Test Results Lost

[baggotlane]

Dear All,

The lab that did my initial stool testing now says 10 weeks later that they lost the results! The lab is a well-known nationwide corporation - LabCorp. I have called for the results every week after the first and they said they were still working on it. Now they admit that they lost them. The trouble is not simply redoing them - I was on gluten then and went gluten-free a day later. It may take months to recover that initial condition.

If they lose things like stool samples, not simple small items in this case, what else can they lose? Can we trust them? I have told my doctor I will not be tested by them again, even though they have their offices in the hospital I attend. And if they can make mistakes like this how many more do they make that we do not hear about? Or how many are not really the results of a particular patient?

This is serious stuff, affecting the lives of patients. I think we should raise our voices to congress to investigate. I have read revcent reports of overcharging or mis-charging.

Andrew

San Diego

[giselleacttwo]

I'm sorry, that must be so frustrating. I can see why you would be very angry.

A few months ago I was scheduled for an emergency c-section. My doctor did an amniocentesis (a very hairy procedure, which involved 3 VERY large needles being stuck in my VERY pregnant abdomen) to check for fetal lung maturity. My c-section was scheduled the next day pending the lab tests, which were flown out of state(to San Diego, actually LOL) to be done by a certain lab. Lo and behold, just as I was getting prepped for surgery, with IV already in place they called the lab and the results were lost! We couldn't go forward with the surgery without it, and we ended up losing valuable time which could have endangered my life or my baby's. Fortunately, all turned out well in the end, but it was a long and frustrating ordeal which resulted in some not too pleasant words said about that lab.

Anyway, my point is, I concur that something needs to be done. It is no small thing when labs get lost and peoples' lives are at stake.

[baggotlane]

Well, The problem is worse than getting things lost. Getting things lost is just when the problems are seen. But, what percentage of cases are mishandled or mixed up internally? We will never know.

I have had another experience of late with this lab. They had to do special tests, not commonly done for my blood analysis (nothing to do with all the typical Celiac tests). Several weeks after it was done I was called back in to get it redone because the staff had not been told that for this case the blood had to be keep chilled after withdrawing it. I am glad that they found out in time on this occasion.

But, together with all the cases I hear about people getting billed for the wrong tests or tests not being done I fear we are using a very expensive and unreliable resaource. In my case I asked for second tests to be done - and yes there were real differences! In future I may seek a second lab for each test.

My message is - it is important to investgate the accuracy and reliability of the testing lab before one goes ahead, as I see here so often, to balme or question the doctor.

Andrew

[celiac3270]

I understand how frustrating that must be. Prometheus is probably the best lab for celiac testing.