Overview of Services

For a printed copy of our complete Directory of Services, please contact:484-580-4000.

Client Service Center

Tel.: 484-580-4000

Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

The personnel of the Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services Client Service Center are available during normal working hours to assist you by providing test results, ordering additional tests, procuring supplies and requisition forms, and answering most laboratory questions. They can also connect you to the appropriate Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services personnel for clinical questions or for issue resolution.

Outside of normal working hours, your call will be forwarded to the laboratory so that an  employee is always available to provide laboratory results or take a message 24 hours a day.

Supplies

Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services provides clients with supplies necessary for the collection, processing and referral of specimens to our laboratory. Supplies are to be used solely for the purpose of referring specimens to Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services. There is no charge for supplies used to refer specimens to Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services.

Supplies and laboratory requisition forms may be ordered by faxing an order form to the Client Service Center at 610-977-0070 or by calling a client service representative at 484-580-4200. Please allow 48 to 72 hours for delivery.

Courier

Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services offers specimen transportation services Monday through Saturday to clients that collect specimens in their offices. Specimens may be picked up on a regular or a will-call basis at a time suitable to office hours. To arrange a pickup schedule, contact Marketing at 484-580-4004 or 484-580-4005.

Test Reporting

The availability of test results depends on the nature of the test, the analytical time required and the method of reporting.

Critical values are called immediately by the testing laboratory to the ordering physician.

Stat. values are faxed or called by the Client Service Center to the ordering physician.

Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services laboratory reports may be delivered electronically by an Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services courier, through the U.S. Postal Service, or by fax to your plain-paper fax machine prior to the office opening in the morning.

Verbal Reports

Verbal reports are available by calling 484-580-4200. Please be prepared to provide the client service representative with the physician's name and location, the date of service, the patient's name, and the patient's date of birth or social security number.

Verbal cytopathology reports are available at 484-476-2620.

Verbal anatomic pathology reports can be obtained by calling the pathology department of the appropriate hospital:

• Bryn Mawr Hospital: 484-337-3768
• Lankenau Medical Center and specimens picked up by courier: 484-476-2613
• Paoli Hospital: 484-565-1152
• Riddle Hospital: 484-227-3301

Federal and state regulations prohibit Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services from releasing results directly to patients without signed authorization. Patients should always be encouraged to discuss their test results with their physicians. However, a patient may obtain a copy of their results from Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services by signing a release form and providing proof of identification.

Verbal HIV results can be given to the physician only. HIV results cannot be faxed.

Turnaround Time

Routine turnaround time for most tests is within five to eight hours of receipt of specimen by the laboratory. Results of specimens delivered by courier are usually available within 24 hours.

Stat. and ASAP Testing

Stat. orders should be reserved for clinically life-threatening situations or when therapy will be immediately affected by the test result. The lab policy is to return results on stat. orders within one hour of receipt (20 minutes for blood gases).

ASAP is an intermediate priority, between stat. and routine. Only tests that are also available stat. (Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services Stat. Listing) may be ordered ASAP. The ASAP priority will enable lab personnel to expedite testing that is more urgent than routine. For outpatients, the ASAP priority is available for patients who present at outpatient registration in the hospitals or for specimens dropped off at the lab. ASAP is not available for specimens drawn at the ambulatory centers or transported by courier from physician offices. Tests ordered ASAP are processed on site at the Lankenau, Bryn Mawr and Paoli laboratories. Results on ASAP specimens will generally be available within two hours from time of collection (or time of receipt in the lab for drop-off specimens).

Additional Tests

Additional testing may be ordered by calling the Client Service Center at 484-580-4200 within one to six days of sample collection, depending upon specimen stability and requirements. State and federal regulations require that all verbal requests for laboratory testing be followed up with written verification. The customer service representative will fax the ordering physician an add-on form, which must be completed and returned for documentation.

Standing Orders

Standing orders must be written on an Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services requisition. The following information is required:

• Patient name
• Test(s) requested
• Frequency (monthly, weekly, etc.)
• Expiration date
• ICD9 diagnosis code(s)

A standing order for outpatient laboratory testing will be valid up to a maximum of 12 months, if specified on the order. If the expiration date is not specified, the order will be valid for six months.

A letter explaining this policy and the patient's responsibility will be given to each outpatient who has a standing lab order. The patient keeps the original order. Registration personnel make a photocopy at each visit, write the expiration date on the order and remind the patient when the order is close to expiration. It is the patient's responsibility to obtain a renewal order from the physician if necessary.

Professional Consultation

Main Line Hospitals - Laboratory Services pathologists offer expert diagnostic consultation and test interpretation service. Our pathologists are available to answer questions concerning your patient's test results. In addition, if your patient is admitted to a Main Line Health facility, our pathologists have rapid access to inpatient records and test results obtained while your patient was at our facility. Whether an outpatient or inpatient, interpretations are based upon results obtained utilizing standardized methods and normal ranges across our testing sites.

Account Management Team

Your Main Line Hospitals - Laboratory Services management representative will provide a detailed orientation to your staff on Main Line Hospitals – Laboratory Services  procedures, before service is initiated. Your representative is available to make personal visits to ensure that the service you receive continually meets your needs and expectations. If you wish to become a client of Main Line Hospitals - Laboratory Services, or would like more information, call 484-580-4000.