M Tests

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• Magnesium - Urine
• Magnesium (Mg) - blood
• Malaria Screen
• Measles antibodies
• Meningitis - Bacterial - see also Meningococcal PCR
• Meningitis - Viral
• Meningococcal PCR
• Mercury
• Metabolic Screen (Includes urinary amino acids, urinary organic acids and serum amino acids)
• Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Screen
• Methotrexate
• Microalbumin (Refer to albumin creatinine ratio)
• Molecular Genetics (DNA analysis)
• Mucopolysaccharidoses
• Mumps
• Mycophenolic acid
• Mycoplasma genitalium
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae see Atypical Pneumonia
• Myeloma Screen (Refer to electrophoresis)
• Myoglobin

Magnesium - Urine

• Test Name: Magnesium - Urine
• Laboratory: Biochemistry
• Specimen Type: Random urine
• Specimen Container: Sarstedt Urine Z bottle (yellow cap)
• Specimen Volume: 3.2 mls
• Specimen Requirements: Boric acid container (red top) unsuitable.
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
• Turnaround Time: 2 working days
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp:

Magnesium (Mg) - blood

• Test Name: Magnesium (Mg) - blood
• Laboratory: Biochemistry
• Specimen Type: Serum, plasma
• Specimen Container: Yellow, green for WRH in house samples only.
• Specimen Volume: 4mls
• Specimen Requirements: Unspun overnight samples are unsuitable.
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
• Turnaround Time: Routine - 2 working days Urgent <3 hours
• Phone alert limits: <0.4 mmol/L
• Preanalytical stability at room temp:

Malaria Screen

• Test Name: Malaria Screen
• Laboratory: Haematology
• Specimen Type: EDTA 
• Specimen Container: Purple
• Specimen Volume: 2.5ml
• Specimen Requirements: The sample must arrive in the laboratory as soon as possible on the same day as the venepuncture. The sample is ideally taken during fever, but can be taken at any time.
• Other details: A Malaria Screen request form must be completed and accompany the sample. A copy of the form can be obtained from the Haematology section of the UHW Lab User manual website or from UHW Q-Pulse. The test is not performed for travel visa purposes.
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: As required
• Turnaround Time: 1 working day
• Phone alert limits: Positive malaria screens are phoned
• Preanalytical stability: Send to the lab ASAP. Blood films need to be made on the same day that sample was taken. Samples for Malaria RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) kits are stable for 3 days at 2 - 8°C.

Measles

• Test Name: Measles
• Laboratory: Serology External
• Specimen Type: Clotted Blood Specimen. Salivary swab
• Specimen Container: Clotted blood bottle (yellow), (white paediatric).salivary swab.
• Specimen Volume: 4ml clotted blood (1.5ml paediatric).
• Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Measles IgG processed daily in WRH, Measles IgM referred to external test site
• Turnaround Time: 1day Measles IgG, 7-10 days Measles IgM
• Phone alert limits: Specimens positive for Measles IgM will be phoned to the requesting clinician
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Meningitis - Bacterial

• Test Name: Meningitis - Bacterial see also Meningococcal PCR
• Laboratory: Microbiology
• Specimen Type: Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF), Throat / Perinasal Swab, Smear (pupuric lesion) for Gram stain.
• Specimen Container: Sterile universal container, amies swab, amies charcoal perinasal swab
• Specimen Volume: CSF minimum volume of 1ml.
• Specimen Requirements: CSF collected sequentially into three separate containers labelled 1,2, and 3.
• Other details: See table below for Normal CSF values. A specimen is considered positive when the white cell count is elevated i.e. outside the normal CSF values in the table below.

• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
• Turnaround Time: Microscopy within 2 hours of receipt. 3 days for culture. 
• Phone alert limits: All results are available on ward enquiry on completion. Positive microscopy results (outside the normal values in the above table), gram stain, positive culture and positive PCR results are phoned to the requesting clinician.
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Meningitis - Viral

• Test Name: Meningitis - Viral
• Laboratory: Serology External
• Specimen Type: Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF), Faeces, Clotted blood.
• Specimen Container: Sterile universal container, clotted blood bottle (yellow), (white paediatric).
• Specimen Volume: CSF minimum volume of 1ml, 1-2g faeces, 4ml clotted blood (1.5ml paediatric).
• Specimen Requirements: CSF collected sequentially into three separate containers labelled 1,2, and 3.
• Other details: Viral meningitis screen includes Herpes simplex virus 1 & 2, VZV, and Enterovirus
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Referred to external test site
• Turnaround Time: 3-5 days
• Phone alert limits: Positive viral results are phoned to the requesting clinician
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Meningococcal PCR

• Test Name: Meningococcal PCR
• Laboratory: Microbiology External
• Specimen Type: EDTA Blood Specimen
• Specimen Container: Purple, orange (paediatric).
• Specimen Volume: 2.5ml (1.5ml paediatric)
• Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Referred to external test site
• Turnaround Time: 2-3 days
• Phone alert limits: Positive Meningococcal PCR results are phoned to the requesting clinician.
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Mercury

• Test Name: Mercury
• Laboratory: Biochemistry Referred Test
• Specimen Type: EDTA Whole Blood
• Specimen Container: Purple
• Specimen Volume: 4mls
• Specimen Requirements: N/A
• Other details: Send a separate request form and sample
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time: 3 weeks
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp:

Metabolic Screen

• Test Name: Metabolic Screen (Includes, urinary organic acids and serum amino acids)
• Laboratory: Biochemistry Referred Test
• Specimen Type: Lithium Heparin plasma and 1 random urine
• Specimen Container: Orange (paeds) x1, Universal container (white top) x 1, Dried Blood Spot card x 1 (if required for acylcarnitine analysis)
• Specimen Volume: 2mls blood, 5mls urine
• Specimen Requirements: .
  • - Send sample to lab straightaway.
  • Clinical details are essential on the request form
  • Temple St. metabolic request form also required: Click HERE.
• Other details:
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time: 3 weeks
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: Urine for organic acids must be frozen in the Laboratory straightaway.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus

• Test Name: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Screen
• Laboratory: Microbiology
• Specimen Type: Swabs - Nasal, Perineum, Others. Urine, Sputum.
• Specimen Container: Amies swab, sterile universal container.
• Specimen Volume: At least 2ml urine. If possible at least 5ml sputum
• Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
• Other details: See WRH Infection control guidelines on MRSA testing.
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
• Turnaround Time: 1-3 days. Negative results reported at 24 hours.
• Phone alert limits: New MRSA positive isolates from inpatients are phoned to the requesting clinician
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Methotrexate

• Test Name: Methotrexate
• Laboratory: Biochemistry Referred Test
• Specimen Type: Serum or Plasma
• Specimen Container: Yellow top or Green Top (lithium heparin tubes)
• Specimen Volume: 4mls
• Specimen Requirements:
• Other Details 
  • Available in-house only(UHW)
  • Include dose history, time of collection and reason for test request.
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time: 1 day
• Phone alert limits: N.A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp:

Microalbumin

• Test Name: Microalbumin (Refer to albumin creatinine ratio)

Mucopolysaccharidoses

• Test Name: Mucopolysaccharidoses
• Laboratory: Biochemistry Referred Test
• Specimen Type: Fresh Urine and EDTA
• Specimen Container: Universal Container (white top) and purple top blood.
• Specimen Volume: 10mls Urine and 4mls of blood
• Specimen Requirements: Initial screening test performed on urine sample. Usually, EDTA enzyme analysis will only be done if an abnormal mucopolysaccharide pattern is identified in urine
• Other details: Fresh urine sample required. Send to the lab straightaway. Clinical details are essential on the request form.
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time: 3 weeks
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: Urine must be frozen in lab straightaway.

Mumps

• Test Name: Mumps
• Laboratory: Serology External
• Specimen Type: Clotted Blood Specimen. Salivary swab
• Specimen Container: Salivary swab, clotted blood bottle (yellow), (white paediatric).
• Specimen Volume: 4ml clotted blood (1.5ml paediatric).
• Specimen Requirements: Refrigerate if delivery to the laboratory is delayed.
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Mumps IgG processed daily in WRH, Mumps IgM referred to external test site
• Turnaround Time: 1 day for Mumps IgG, 7-10 days for Mumps IgM
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A

Mycophenolic acid

• Test Name: Mycophenolic acid
• Laboratory: Haematology referral test
• Specimen Type: EDTA
• Specimen Container: Purple
• Specimen Volume: 2.5ml
• Specimen Requirements: Do not send Fridays
• Other details: Also referred to by trade name Cellcept
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Referred to external test site
• Turnaround Time: 2 weeks
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability: 3 days at 2 - 8°C

Mycoplasma genitalium

• Test Name: Mycoplasma genitalium
• Laboratory: Microbiology
• Specimen Type: Endocervical/vaginal swabs, male urethral swab or first catch urine
• Specimen Container: Abbott multi-collect specimen collection kit can be used for swabs and urine specimens
• Specimen Volume: Add urine to specimen transport buffer in transport tube until the liquid level falls within the fill window on the tube label.
• Specimen Requirements: See Abbott multi-collect specimen collection kit information for users for details of specimen collection
• Other details: N/A
• Frequency of analysis/ assay: Daily
• Turnaround Time: 5 days
• Phone alert limits: Positive Mycoplasma genitalium phoned to the requesting clinician
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: Urine specimens and swab specimens can be stored in the specimen transport buffer in transport tube at 2 to 30 degrees celsius for up to 14 days 

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

• Test Name: Mycoplasma pneumoniae see Atypical Pneumonia
• Laboratory: Serology External
• Specimen Type:
• Specimen Container:
• Specimen Volume:
• Specimen Requirements:
• Other details:
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time:
• Phone alert limits:
• Preanalytical stability at room temp:

Myeloma Screen

• Test Name: Myeloma Screen (Refer to electrophoresis)

Myoglobin

• Test Name: Myoglobin
• Laboratory: Biochemistry
• Specimen Type: Urine
• Specimen Container: Universal Container (white top)
• Specimen Volume: 10 mls
• Specimen Requirements: Sample to be delivered to Biochemistry lab immediately. Initial screen performed in a biochemistry lab and referred to external lab if positive.
• Other details: Boric acid container (red top) in unsuitable
• Frequency of analysis/ assay:
• Turnaround Time: 3 weeks
• Phone alert limits: N/A
• Preanalytical stability at room temp: N/A