Welcome to the University of Iowa Health Care. The Department of Pathology offers the following short summary to assist in ordering diagnostic tests and retrieving the results of those tests, and to assist in the use of other Pathology services.

Details of precautions, method of collection and submission, as well as reference ranges, location of laboratory, phone numbers, and Epic Lab Code for all fluid and tissue specimens are included in the PATHOLOGY LABORATORY SERVICES HANDBOOK.

The Hospital has a system to identify "visits" in order to facilitate many administrative and reporting functions.  All laboratory testing requires the creation and completion of a visit for the date of the sample collection.  If laboratory testing is to be completed on the day of the visit, the submitting department is responsible for creating a visit during check-in of the patient prior to the collection of the laboratory sample. If a sample for laboratory testing is received after a patient visit and sent to the laboratory for testing, the submitting department is responsible for creating a visit for the date that the sample was collected.

All laboratory orders must be completed and signed within the Epic clinical information system.

Be sure all laboratory tests are properly collected, the specimen identified, and the date and time of collection are recorded on the requisition. Microbiology also requires the collector's title.

All of the Department of Pathology laboratories report test status and results via the Epic system. Once a specimen is received and entered in the laboratory system, that specimen will appear as "in process”.   As soon as the result is obtained, it will appear as Preliminary or Final.   All results will be displayed as soon as they are available. There is no need to phone the laboratory for results or status of a test. Be sure to refresh the screens for updated information.

The Department of Pathology Faculty and Staff, encourage you to call or come to any of the laboratories with questions or problems. We believe you will find the laboratory staff, house officers and faculty very helpful. The Pathology Specialities list is provided for your convenience.