Letters and Memos (External)


 

Date Topic
8.8.2024

Introduction of Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) DNA Testing Service for Management of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) and Other EBV-related Malignancies
Implementation date: 20 August 2024

3.6.2024

Enhanced Serum Methotrexate (MTX) testing service
Implementation Date: 7 June 2024

13.5.2024

Revision of Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio Reference Cutoffs
Implementation Date: 22 May 2024

25.9.2023

Change of Specimen Type for High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T (hsTnT) Implementation Date: 11 October 2023

23.2.2022

Introduction of Non-fasting Lipid Profile Service and Update of Lipid Profile Reporting
Implementation Date: 2 March 2022

6.10.2021

Enhanced Cyanide Screening Test Service Implementation Date: 11 October 2021

16.9.2021 Recommendations on requesting plasma Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation analysis for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in NTEC Implementation date: 20 September 2021
13.9.2021 Enhanced NUDT15 and TPMT Pharmacogenetic Testing for Susceptibility to Thiopurine Haematotoxicity Implementation Date: 17 September 2021
7.7.2021 Revision of Local Gestational Age-specific Thyroid Function Test Reference Intervals on 21 July 2021
14.5.2021 Enhanced Plasma Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Testing Service
Implementation Date: 27 May 2021
27.11.2020 Enhanced Serum Thyroglobulin and Anti-Thyroid Antibodies Testing Service Implementation Date: 03 December 2020
21.9.2020 Revision of Urine Glycosaminoglycan Reference Interval on 23 Septembeer 2020
14.8.2020 Revision of Serum Folate Reference Interval on 20 August 2020
3.8.2020 Introduction of Plasma Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA)
Targeted EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) Mutation Analysis
for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients Implementation Date: 5 August 2020
9.3.2020 Revision of Serum Total Immunoglobulin A/G/M reference Intervals on 11 March 2020
17.2.2020 Neuronal Autoantibodies Testing Provision by QMH Immunology Unit Implementation Dates: 1st April & 1st July 2020
3.2.2020 Cessation of Stool Reducing Substances, Spot Urine Myoglobin and Plasma Free Homocystine Tests in Prince of Wales Hospital
4.9.2019 Introduction of New Serum Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Assay Implementation Date: Monday, 9 September 2019
20.8.2019 Hospital Authority Centralised Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) Testing Service - Enhancement of Specimen Registrationand Result Reporting Procedure
31.7.2019 Implementation of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Anti-extractable Nuclear Antigen (ENA) Antibody Test Implementation Date: 12 August 2019
24.7.2019 Replacement of Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay (IFA) with Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Anti-dsDNA Antibody Test Implementation Date: 29 July 2019
23.7.2019

Hospital Authority Centralized Dried Blood Spot Metabolic Screening Service by Hong Kong Children's Hospital

8.3.2019 Implementation of Critical Result Alarm System (CRAS) for PWH Chemical Pathology
10.10.2018 Alert: Potential Eltrombopag Interference with Serum / Plasma Creatinine and Bilirubin
25.1.2018 Enhanced Urine Free Metanephrines and Urine Catecholamines Service Implementation Date: 30 January 2018
11.1.2018 Alert: Biotin (Vitamin B7) Interference on Immunoassays
24.11.2017 Revision of Serum Carbamazepine Reference Intervals on 28 November 2017
10.11.2017 Revision of Serum Folate Reference Intervals on 24 November 2017

7.9.2017

Trimester-specific Serum Progesterone Reference Intervals Implementation Date: 21 September 2017

17.7.2017

Use of Dry Heparin Syringes for Blood Gases, Carboxyhaemoglobin, Methaemoglobin and Ionised Calcium Analyses
16.6.2017 Implementation of Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI)Formula for Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (EGFR) 13 July 2017, 9:00 am
25.4.2017 Implementation of Local Gestational Age-specific Thyroid Function Test (GTFT) Reference Intervals on 8 May 2017, 9:00 am
4.1.2017 Enhanced Serum B2-Microglobulin Service Implementation Date: 19 January 2017
23.11.2016 Enhanced Plasma Albumin Service Implementation Date: 14 December 2016
23.11.2016 Enhanced Plasma Creatinine Service for Paediatric Patients Implementation Date: 14 December 2016
10.6.2016 Revision of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Creatine Kinase (CK) Reference Intervals Implementation Date: 13 October 2016
6.4.2016 Enhanced Serum Cortisol Service Implementation Date: 21 April 2016
7.3.2016 Hospital Authority Centralised Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) Testing Service
5.11.2015

Enhanced Serum Oestradiol Service Implementation Date: 18 November 2015

12.5.2015 Cessation of Infrequently Requested Anti-gliadin lgA Antibody (AGA) and Anti-endomysial lgA Antibody (EMA) Tests Date of Implementation: 20 May 2015
24.3.2015 Central Referring Laboratory for Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) Testing Service
10.12.2014 Discontinuation of Reporting Titre Results for Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) Test Date of Implementation: 22 December 2014
3.9.2014 Replacement of ELISA-based Anti-thyroid Antibody Tests by Automated Enzyme-labelled Chemiluminescent Immunometric Assay in NTEC Date of Implementation: 10 September 2014
2.7.2014 Change of Red Blood Cell Folate (RBC Folate) Test from In-House Test to Send-Out Test Date of Implementation: 16 July 2014
27.5.2014 Replacement of Agglutination-Based Anti-Thyroid Antibody Tests by ELISA Date of Implementation: 3 June 2014
18.11.2013 Enhanced Diagnostic Service for Vitamin B12 Deficiency Implementation Date: 12 December 2013
2.7.2013 Update on Position Statement for Serum 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D (25-0HD)
26.6.2013 Improved Diagnostic Service for Primary Aldosteronism
23.4.2013 Cessation of Serum Caffeine Test for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Implementation Date: 1 May 2013
4.2.2013 Enhanced Plasma Parathyroid Hormone Service: Implementation Date: 18 February 2013, 9:00 am
20.10.2012 Sex-Specific Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio (UACR) Date of Implementation: 13 November 2012
19.3.2012 Cessation of  Infrequently Requested Tests Implementation Date: 1 April 2012
1.8.2011 Revision of Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio (UACR) Test Profile Date of Implementation: 8 August 2011
8.6.2011 Implementation of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T (hsTnT) Service in PWH / AHNH / TPH / SH / SCH / BBH (Except NDH) Date of Implementation: 20 June 2011
26.5.2011 Reporting HbA1c Results in DCCT (%) and IFCC (mmol/mol) Units Implementation Date: 20 June 2011
18.4.2011 Use of Green-top Heparin Gel Separator Bottle for Iron Profile and Ceruloplasmin Requests Implementation Date: 11 May 2011 (6:00 pm)
1.3.2011 Plasma Total Mycophenolic Acid
14.2.2011 Replacement of Red-Top Clot Activator Tube by Orange-Top Serum Gel Separator Clot Activator Tube for Chemical Pathology Tests Implementation Date: 23 February 2011 (6:00 pm)
26.8.2010 Enhanced Serum 25-Hydoxy-Vitamin D Service
20.3.2009

Plasma Lipid Profile Requests for Out-Patients

12.3.2009 Sample Type for Blood Gas Analysis
26.9.2008 Toxicology Investigation for Milk Toxin - Melamine
11.7.2008 Enhancement of Toxicology Consultative & Diagnostic Services Jointly Provided by PWH Poison Treatment Centre and Cluster Toxicology Laboratory Implementation Date: 14 July 2008
30.5.2008 Change of Specimen Collection Requirement for Plasma Ammonia Analysis
25.2.2008 Toxicology Investigation for Unprovoked Hypoglycaemia after Taking Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
24.9.2007 Five-Day Work Week for PWH Chemical Pathology Implementation Date: 29 October 2007 (Monday)
31.8.2006 Compliance in Providing Specimen Collection Date & Time for All Chemical Pathology Tests
13.7.2006 New Service for Whole Blood Everolimus Monitoring
23.3.2006 Pleural Fluid / Plasma Total Protein and LDH Profile Test for Light’s Discrimination Criteria for Exudative and Transudative Pleural Effusions
23.3.2006 Pleural Fluid / Plasma Total Cholesterol and Triglyceride Profile Test for Identifying Chylothorax
21.12.2005 Spot Urine Total Protein / Creatinine Ratio for Measurement of Proteinuria
16.9.2005 Quantitative Lactate Determination in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
31.3.2005 New Service for Whole Blood Sirolimus Monitoring
14.12.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Change in Specimen Packaging Requirements
15.10.2004 NTE Cluster-Wide Policy on Request for Plasma AST Assay Implementation Date: 1 November 2004
15.10.2004 Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Estimation by the Abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study Group Formula Implementation Date: 1 November 2004  
23.6.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Further Reduction in Frequency of Testing
28.5.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Reduced Frequency of Testing
3.5.2004 Adding Further Laboratory Tests to a Previous Request
23.4.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Reversal to Daily Testing during Weekdays
19.4.2004 Reminder of Arrangements for Renin and Aldosterone Analysis
19.4.2004 Quantitative Whole Blood Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Assay Service Implementation Date: 10 May 2004  
25.3.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Reduced Frequency of Testing and Special Arrangements for the Ching Ming Festival and Easter Holiday Period
12.3.2004 Improved Serum 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Assay Service for Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
12.1.2004 SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test Specimen Reception Cut-Times for AHNH and NDH
6.1.2004 Streamlined Requesting Procedure for SARS-CoV Serum RNA Test from Chemical Pathology
18.9.2003 NTE Cluster-Wide Quantitative Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BALP) Assay Service Implementation Date: 03 October 2003  
11.6.2003 NTE Cluster-Wide Quantitative Cardiac Troponin Service Implementation Date: 23 June 2003   
23.12.2002 NTE Cluster-Wide Thyroid Function Test (TFT) Request Protocol Implementtion Date: 16 January 2003   
2.7.2002 Rationalisation of Red Blood Cell Folate (RBC Folate) Assay Service
17.6.2002 Use of Green-Top Lithium Heparin Gel Separator Tube for Request of General Biochemistry Assays
22.4.2002 Interference of OMNISCAN (Gadodiamide) with Blood Calcium Measurement
14.3.2002 Modification of Reference Ranges Quoted for Special Chemical Pathology Tests
11.3.2002 Expansion of "Tests Mix" Using the 6 mL Red-Top Clot Activator Tube for Special Chemical Pathology Tests
5.1.2002 Modification of Reference Ranges Quoted for General Chemical Pathology Tests
2.1.2002 Expansion of "Tests Mix" Using the 4 mL Red-Top Serum Separator Tube for General Chemical Pathology Tests
15.12.2001 Handling of Urgent Chemical Pathology Specimens
14.2.2001 Specimen Requirement for Trace Metals Analysis
17.11.2000 Implementation of New Laboratory Information System (ECPath) in the Chemical Pathology Laboratory
13.10.2000 Blood Carboxyhaemoglobin and Methaemoglobin
1.6.2000 Reception of Specimens After Office-Hours in the Chemical Pathology Laboratory
20.1.2000 Specimen Reception After Office-Hours in Chemical Pathology Laboratory
12.11.1999 Protocol for House Officer for Cryoglobin Test