What the serology screening requisition is for
This form orders antibody and antigen testing at the Public Health Laboratory: prenatal screening, perinatal syphilis, routine syphilis and HIV, hepatitis A, B and C serology, hepatitis C PCR, and immunity or acute serology for common viral and parasitic infections. Version 1.0 dates from August 2026. Swab and fluid testing for viruses goes on the separate virology requisition.
Who completes it
The ordering practitioner completes and signs it. The lab fills in the date received. Highlighted fields are mandatory.
How to fill in the requisition
Section 1: Patient and provider information
Give the personal health number, name, date of birth, sex, address and contact number, with the collection date and time. The container and requisition need two matching unique identifiers. Practitioners who work at more than one location should give the address for report delivery. Each practitioner listed under additional copies, up to three, receives the report.
Section 2: Clinical information
Choose the reason for test: needlestick injury, outbreak or cluster, prenatal, or other. Tick rash, STI contact or STI symptoms where they apply, and give recent travel and the onset date. The form asks you to fill this in as completely as you can.
Section 3: Tests requested
Pick from prenatal screening (anti-HCV, HIV, HBsAg, rubella IgG, first-trimester syphilis), perinatal syphilis at more than 35 weeks or delivery, routine syphilis, non-prenatal HIV, the hepatitis panels and single markers, hepatitis C PCR for treatment, and other serology by immunity or acute. List anything else under other tests and check the eLab Handbook for its sample requirements.
Common reasons it’s delayed
- Mismatched identifiers between container and requisition.
- A prenatal panel sent with one tube when the form asks for two.
- Hepatitis C PCR requested on serum instead of EDTA plasma.
- No reason for test, so the lab can’t place the request in context.
- An acute IgM request with no onset date or symptoms.
Submitting and who pays
The samples and requisition go to the Public Health Laboratory at 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver. The report goes to the ordering practitioner and any copy recipients. The requisition has no billing section.