Re: screwed up blood test, next round

[Guest guest]

Oh God Steve, my son will be having the same test done through

Athena labs, blood will be drawn next week, Athena has already

missed placed one of the donations paying for my sons mtdna blood

work, this could have happened as the check should have been sent

with the blood sample, but still what are those people doing at that

lab, this test is extremely expensive as you know, THanks for this

info, because when they drawl Matts blood next week at the hospital,

i am going to be all over them before they send it to Athena and try

to avoid what your going through. I really can t offer you any help

or words of wisdom, but if you like you can call Athena Labs

yourself the number is 1-, follow the prompts, and

hopefully you'll eventually be able to talk to a human on the other

end and at least allievate some of your fustration. Sorry i couldnt

be more help, but thank you because i would have never thought to

make sure things dont get to screwed up for Matt, as im emotionally

walking a tight rope right now. Hugs and hope all turns out well

for you, Barb

[Guest guest]

I would insist that they do a new blood draw! Have all your info with you

so that you can see what tubes they are using and ask them about the process

before you pull out the info.

Smiles to you,

screwed up blood test, next round

>

> Last week I reported about a screwed up blood test, involving MGH (draw

lab)

> and Athena Diagnostics (test facility). They were supposedly going to do a

> " mitochondrial myopathy mtDNA " whole-blood evaluation test #519, but

instead

> three months later I found out that the lab did a " complete CMT "

evaluation,

> test #390 (which BTW was totally negative for mutations).

>

> My MGH doc's staffer left a message today saying (very indirectly) that it

> was the lab's fault not theirs, and that they were going to re-do the test

> " at no extra charge " (presumably this time doing the right test :-) ). To

my

> amazement, this does not require a new blood sample (though I'd be happy

to

> provide one), so I assume the lab has some FROZEN extra blood (or else,

some

> mighty gross mess). I think they've already gone ahead and started.

>

> Test 390 (CMT) says:

> Preferred Specimen Requirements

> Type: Whole blood

> Minimum Volume: 30ml

> Collection Tube: Yellow top, ACD-A

> Storage Conditions: Room temperature, avoid freezing

> Shipping Conditions: Room temperature, ship same day. Must arrive at

Athena

> within 48 hours after blood is drawn.

> Test Turnaround: 21-28 days

>

> Test 519 (mito) says:

> Preferred Specimen Requirements

> Type: Whole blood

> Minimum Volume: 20ml

> Collection Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

> Storage Conditions: Do not freeze blood, refrigerate.

> Shipping Conditions: Ship blood at room temperature, avoid freezing and

ship

> blood within 24 hours of drawing.

> Test Turnaround: 14-21 days

>

> I don't know about these things, but the combination of " avoid freezing "

and

> urgency of shipping makes me wonder how in world they can do another test,

> now. Also, the collection tubes are different. The original blood draw was

> mid December (who knows what tubes were used?), about THREE MONTHS AGO. I

> wonder just how fast it was delivered to Athena the first time. Just BTW I

> was told that the " new " (additional) turnaround will be 6-8 weeks.

>

> Given that this is Athena, and the blood is supposedly frozen (or

stabilized

> somehow?), should I protest and offer to provide a new sample? With the

> current plan, they might use someone else's blood, or do the wrong test

> again but somehow REPORT the right test, or .... who knows? I could even

> offer to show up at Athena's test facility; if they can draw blood there,

if

> it might be worth it. The shipping page for Athena talks of specific kits

> for CMT and certain others, and I wonder about this too. I'm even thinking

> that perhaps the reason for the original screw up was that my blood

arrived

> in a CMT-specific kit. I'm convinced that the office staff at MGH has no

> expertise to even comment accurately on any of these issues.

>

> I feel so alone, unwilling to trust anyone I can contact, and unable to

> contact anyone I MIGHT trust. ANY opinions are welcome.

>

> Steve D.

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained

herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this

e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of

their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult

with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Steve

it might be worth a call to Athena (can't promise you'll get someone

who will answer things, but just inquire (as if you are a doctors

office, maybe) about the tube color and how to ship and what happens

to testing if the blood gets frozen.

I had blood that was going to a researcher and my local hospital lab

was great, but it took some planning. I took the order to them, they

called the researcher, and then we mapped out a specific time-line. It

had to arrive on a Tue or Wed, so I had to pick up dry ice (hospital

gave me the container for it) and it was not drawn until the UPS man

called to say he was almost there. The lab tech hand carried the

sample to the UPS truck. So, I know that things can be done correctly.

I certainly would not be comfortable with the information you have and

what you have been told. I had a muscle biopsy once (diffferent

hospital) and it was lost for about 3 months at the hospital lab and

then sent to Athena. I can't even remember the results, but I think

that the hospital sent someone elses muscle or Athena somehow covered

for them.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

laurie

>

> I would insist that they do a new blood draw! Have all your info with you

> so that you can see what tubes they are using and ask them about the

> process

> before you pull out the info.

>

> Smiles to you,

>

> screwed up blood test, next round

>

>

> >

> > Last week I reported about a screwed up blood test, involving MGH (draw

> lab)

> > and Athena Diagnostics (test facility). They were supposedly going to do

> a

> > " mitochondrial myopathy mtDNA " whole-blood evaluation test #519, but

> instead

> > three months later I found out that the lab did a " complete CMT "

> evaluation,

> > test #390 (which BTW was totally negative for mutations).

> >

> > My MGH doc's staffer left a message today saying (very indirectly) that

> it

> > was the lab's fault not theirs, and that they were going to re-do the

> test

> > " at no extra charge " (presumably this time doing the right test :-) ). To

> my

> > amazement, this does not require a new blood sample (though I'd be happy

> to

> > provide one), so I assume the lab has some FROZEN extra blood (or else,

> some

> > mighty gross mess). I think they've already gone ahead and started.

> >

> > Test 390 (CMT) says:

> > Preferred Specimen Requirements

> > Type: Whole blood

> > Minimum Volume: 30ml

> > Collection Tube: Yellow top, ACD-A

> > Storage Conditions: Room temperature, avoid freezing

> > Shipping Conditions: Room temperature, ship same day. Must arrive at

> Athena

> > within 48 hours after blood is drawn.

> > Test Turnaround: 21-28 days

> >

> > Test 519 (mito) says:

> > Preferred Specimen Requirements

> > Type: Whole blood

> > Minimum Volume: 20ml

> > Collection Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

> > Storage Conditions: Do not freeze blood, refrigerate.

> > Shipping Conditions: Ship blood at room temperature, avoid freezing and

> ship

> > blood within 24 hours of drawing.

> > Test Turnaround: 14-21 days

> >

> > I don't know about these things, but the combination of " avoid freezing "

> and

> > urgency of shipping makes me wonder how in world they can do another

> test,

> > now. Also, the collection tubes are different. The original blood draw

> was

> > mid December (who knows what tubes were used?), about THREE MONTHS AGO. I

> > wonder just how fast it was delivered to Athena the first time. Just BTW

> I

> > was told that the " new " (additional) turnaround will be 6-8 weeks.

> >

> > Given that this is Athena, and the blood is supposedly frozen (or

> stabilized

> > somehow?), should I protest and offer to provide a new sample? With the

> > current plan, they might use someone else's blood, or do the wrong test

> > again but somehow REPORT the right test, or .... who knows? I could even

> > offer to show up at Athena's test facility; if they can draw blood there,

> if

> > it might be worth it. The shipping page for Athena talks of specific kits

> > for CMT and certain others, and I wonder about this too. I'm even

> thinking

> > that perhaps the reason for the original screw up was that my blood

> arrived

> > in a CMT-specific kit. I'm convinced that the office staff at MGH has no

> > expertise to even comment accurately on any of these issues.

> >

> > I feel so alone, unwilling to trust anyone I can contact, and unable to

> > contact anyone I MIGHT trust. ANY opinions are welcome.

> >

> > Steve D.

> >

> >

> >

> > Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained

> herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this

> e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded

> of

> their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult

> with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

> >

> > Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one

> is

> automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I would demand that they take a new blood sample or forget doing the

test as the chances of it be a reliable result would be greatly

diminished. YMMV.

Steve wrote:

>Last week I reported about a screwed up blood test, involving MGH (draw lab)

>and Athena Diagnostics (test facility). They were supposedly going to do a

> " mitochondrial myopathy mtDNA " whole-blood evaluation test #519, but instead

>three months later I found out that the lab did a " complete CMT " evaluation,

>test #390 (which BTW was totally negative for mutations).

>

>My MGH doc's staffer left a message today saying (very indirectly) that it

>was the lab's fault not theirs, and that they were going to re-do the test

> " at no extra charge " (presumably this time doing the right test :-) ). To my

>amazement, this does not require a new blood sample (though I'd be happy to

>provide one), so I assume the lab has some FROZEN extra blood (or else, some

>mighty gross mess). I think they've already gone ahead and started.

>

>Test 390 (CMT) says:

>Preferred Specimen Requirements

> Type: Whole blood

> Minimum Volume: 30ml

> Collection Tube: Yellow top, ACD-A

>Storage Conditions: Room temperature, avoid freezing

>Shipping Conditions: Room temperature, ship same day. Must arrive at Athena

>within 48 hours after blood is drawn.

>Test Turnaround: 21-28 days

>

>Test 519 (mito) says:

>Preferred Specimen Requirements

> Type: Whole blood

> Minimum Volume: 20ml

> Collection Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

>Storage Conditions: Do not freeze blood, refrigerate.

>Shipping Conditions: Ship blood at room temperature, avoid freezing and ship

>blood within 24 hours of drawing.

>Test Turnaround: 14-21 days

>

>I don't know about these things, but the combination of " avoid freezing " and

>urgency of shipping makes me wonder how in world they can do another test,

>now. Also, the collection tubes are different. The original blood draw was

>mid December (who knows what tubes were used?), about THREE MONTHS AGO. I

>wonder just how fast it was delivered to Athena the first time. Just BTW I

>was told that the " new " (additional) turnaround will be 6-8 weeks.

>

>Given that this is Athena, and the blood is supposedly frozen (or stabilized

>somehow?), should I protest and offer to provide a new sample? With the

>current plan, they might use someone else's blood, or do the wrong test

>again but somehow REPORT the right test, or .... who knows? I could even

>offer to show up at Athena's test facility; if they can draw blood there, if

>it might be worth it. The shipping page for Athena talks of specific kits

>for CMT and certain others, and I wonder about this too. I'm even thinking

>that perhaps the reason for the original screw up was that my blood arrived

>in a CMT-specific kit. I'm convinced that the office staff at MGH has no

>expertise to even comment accurately on any of these issues.

>

>I feel so alone, unwilling to trust anyone I can contact, and unable to

>contact anyone I MIGHT trust. ANY opinions are welcome.

>

>Steve D.

>

>

>

>Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are

not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

>Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I'd insist on a new draw. When I get screwed up results, " test

can't be done " , or they do the wrong test, I insist on a redraw, and

have never been charged. My local hospital has bollixed a few things

up, luckily the people working the lab desk are VERY helpful. They

actually suggested I meet with them BEFORE a large set of blood tests

so they can look up the tests and get all of the tube colors right,

and minimize the number of tubes. This was especially important for

my then 3-year-old son, who needed 11 tubes total. They also gave me

a photocopy of the notes on which tubes were needed for which test,

for future reference.

There is a possibility that MGH sent the blood in the correct tube,

under the correct conditions for the mito tests, then the lab did the

wrong tests, so a slim chance a redraw would be unnecessary, but

since no one could confirm that, going for the redraw might be best.

Good luck, it's unfortunate that so many people have problems with

Athena, they are one of the few available. I wonder, could the tests

be done through Horizon (in Atlanta) instead? I know insurance

sometimes governs what can be done where.

Take care,

RH

>

> >Last week I reported about a screwed up blood test, involving MGH

(draw lab)

> >and Athena Diagnostics (test facility). They were supposedly going

to do a

> > " mitochondrial myopathy mtDNA " whole-blood evaluation test #519,

but instead

> >three months later I found out that the lab did a " complete CMT "

evaluation,

> >test #390 (which BTW was totally negative for mutations).

> >

> >My MGH doc's staffer left a message today saying (very indirectly)

that it

> >was the lab's fault not theirs, and that they were going to re-do

the test

> > " at no extra charge " (presumably this time doing the right test :-

) ). To my

> >amazement, this does not require a new blood sample (though I'd be

happy to

> >provide one), so I assume the lab has some FROZEN extra blood (or

else, some

> >mighty gross mess). I think they've already gone ahead and started.

> >

> >Test 390 (CMT) says:

> >Preferred Specimen Requirements

> > Type: Whole blood

> > Minimum Volume: 30ml

> > Collection Tube: Yellow top, ACD-A

> >Storage Conditions: Room temperature, avoid freezing

> >Shipping Conditions: Room temperature, ship same day. Must arrive

at Athena

> >within 48 hours after blood is drawn.

> >Test Turnaround: 21-28 days

> >

> >Test 519 (mito) says:

> >Preferred Specimen Requirements

> > Type: Whole blood

> > Minimum Volume: 20ml

> > Collection Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

> >Storage Conditions: Do not freeze blood, refrigerate.

> >Shipping Conditions: Ship blood at room temperature, avoid

freezing and ship

> >blood within 24 hours of drawing.

> >Test Turnaround: 14-21 days

> >

> >I don't know about these things, but the combination of " avoid

freezing " and

> >urgency of shipping makes me wonder how in world they can do

another test,

> >now. Also, the collection tubes are different. The original blood

draw was

> >mid December (who knows what tubes were used?), about THREE MONTHS

AGO. I

> >wonder just how fast it was delivered to Athena the first time.

Just BTW I

> >was told that the " new " (additional) turnaround will be 6-8 weeks.

> >

> >Given that this is Athena, and the blood is supposedly frozen (or

stabilized

> >somehow?), should I protest and offer to provide a new sample?

With the

> >current plan, they might use someone else's blood, or do the wrong

test

> >again but somehow REPORT the right test, or .... who knows? I

could even

> >offer to show up at Athena's test facility; if they can draw blood

there, if

> >it might be worth it. The shipping page for Athena talks of

specific kits

> >for CMT and certain others, and I wonder about this too. I'm even

thinking

> >that perhaps the reason for the original screw up was that my

blood arrived

> >in a CMT-specific kit. I'm convinced that the office staff at MGH

has no

> >expertise to even comment accurately on any of these issues.

> >

> >I feel so alone, unwilling to trust anyone I can contact, and

unable to

> >contact anyone I MIGHT trust. ANY opinions are welcome.

> >

> >Steve D.

> >

> >

> >

> >Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators.

The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content.

List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the

content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding

changes in their own treatment.

> >

> >Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who

sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the

severity of the attack.

> >

> >