Provide Specimen Collection Information

1 In the Order Codes area, do one of the following:

Note: If you selected the Standing Order check box, or if you plan to put the order on hold, go to Complete the Order. You can put an order on hold whether or not you select the Specimen Not Collected check box or provide a date in the Collected: Date box. However, you cannot put the order on hold if you provide a date in the Scheduled: Date box.

• Provide information about the collected specimen:

a Leave the Specimen Not Collected check box cleared.

b If a draw fee should be collected for this order, clear the Draw Fee Not Required check box and make sure that a draw fee code has been added to this order prior to filing the order. If you do not add the draw fee code, a message appears on the Verify Order page indicating that it is required. If a draw fee should not be collected for this order, select the Draw Fee Not Required check box to allow you to place the order without a draw fee code.

Note: For QuestDirect™ consumer-initiated testing orders, the Draw Fee Not Required check box is automatically selected and disabled, as draw fees do not apply. If a draw fee code has been added to a pending order, it must be removed before the order can be filed.

c In the Fasting list, click Yes if the patient fasted prior to having the specimen collected, No if the patient did not fast, or Unknown if you do not know whether or not the patient fasted (for example, if the specimen was dropped off).

Note: If you schedule the order for the future, the fasting status is automatically cleared, and can be specified when the order is filed.

d In the Collected: Date box, type the date the specimen was collected, or click the date on the calendar.

Tip: You can use any of the following shortcuts to specify the date: • Type t for today’s date. • Type y for yesterday’s date. • Type t-# (where # is the number of days prior to today). For example, type t‑5 to specify the date five days prior to today. You can also configure your user profile to use today’s date automatically.

Note: The collection date cannot be more than 186 days old.

e To specify a collection time, in the Time box, type the time that the specimen was collected.

Tips:  • You can configure your user profile to use the current time automatically. • You can type n for the current time. • Twenty-four-hour time is automatically converted to twelve-hour time.

f If a urine specimen was collected, in the Total Volume (ml) box, type the number of milliliters of urine that was collected (if this information does not appear automatically based on your response to an AOE question).

This value must be either a two- to four-digit number, R (for random), or NOTV (for no total volume)

Notes:   • If you typed NG in response to an AOE question, NOTV might automatically appear in this box. When you complete the order, this is not considered a discrepancy. • For some tests, Total Volume (ml) is a required field.

g If multiple urine specimens were collected over a period of time, in the Duration (hrs) box, type the number of hours (if this information does not appear automatically based on your response to an AOE question).

You can type NG or NOT GIVEN if you do not know the duration.

Notes:   • If R or NOTV appears in the Total Volume (ml) box, NG automatically appears in the Duration (hrs) box. • For some tests, Duration (hrs) is a required field.

h In the Tech Initials box, type the initials of the phlebotomist who drew the specimen.

The appropriate response varies from one facility to another.

i If you are placing this order with a generic lab, in the Client list, click the number that the generic lab uses to identify the client. (The word Client is preceded by the name of the generic lab.)

j If you are placing this order with a generic lab, in the Comments box, type any information or instructions that you want to include on the requisition.

• Schedule specimen collection for the future:

Note: If Batching or Batching-No Reqs appears at the top of the page, you cannot schedule the specimen collection for the future; the Scheduled: Date and Time fields do not appear.

a Select the Specimen Not Collected check box.

b In the Scheduled: Date box, type the date when the specimen will be collected, or click the date on the calendar.

You can optionally use today’s date and simply specify a future time, or even leave the Time box blank.

Tip: You can use any of the following shortcuts to specify the date: • Type t for today’s date. • Type t+# (where # is the number of days after today). For example, type t+14 to specify the date two weeks from today.

c To specify a collection time, in the Time box, type the time that the specimen will be collected.

Tip: You can type n for the current time.

This time will appear automatically in the scheduled orders list, although you can change it as needed. For information about managing scheduled orders, see Managing Scheduled Orders.

d In the Tech Initials box, type the appropriate initials (such as the initials of the phlebotomist who should draw the specimen).

The appropriate response varies from one facility to another.

2 Complete the order (as described in Complete the Order).