For example, the complete blood count which may show only a mild anemia, has a variable MCV which varies depending upon the reticulocyte count. Therefore you may wish to use several screening procedures that might help to screen out cases not requiring the definitive procedure. Is there an easier method?Ī: The Dacie method for the determination of osmotic fragility has been the definitive method for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) for quite some time, but as you point out, it is labor-intensive and also technically demanding. This is not a high volume test for us, but labor-intensive with an already short staff. Q: We currently use the Dacie method for osmotic fragility, and we are looking for a modified, relatively simple procedure for performing this test. I am told that other payers do pay a handling fee, and if the account is required contractually to send out specimens, then the sender should have some leverage to negotiate for reimbursement. The managers I talked with share your frustration and are absorbing the loss as a nonreimbursed cost of doing business.
#High specific gravity of urine code
How can this be eliminated as a drain on our resources?Ī: Medicare has a CPT code for handling fees (99000), but according to several consultants Medicare doesnt reimburse for it. Q: Can you provide a reference and information about Medicare acceptance of handling charges for sendout testing? We are currently not billing, but incur the cost of sending testing out.
Urinalysis and Body Fluids: A ColorText and Atlas. Clinical Laboratory Science: The Basics and Routine Techniques, 4th ed. These should be confirmed by checking the patient history and observing crystals in the SSA precipitate.ĭept. Other drugs causing false positive SSA tests include high levels of penicillin, sulfonamides, orĬephalosporin Tolbutamine metabolites and Tolmetin (Tolectin). Rather, the precipitate shows crystals, as long slender needles which polarize light. Microscopically, the precipitate in the SSA test tube is unlike the amorphous precipitate seen with precipitated protein. This finding may be observed with or without the presence of crystals in the urine sediment. Urine specimens containing radiographic media will also show a delayed, false positive sulfosalicylic acid test for urine protein. 1 They should not be mistaken for cholesterol crystals, the presence of which are a significant pathologic finding. The crystals are seen as flat, clear, colorless rhombic plates or rectangles (resembling crystals of cholesterol an extremely rare urine sediment finding). (Renograffin, Hypaque) may be seen in the urine sediment for a brief time after injection of the dye. Organic iodides in radiographic contrast media such meglumine diatrizoate The presence of radiographic media may be confirmed by a clinical history of recent radiographic imaging procedures. However, we do attempt to identify the cause of increased readings by other urine findings such as glucose or extremely high protein on the chemical screen, or a patient history of radiographic studies or treatment with drugs that might increase the specific gravity. We do not feel that dilution with water is necessary. Since the kidney is only able to concentrate the urine to about 1.035, and refractometer readings correlate with specific gravity of urine only to 1.035, we merely report results as > 1.035.
Refractometer, accompanied by normal specific gravity by reagent strip are encountered, the presence of unusual solutes such as glucose, protein, radiopaque media, or certain drugs should be suspected. We use a Bayer Clinitek 200 for our dipstick testing.Ī: When specific gravity readings greater than 1.035 by Is there a drug or perhaps something used in x-ray testing that might cause such results? The patients did have radiologic procedures using contrast dyes. Our policy is to dilute the urine with distilled water and repeat the test on the Q: In our lab, when we have a specific gravity 1.035 not just a little, but a lot.
0 kommentar(er)
