As of today, October 16, 2018 microscopy will no longer be component of the reflex urine culture for outpatients.  The order for reflex culture (Epic LAB8379) has been renamed “Urinalysis with Reflexed Culture” to reflect this.  If Epic identifies a patient as an outpatient reflex culture will occur if either leukocyte esterase or nitrite is positive.  For inpatients the current cascading scheme, which includes microscopy, will not change (see the Pathology Handbook entry for details).

This change will speed analysis and reduce complexity for outpatients.  Individual components of the reflex order will remain available as freestanding orders and the microscopic exam can be added onto a sample sent for urinalysis.  These orders are:

• Urinalysis (LAB1160)
• Urine microscopic exam (LAB1164)
• Urine culture (LAB239)

Questions concerning this broadcast can be directed to Bradley Ford, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Microbiology; (ext. 6-2990, bradley-ford@uiowa.edu), or Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, Director of Laboratories (matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).