What the requisition is for
The requisition orders bacteriology and mycology testing at the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory. Page 1 covers primary samples: sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, LGV, gonorrhea and trichomonas, respiratory infections such as pertussis, diphtheria and Legionella, gastrointestinal culture and Shiga toxin, and fungal infections. Page 2 is for referring labs sending bacterial or fungal isolates for identification or further characterization.
Who completes it
The ordering practitioner completes page 1 for a patient sample. A referring laboratory completes page 2 for an isolate. Highlighted fields are required.
How to fill in the requisition
Section 1: Patient and provider information
Enter the Personal Health Number, or an out-of-province health number, the patient’s name, date of birth, sex, address and phone. Add the date and time collected, ticking unknown if needed. Give your name, MSP number and the address for the report, up to three copy-to practitioners, and the clinic to receive the report if you are a locum. Sign and date.
Sexually transmitted infections
Tick the tests and the source: cervix, vagina, urethra, urine, rectal, lesion, throat or eye. Respiratory and other sources need a medical microbiologist’s approval.
Respiratory and gastrointestinal infections
For pertussis, give the nasopharyngeal swab or wash. For diphtheria, say whether the patient is a clinical case or a contact, and the throat or nose swab. For feces, choose culture and Shiga toxin or Shiga toxin only, and note food poisoning, outbreak contact or post-infection follow-up. Record travel or recent immigration in the box provided.
Fungal infections
Choose the sample type, such as sputum, bronchial wash, body fluid, tissue or abscess, and name the source. Add the clinical information and the suspected organism if known.
Common reasons it’s delayed
- Identifiers on the container don’t match the requisition.
- No source ticked or named for a culture.
- A test that needs microbiologist approval sent without it.
- No travel history for a gastrointestinal sample.
- A suspected risk group 3 isolate sent without notifying the lab first.
Submitting and who pays
The sample and requisition go to the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory at 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver. Reports go to the ordering practitioner and up to three copy-to practitioners. The form has no billing section.