accept a check, money order, VISA or MasterCard as advance payment. A paid invoice will be issued to the patient when the testing is completed. If testing is canceled prior to performance, Versiti will issue a refund to the patient.

    Important Information for Private Pay Patients

    If your current healthcare provider does not have a service contract with Versiti, you may be required to pay out-of-pocket for laboratory testing services performed in Wisconsin. This means that you, not your health insurer, will pay Versiti for the services.

    Before you agree to pay for laboratory testing services, it is very important that you understand that your health insurance company may not reimburse you at all, or may only reimburse you a fraction of the amount you pay to Versiti.

    If you have health insurance, typically your insurance provider will pay for services you receive from certain providers that are within the insurer’s network. These providers are usually called “in-network providers”. Your insurance plan may also offer some coverage for services that you receive from “out-of-network providers” such as Versiti. Out-of-network providers usually do not have contracts with your insurance company and therefore do not submit bills directly to your insurance company. This means that you must pay the Versiti directly, and then ask your insurance company to pay you back. Depending on what your insurance policy says, your insurance company may not pay you back, or may only pay you back a small percentage of what you paid to Versiti.

    Please click the link here for additional information.

    Tricare

    If your insurer is Tricare and you are a member of the military, please click here.

    International Customers

    International customers may contact Versiti via phone or email to obtain wire transfer documents to utilize credit card payments.

    Versiti does not bill insurers or other third party payers except as noted below. The institution submitting the specimen for testing is responsible for payment.

    Versiti bills the referring institution unless the patient is an outpatient Medicare enrollee or a Medicaid recipient from Wisconsin, or the requested testing falls under specific CMS guidelines for Medicare/Medicaid recipients. If applicable, please complete the Medicare/Medicaid Benificiary form, located here.

    Versiti's standard payment terms are that payment is due upon invoice receipt.

    You should use Versiti, Inc FEIN 45-4675354 as the correct tax ID for remittance purposes. For all other inquiries or additional information, please contact Labinfo@versiti.org

    Our standard process includes issuing invoices on a weekly basis after testing is completed. We offer a monthly option as well; if interested contact Client Services. The institution referring the specimen is responsible for payment. Please submit all information for payment, including a purchase order number if required and billing address, on the requisition that is sent with the sample.

    Results and Reports

    Tests and panels can be canceled without charge if the notification is received before the sample has been processed. Please call Client Services at 800-245-3117, ext. 6250 to cancel an order. A final report will be issued to reflect the cancellation of the order.

    STAT testing is available for many of our assays. Some STAT tests require the approval of the laboratory director. Client Services or the appropriate laboratory will be able to advise you if STAT testing is available and what STAT charges will be applied.

    Final test results are routinely sent to the referring institution by fax when all tests on a sample have been completed. This report includes interpretation of all test results. A complete interpretation of results is dependent on the clinical history that you include on the requisition. 

    We now offer secure email as an option for receiving patient results. Please contact our Client Services team for further details. 

    Test results are also available online. Contact Client Services to enroll in Labtest, our online ordering and results viewing system. 

    Your laboratory or physicians may choose to receive results by mail. Please contact Client Services at 800-245-3117, ext. 6250 to request this service.

    CPT codes listed reflect the testing performed on each sample and are intended as a guide for your internal billing procedures. Be sure to review our recommended CPT codes with your insurance and state carriers. CPT codes listed in our directory of services reflect our interpretation of the AMA CPT code handbook.

    Some test results are available as interim reports. This includes individual tests which are resulted while other tests are in progress. Interpretation of results will be included only on the final report. Please contact Client Services if you would like to receive interim results.

    Versiti Diagnostic Laboratories is committed providing uninterrupted testing services, and have implemented best-practice strategies for our employees and supply chain as we monitor the spread of coronavirus (“COVID-19”).

    Unacceptable Samples

    When placing a label on a test tube, there are 4 main steps to follow:

    1. Place the label directly below the cap on the test tube,
    2. Ensure there is a visible space to view the contents,
    3. Check that the name on the label is at the top near the cap, and
    4. Guarantee that the barcode is placed straight

    It is important to follow these tube labeling best practices. Improper tube labeling can result in processing difficulties with the sample, and could lead to unnecessary delays. Click here to review an example of a correctly labeled test tube.

    We will notify you by phone and issue a report outlining reason for rejection if a sample is considered unacceptable for testing.

    Sample integrity is crucial to accurate test results. Samples can be compromised due to conditions during collection, storage, or transportation. The most frequent causes of unacceptable samples are hemolysis, inappropriate transport temperature, incorrect sample type and sample age. If a sample is unacceptable for testing, you will be notified by telephone. A report will be issued documenting that the sample was rejected. In some instances testing will be performed on a suboptimal sample after consultation with you.

    Proper identification of specimens is essential to providing accurate laboratory results for the correct patient. The laboratory cannot accept unlabeled specimens, even when accompanied by paperwork bearing the patient's name. Incomplete or inaccurately labeled specimens will be evaluated to determine whether acceptable identification can be made and a report issued.

    Requisitions

    Yes. Please include a completed requisition with each patient sample referred to the Diagnostic Laboratories. Requisitions preprinted with your name, address and client number are available from Client Services or 800-245-3117, ext. 6250.

    All requisitions can be found on the Forms and Requisitions page of Versiti Diagnostic Labs.

    Hemostasis Processing

    The Hemostasis Reference Laboratory retains samples for 2 months following testing. Please call if additional testing is needed to determine if stored aliquots are available for additional testing.

    Portions of the above procedures are reproduced with permission, from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (Formerly NCCLS) publication H2-A4-Collection, Transport, and Processing of Blood specimens for Testing Plasma-Based Coagulation Assays; Approved Guideline-Fourth Addition (ISBN 1-56238-521-6). Copies of the current edition may be obtained from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 940 West Valley Road, Suite 1400, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-1898, USA.

    If Hct=58%, put 0.80 ml of anticoagulant into a plastic tube, draw blood and put 9.2 ml into tube for total sample volume of 10 ml. Or, fill syringe with 0.80 ml of anticoagulant and draw blood to 10 ml mark.

    Yes. See the Hemostasis Anticoagulant chart below:

    ml of citrate for:
    Hct%     5 ml Sample 10 ml Sample
    10-14     0.75 1.5
    15-19     0.70 1.4
    20-55     0.50 1.0
    56-58     0.40 0.80
    59-61     0.37 0.75
    62-64     0.35 0.70
    65-67     0.32 0.65
    68-70     0.30 0.60

    To obtain a plasma sample, the capped specimen tube should be centrifuged at a speed and time required to consistently produce platelet-poor plasma with a platelet count <10 x 109/L(10,000/uL). This may be accomplished by centrifuging at 1,500 g for no less than 15 minutes at room temperature. If necessary, transfer plasma to a plastic tube and re-centrifuge to remove platelets. Do not filter the plasma to remove platelets, as filtering removes high molecular weight von Willebrand factor.

    Using a plastic pipette, remove the top 2/3 of plasma, transfer to a labeled plastic tube and cap. Do not use glass tubes, as glass activates the hemostatic mechanism. Refer to individual test entries in the Test Catalog for sample volume, number of aliquots required and special instructions.

    • Freeze plasma within 4 hours of specimen collection.
    • Specimens stored at -80oC are stable for 1 year. 
    • Samples stored at -20oC are stable for 14 days.
    • Specimens must remain frozen during storage and shipment.
    • Ship on dry ice with guaranteed overnight delivery.
    • Refer to shipping instructions for more information.
    • Consumer-grade freezers that undergo freeze/thaw cycles are not acceptable. 

    The anticoagulant used for coagulation assays should be 105 to 109 mMol/L, 3.13% to 3.2% (commonly described as 3.2%) of the dihydrate form of trisodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7 • 2H2O), buffered or nonbuffered (light blue top vacuum tube).

    We prefer that the first tube drawn not be utilized for hemostasis testing. The venipuncture must not be traumatic or slow flowing; avoid leaving the tourniquet on for an extended time. Allow evacuated tubes to fill by vacuum completely. Invert tubes gently at least 4 times to mix. Keep samples capped and process immediately. Whole blood specimens should be transported and kept at 18-24 co. (Transportation of whole blood specimens on ice is not recommended for most coagulation assays.) Centrifuge sample, remove plasma, and freeze within 4 hours from the time of specimen collection. Hemolyzed or clotted specimens are unacceptable.

    We prefer that the first tube drawn not be utilized for hemostasis testing. The venipuncture must not be traumatic or slow flowing; avoid leaving the tourniquet on for an extended time. Allow evacuated tubes to fill by vacuum completely. Invert tubes gently at least 4 times to mix. Keep samples capped and process immediately. Whole blood specimens should be transported and kept at 18-24 co. (Transportation of whole blood specimens on ice is not recommended for most coagulation assays.) Centrifuge sample, remove plasma, and freeze within 4 hours from the time of specimen collection. Hemolyzed or clotted specimens are unacceptable.

    The proportion of blood to the sodium citrate anticoagulant volume is 9:1. Inadequate filling of the collection tube will decrease this ratio, and may lead to inaccurate results. The final citrate concentration in the blood should be adjusted in patients who have hematocrit values above 55%. For hematocrits below 20%, there are no current data available to support a recommendation for adjusting the citrate concentration. 

    Histocompatibility Samples

    See the table below to find the typing and tube requirements for patients of a specific age.

    Patient Age Tube Type Typing To Be Performed
    0 - 1 year 3 cc in lavender top/4 buccal swabs
    2 cc in red top
    A, B, C, DP, DQ, DR low, int, or high resolution
    ABO/RH
    1 - 5 years 5 cc in lavender top/4 buccal swabs
    2 cc in red top
    A, B, C, DP, DQ, DR low, int, or high resolution
    ABO/RH
    5 - 10 years 7 cc in lavender top/4 buccal swabs  
    3 cc in red top
    A, B, C, DP, DQ, DR low, int, or high resolution
    ABO/RH
    > 10 years 14 cc in lavender top/4 buccal swabs
    5 cc in red top
    A, B, C, DP, DQ, DR low, int, or high resolution
    ABO/RH
     
    Hematology Testing
    Versiti provides von Willebrand factor tests, aHUS diagnosis, hemophilia lab tests and other laboratory diagnosis of bleeding and clotting disorders.
     
    Diagnostic Labs Inquiry Form
    Complete the form below for answers on Diagnostic Lab testing questions.
     
    Requisitions
    Access requisitions for Versiti Diagnostic Laboratories.
     
    Specialty Products & Services
    Versiti offers a number of specialty products and services, including matched platelets, autologous and directed donations, and therapeutic phlebotomy.