FAQ

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Antibody
What is the best method for screening for prozone phenomenon in endomysial antibody testing?

The standard protocol to screen for prozone phenomenon at IMMCO is to test the specimen at dilutions of 1:2.5 and 1:10. This will identify the great majority of high titer cases that might prompt a negative result when samples are only screened at 1:2.5. Certain very high titer reactions may produce a prozone effect at 1:10 with a suspicious, sometimes granular, weak pattern. If this is seen, our laboratory re-tests the specimen at 1:20. This is extremely rare and only in cases with titer >1:5280.

Billing
What insurance companies does Immco work with?

Immco works with state Medicare plans and many other providers. However, the list of plans with which Immco participates frequently changes. Immco does not accept Medicaid. Please call Immco billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between 8:00am. to 4:30pm.

What is Immco Diagnostics CLIA Number?

The CLIA Number is 33D0170905. This number appears on Immco New York State Laboratory License, issued by New York State Department of Health. Laboratories in New York are not provided a separate CLIA license. If you need further assistance or a copy of the New York Laboratory License, please call the billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm.

What is Immco Diagnostics Federal ID Number?

The Federal ID Number is 16-1012347. If you need further assistance, please call the billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm.

What is Immco Diagnostics NPI Number?

The NPI Number is 1801860697. If you need further assistance, please call the billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Does Immco Diagnostics participate with Medicare and what are the billing requirements?

Immco Diagnostics is a Medicare Provider. If the patient has Medicare coverage, please send complete information. Immco Diagnostics will bill Medicare and accept 80% assignment. Complete information must be entered on the Test Requisition Form at the time the specimen is submitted. Please note: Due to HIPAA Transaction Code Standard effective 16/10/2003, a valid diagnosis code is mandatory for billing Medicare. Medicare billing information is not complete and will not be accepted without a valid diagnosis code. Billing Information Requirements (to be entered on Immco Diagnostics Test Requisition Form): Patient Full Name (as it appears on the card) Patient Address, including City, State, Zip Patient Phone Number with Area Code Patient Sex Patient Date of Birth Medicare HIC# (9 numeric’s + 1 alpha suffix) Diagnosis (ICD-9-CM code) applicable to the patient’s condition at time of service. Referring Physician’s Name (First, MI, Last) Referring Physician UPIN # (5 digits +alpha prefix). *This information must be included on Immco Diagnostics Test Requisition Forms at time of service*

My Insurance does not participate with Immco, is there a way to have this test covered?

Yes, most insurers will cover tests performed at Immco Diagnostics with pre-approval, by granting an “out of plan provider status”. If you would like additional information, please call Immco Billing Department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between the hours of 8:00am. to 4:30pm.

Will Immco Diagnostics perform tests on patients without insurance or with insurance that does not participate?

Yes, Immco Diagnostics is recognized as the leader in autoimmune testing, with our expertise and rapid turnaround time, many physicians recommend us to their patients even though their insurance company is not a provider. Immco Diagnostics will bill the patient directly and the patient can pass this bill on to the insurer to be reimbursed. In order to do this we need the patient’s signature and authorization at the time of service. Any questions, please call the Immco billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 300.

Why was my specimen unacceptable for testing?

A specimen may be unacceptable due to a number of reasons, for example, if the vacutainer tube it is collected in is not specific for the test requested as the test may require serum or whole blood, or plasma for testing. If the blood is icteric or hemolysed, the specimen is unacceptable as it interferes with the fluorescence. Also, biopsy site for various immunological and histological tests varies depending whether a lesional, perilesional or normal biopsy specimen is required. The specimen then has to be placed in the right color tube provided in the kit, as the solutions in the tubes are different depending upon whether it is an immunological or histological test. For specialized mucous tests, specimen collection and viability differ from the standard specimen collection. Please refer to the individual Test Request Forms under “Specimen Requirements”. For additional information, please consult the Collection and Handling Section in the TEST REFERENCE MANUAL. If you have any questions, please call Immco Diagnostics at 800-537-TEST, ext. 321, and our staff will be happy to assist you.

Can Immco guarantee full reimbursement?

No, Immco cannot guarantee full reimbursement, however, our billing department will courtesy bill the kit and returned to Immco by FedEx, using the preprinted labels. The specimen can also be drawn at any draw station, give the patient a specimen collection kit along with a script for the draw. The draw station will return the kit to us. Also we can provide you with a list of draw stations in the Upstate New York area and arrange for pickup by a courier.

What is an out-of-network laboratory?

Certain insurance providers reimburse testing for those laboratories with which they have established contracts. A laboratory that is not under contract with an insurance provider for a particular testing is an “out-of-network laboratory”. Patients may need to obtain a pre-authorization for reimbursement for fees charged by an “out-of-network laboratory”.

What is pre-authorization?

Certain insurance providers require a patient to contact them for approval to see a specialist or access services from health care organizations that are not under contract with them. Generally, pre-authorization or referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist will also cover reimbursement of fees for testing ordered by the specialist. However, this is not always the case. If you have questions or concerns about whether pre-authorization for a particular test is required by your insurance plan, we encourage you to contact your provider.

Does insurance cover the tests?

It depends. Generally, insurance providers will cover the tests in full or in part with the amount reimbursed determined by your particular insurance plan. In certain cases, however, an insurance provider may require pre-authorization for certain tests or refuse to reimburse for testing sent to an out-of-network laboratory.

Why is it important to provide the Diagnosis codes (ICD-9) on the requisition form when ordering a test?

Every third party bill must have a valid diagnosis code. Please be sure to put the ICD-9 Code(s) applicable to the patient’s condition for the specified date of service on the requisition in the box marked “Diagnostic Codes ICD-9)”. Medicare diagnosis codes must be coded to the highest level of specificity. Please refer to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) manual, as well as Medical Regulations and Manuals issued or authorized by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for diagnosis coding rules and regulations.

How can I get a list of the CPT Codes for the tests?

CPT codes are listed in the Directory and are provided only as a guidance to assist you in billing. CPT codes listed reflect our interpretation of CPT coding requirements and are subject to change at any time. It is the client’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the codes. If you have any questions, please refer to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual by the American Medical Association. To verify reimbursement or if you have any questions regarding usage of a CPT code, please contact your local Medicare carrier.

What is the FDA status for specific tests?

Refer to the Reference Lab Regulatory Status file

Does Immco Diagnostics Laboratory participate with any insurers?

Yes, at present Immco Diagnostics is a provider or has been recognized by many insurers throughout the US. For a list of providers, please call Immco Billing Department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm.

What is Third Party Billing?

Immco Diagnostics will bill the patient’s insurance directly for tests performed by Immco Diagnostics if complete billing information is provided on the Test Requisition Form at the time the specimen is submitted. Immco Diagnostics will not bill third party payers for referral testing submitted to Immco diagnostics for performance by a send out laboratory. Billing information requirements (to be entered on Immco Diagnostics Test Requisition form): Patient Name Patient Date of Birth Patient Sex Patient Address, including City, State, Zip Patient Phone Number with Area Code Patient Relationship to Subscriber Insurance Carrier Name Insurance Carrier Address, including City, State, Zip Subscriber Name and Date of Birth CONTINUATION: Policy Number or Member ID Group Number Medicare Number, if applicable Requesting Physician Name Requesting Physician UPIN, Provider # or License # Diagnosis (ICD-9-CM Code) applicable to the patient’s condition at time of service. Patients are responsible for the yearly deductibles, co-payments and any balance not covered by the insurance company. If insurance payment is not received within 60 days, the patient is billed directly.

What is patient billing and patient responsibility?

Immco Diagnostics will bill hospital, reference laboratories, clinics or medical groups. Alternatively, Immco Diagnostics will bill patient’s insurance directly, provided all the necessary billing information is supplied at the time services are rendered. Immco Diagnostics can bill the patient’s insurance directly if complete billing information is provided on the Test Requisition Form at the time the specimen is submitted. Immco Diagnostics does not have capitation contract agreements with any HMO’s. Due to Knox-Keene regulations, if a third party payer is initially billed and denied as an HMO member, these charges will be billed back to the patients. Immco Diagnostics will bill Medicare for tests performed at Immco Diagnostics. If a claim is denied as “not eligible for the specified date(s) of service’, the charges will be billed to the patient. Changes to Billing instructions must be supplied within 30 days from the date of invoice. Immco Diagnostics will not process billing instruction change requests received after the 30-day period. The charges will remain the patient’s responsibility. If local or state requirements preclude providing the patient’s name to ensure confidentiality, Immco Diagnostics will be unable to bill patients’ insurance directly; the charges will be billed to the client. Immco Diagnostics Patient Statements are issued immediately following response from insurance. The patient is solely responsible for the charges. Patient’s bills are due upon receipt. Immco Diagnostics does not write off third party insurance balances. If a Doctor mistakenly sends a specimen to Immco Diagnostics and the claim is either unpaid or partially paid as “not contracted providers”, the balance will be billed to the patient. All billing discrepancies should be reported to the Billing Department immediately. Our Billing Department is available from 8:00am. to 4:30pm. by calling 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315 for Billing and Collections.

Does Immco Diagnostics accept “Professional Courtesy” testing?

“Professional Courtesy” testing is strictly prohibited as stated in the Anti-Kick Back Statute U.S.C. 1320a-7b; therefore Immco Diagnostics cannot honor request for this service.

How does Immco Diagnostics bill for Hospital referrals?

Under Medicare rules, Immco Diagnostics can only bill Medicare for a hospital-referred test when the specimen was not collected as part of an inpatient or outpatient encounter, i.e., the specimen was not drawn in a hospital facility or by hospital personnel. All other testing for hospital patients must be billed directly to the hospital.

What do I do if my insurance provider needs more information about a test?

Please refer your provider to the Immco billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315, they will be happy to answer any of your provider’s questions.

Who can I call for help with insurance issues?

If your questions were not answered in this document, please contact Immco billing department at 800-537-8378, ext. 314/315.

What should I do if I have a complaint about the billing?

If a bill has been misfiled or if you have a concern about the bill you received, you can call the billing department at 800-537-TEST ext. 314/315. Our billing department will be happy to assist you and answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

Does insurance cover the Sjögren’s syndrome tests?

It depends on each individual insurance plan. Generally, insurance providers will pay the reimbursed amount determined by the patient’s particular insurance plan. Some insurance providers may require pre-authorization for testing and the patient will need to work with their insurance provider and the physician referring them for testing to request pre-authorization. If the patient being tested has a deductible that has not been met, that person will be responsible for the amount the insurance states is patient responsibility. Patients should contact their insurance provider if they are unsure about coverage. Please note that Immco Diagnostics does not accept Medicaid.

If a patient is experiencing difficulty paying the patient responsibility portion of their bill, please contact our billing department at 1-800-537-8378 and we will work with them to structure an appropriate payment plan based on their financial situation.

Sjögren’s
Why was my specimen submitted to IMMCO?

The physician referring the testing to IMMCO identified the patient as a potential Sjögren’s Syndrome case. Early presentation of this disease may involve dry eye / dry mouth; however, as these symptoms may be caused by a number of other conditions, laboratory diagnostics are required to identify cases and initiate appropriate treatment. Diagnosis of Sjögren’s is typically difficult, often requiring several years before proper diagnosis is established. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing based on traditional criteria it is recognized that Sjögren’s incidence is significantly under-reported.1

Immco offers a panel of tests for Sjögren’s Syndrome that includes traditional immunological markers as well as proprietary markers that may aid in identification of Sjögren’s cases at an early stage and/or in individuals that do not express high levels of traditional antibody markers such as anti-SS-A (Ro) and anti-SS-B (La) antibodies.2 These proprietary tests are available exclusively from IMMCO Diagnostics, Inc.

Does insurance cover these tests?

It depends on each individual insurance plan.  Generally, insurance providers will pay the reimbursed determined by your particular insurance plan. In certain cases, however, an insurance provider may require pre-authorization for testing that needs to be requested by the Physician that referred you for the testing.  If the person tested has a deductible that has not been met, that person will be responsible for the amount the insurance states is patient responsibility.  If you are experiencing difficulty in paying the patient responsibility, please contact our billing department at 800-537-8378 and we will work with you to structure an appropriate payment plan based on your financial needs.

How can I assure insurance will cover this testing?

Call your insurance provider or ask the staff of your physician’s office. Your insurance provider should be able to provide information about what is covered by their plan and whether special pre-authorization for testing is required. The physician’s office may be aware of particular requirements of plans in your area.

Make sure to provide the physician’s office with complete insurance information, including any secondary insurance. IMMCO will bill the insurance provider(s).  However, if you have a deductible plan, your deductible will need to be met even if you have an authorization supplied by your physician. If you require additional assistance or information before being tested, please call the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378.

Can IMMCO tell me if special restrictions apply to reimbursement or if pre-authorization are required by my insurance provider?

Since there are many insurance providers, many more insurance plans offered by these providers, and the plans change frequently, IMMCO is not able to provide this information about specific insurance providers. This information may actually appear on your insurance card.

As a third party laboratory, IMMCO cannot obtain pre-authorization for a patient. However, we will send a courtesy bill to any insurance company that we are not currently working with.  If you require assistance or information before being tested, please call the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378.

What is an out-of-network laboratory?

Certain insurance providers reimburse testing for those laboratories with which they have established contracts and only those laboratories. A laboratory that is not under contract with an insurance provider for particular testing is an “out-of-network laboratory.” Patients may need pre-authorization or pre- notification to obtain reimbursement for fees charged by an out-of-network laboratory.

What is pre-authorization?

Certain insurance providers require a patient to contact them for approval to see a specialist or access services from health care organizations that are not under contract with them. Generally, pre-authorization is requested from the physician for the patient before testing is done and to cover reimbursement of fees for such testing. If you have questions or concerns about whether pre-authorization for Sjögren’s testing is required by your insurance plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance provider.

Can IMMCO guarantee full reimbursement?

No. IMMCO cannot guarantee full reimbursement; however, our billing department will send a courtesy bill to all insurance providers. If you have questions about reimbursement or problems with your bill, please call the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378 and follow the prompt to reach a service provider.

What insurance companies does IMMCO work with?

IMMCO works with state Medicare plans and many other providers. However, the list of plans with which IMMCO participates frequently changes. IMMCO does not accept Medicaid. Please call the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378 and follow the prompt to reach a service provider if you have any questions.

What do I do if my insurance provider needs more information about this testing?

Please refer your provider to the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378. They will be happy to answer any of the provider’s questions.

What are the charges for the Sjögren’s testing?

The chart below show the pricing and CPT codes for this testing.  The amount charged will change based testing needed and completed.

Description Pricing CPT Code
001A- ANA Titer and pattern on HEp-2 * $37.63 86039
001C- ANA Screen on HEp-2 $35.00 86038
011 Rheumatoid Factor (RF); IgG, IgA & IgM $64.50 86431
045 SS-A (Ro) $45.00 86235
046 SS-B (La) $45.00 86235
094  Salivary Protein-1 (SP-1) unit price $43.00 X 3 units $129.00 83520
095 Carbonic Anhydrase (CA-6) unit price $43.00 X 3 units $129.00 83520
096 Parotid Specific Protein (PSP) unit price $43.00 X 3 units $129.00 83520
Total $614.13
*If titer is not needed this test will not be done and the cost will be  $579.13

Is there a charge for a Quantity Not Sufficient (QNS) sample?

A specimen is reported as QNS when too little blood has been received to complete testing with a request that the physician contact the patient to obtain a better specimen. Immco does not charge a fee for QNS samples received.

What does it mean when the EOB contains one of the following messages: wrong insurance ID; insurance and member name do not match; patient cannot be found under ID given DOB and member Name; ID do not match mean on my bill; or similar message?

These are all indications that the patient information submitted does not match the information in the insurance company files.   When this occurs, Immco will first verify that the information submitted agrees with the patient information provided to us.  If so, we will then contact the referring doctor’s office and/or the patient to obtain the correct information.  If we are unable to obtain this information, Immco will send the patient a statement with a note to call with correct insurance information.  When the information is received we will resubmit to insurance company.  We have a 90 day deadline to resubmit this information to the insurance company, so it is very important we receive this information as soon as possible.

Can bills be resubmitted to insurance providers?

Yes.  Once the information is corrected we can resubmit to the information to the insurance company for processing.

What is the timeline from specimen collection to write-off?

The timeline is detailed below:

  1. Specimen is collected at Referring Physician’s office, blood draw station or laboratory
  2. Specimen shipped via FedEx to Immco Diagnostics
  3. Specimen is received and accessioned in Lab [+1 to 3 days]
  4. Immco performs testing [+2 to 5 days]
  5. Testing complete and results sent to referring physician by fax and mail, results uploaded to Immco Online
  6. Testing order forms given to Billing Department
  7. Billing Department processes claim and mails to insurance companies daily [+3 to 8 days]
    • Medicare and BCBS electronic claims are sent via inter net every Friday
  8. First response/reimbursement from insurance company [+25 to 55 days]
    • If we receive a rejection we will first call the insurance company to review the issues one-on-one. If the claim was rejected because of improper coding, we will correct the information. If claim is rejected because insurance ID does not match patient information, we review all information provided with the specimen, verify billing for correctness, then contact referrer to verify the information they have on file is the same as that provided to us. If so, Immco attempts to contact the patient to get the correct information and re-bills as a corrected claim.
    • If insurance company pays and leaves patient responsibility to the patient deductible or there is co-insurance, patient is billed that day for the amount indicated. The reimbursement cycle is generally 90 days After 90 days or 3 patient billing cycles, and the patient is non-responsive, patient responsibility is sent for collection.
    • If the patient has secondary insurance, the balance is submitted to the secondary insurance for payment. Usually within 21 days, there will be a secondary billing payment or rejection received from the insurance company [+46 to 76 days]. Patient will then be billed if the insurance leaves patient responsibility.
  9. Once final payment is received the billing for that individual is closed.
    • This process can take 90 to 120 days to complete, or longer when the patient does not reimburse patient responsibility promptly.

What is balance billing?

Balance billing is when a company sends the complete bill to a patient even though the insurance company indicates a lesser amount for which the patient is responsible. Immco does not balance bill a patient as it is not allowed by contract and by law. Patients are only billed the amount indicated as the patient responsibility by the insurance company.

How is patient responsibility determined?

Patient responsibility is the amount the insurance company leaves to a patient deductible, co-pay or to co-insurance under the insurance plan.  If courtesy billing of the patient insurance has been completed, Immco is only allowed to bill to a patient the amount indicated as patient responsibility, no more and no less. Please contact the IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378 and follow the prompt to reach a service provider if there are issues regarding the amount designated as patient responsibility.

What is dual eligibility?

Individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid are known as “Medicare-Medicaid enrollees” or “dual eligibles”.  As a Medicare Provider, Immco Diagnostics agrees to accept payment in full from Medicare for all Medicare-Medicaid enrollees/dual eligibles due to the fact that Immco does not participate with state Medicaid programs.

Patients who have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage and choose to have Sjögren’s Syndrome testing done will not be responsible for any payment when the amount is left to Medicaid as a secondary insurance.  Once payment is made by Medicare, Immco will accept this amount as payment in full and write off the remaining balance for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees only.

If I have Medicare, will I be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs?

For Medicare individuals who have secondary insurance other than Medicaid, the secondary insurance will be billed. There may be a small amount left as patient responsibility in such a case depending on the individual’s secondary insurance plan. If a patient has Medicare only and a balance is left to patient responsibility, the patient will be responsible for the amount that Medicare states is patient responsibility.   In general, however, Medicare combined with secondary insurance leave no balance to be covered by the patient.  If a patient has Medicare only and a balance is left to patient responsibility by Medicare, the patient will be responsible for the amount that Medicare states is patient responsibility.

Who can I call for help with insurance issues?

If your questions were not answered in this document, please contact IMMCO billing department at 800-537-8378 and follow the prompt to reach a service provider.

Why are my samples being rejected as “QNS”? What can be done to prevent this?

If five circles are not filled completely and saturated through the back of the Whatman blood spot card there may be insufficient volume of patient serum to perform the Sjögren’s syndrome panel of tests. You can contact your Immco Customer Service Representative for assistance with technique or for a demonstration on how to use the Sjögren’s syndrome kit.  Please refer to Appendix A for examples of acceptable and QNS blood spot cards.

Some helpful pointers are:

  • Wash hands with warm water and rub hands together prior to the finger prick
  • Keep arm vertical with fingers pointing down so blood pools in finger tips
  • Prick finger on side, not directly on pad

I did a Sjögren’s syndrome test on a patient last week and still have not received a result?

The expected turnaround time for Sjögren’s syndrome results is within 5 business days of specimen receipt. Generally, samples arriving via FedEx or UPS are received within 2 days of shipment, so results should be issued within 7 business days. If results have been requested via fax, the report will be faxed on the date the report is issued and a hardcopy will be sent via mail as well.

If using Immco Online, you can retrieve results 24/7 once results are posted. Please log on to see if results are available.

If not using Immco Online, there can be several scenarios why a result was not received. For example, if the recipient’s fax machine is being used or offline while the Immco fax is being sent, the Immco fax system will attempt to send the report multiple times, but is unable to continue attempting to send indefinitely. If you believe your results have been issued but not received, we encourage you to call Immco Customer Support at 1-800-537-8378 to request results be re-sent.

To ensure timely receipt of results, please be sure to completely and legibly fill out the test request form enclosed with the Sjögren’s syndrome tests. If you have selected the option for results faxing please ensure your fax machine is on and operational.

I am receiving results for some patients but not others?

If a doctor works out of multiple locations, it is crucial that the person completing the test request form accurately fills out where the patient’s results should be sent. If a doctor is using Immco Online to view reports, they will be able to see results for all patients regardless of practice location.  If you need to request results to be sent to an alternate location or would like to register for Immco Online, please contact Immco Customer Support at 1-800-537-8378.

I received an error message or am unable to log in to Immco Online to see results.

Please email immcoonline@immco.com with any Immco Online technical issues. If you are unable to access your report and would like to receive the results immediately or would like to register for Immco Online, please contact Immco Customer Support at 1-800-537-8378.

What is the minimum specimen volume needed for samples collected on a Whatman blood spot card?

The absolute minimum volume needed is three complete circles saturated all the way through to the back of the card and filled all the way to the dotted line edge. However, we encourage all five circles to be filled to avoid specimen rejection due to QNS.  Please see Appendix A for examples of acceptable and rejected submissions.

Why does Immco need all circles on the card filled?

The Sjögren’s syndrome panel consists of multiple tests and it is crucial that enough blood be provided to perform all of the testing. Filling all five circles ensures that the sample will not be rejected as QNS.

Should I absorb blood on both sides of the card?

You should not absorb blood on both sides of the card as it may cause uneven distribution of blood in the circles. Filling the circles from one side using large drops of blood (not small dabs) ensures the blood is evenly distributed. Blood that is not evenly distributed can result in varying concentrations, which may affect the accuracy of the results.

I submitted a Sjögren’s syndrome blood spot card with >3 circles filled and received notification the specimen was rejected due to QNS. How is that possible since I exceeded the minimum number of circles?

There are several scenarios that can cause a specimen to be rejected due to QNS. It is imperative that the circles are filled completely to the dotted lines and that the blood has soaked through completely to the back of the card so that the entire circle is saturated.  Failure to meet these criteria can cause a sample to be QNS. Please see Appendix A for examples of acceptable and QNS blood spot cards.

Is it ok to write or highlight on the blood spot card?

Do not write on the card anywhere except for the designated space for patient information. Use pen only, as the ink from highlighters and markers can absorb into the card material and may interfere with results.

Who can perform a “finger stick” blood collection?

The single use lancets provided in the Sjögren’s syndrome specimen collection kit are over-the-counter medical devices available to the public. Typically, no special licensure is required for a medical professional employed in a physician’s office to utilize this device to collect blood for the Sjögren’s syndrome test. However, please refer to your state’s regulations to determine if licensure is necessary.

State of California regulations are more restrictive as to who can perform a finger stick procedure. The procedure may be performed by a variety of licensed professionals, such as phlebotomists and emergency medical technicians, and may also be performed by a medical assistant under certain conditions. Although medical assistants are not licensed, certified, or registered by the State of California, they may perform the procedure within a medical practice if they have received proper training. However, the medical assistant’s employer and/or supervising physician’s or podiatrist’s malpractice insurance carrier has the right to require that the medical assistant be certified by a national or private association. Medical assistants providing training to other medical assistant must be certified by one of the approved certifying organizations (Title 16 CCR 1366.3).

Specimen
Why was my specimen sent to Immco Diagnostics for testing?

Immco Diagnostics is recognized as the leader in autoimmune testing and has established an excellent reputation with medical specialists who rely on our expertise, high quality and cutting edge diagnostic services. Our services include serology, genetics, pathology in many fields. Some of these include dermatology, dermatopathology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology, ocular and oral pathology, otolaryngology, neurology and rheumatology.

How do I request testing to be performed at Immco Diagnostics?

Immco Diagnostics will supply your office with specimen collection kits, free of charge. If you draw in your office, place the patient’s serum in the kit and return to Immco by FedEx, using the preprinted labels. If you do not draw in your office, the specimen may be drawn at other draw stations, however, please confirm that the phlebotomy site is able to submit specimens to Immco. Certain draw sites will only submit specimens for testing in network. If the draw site can submit specimens to Immco, please give the patient a specimen collection kit with a script for the draw. The draw station will return the kit to Immco at no charge. Immco is establishing draw locations regionally.

How do I obtain supplies to submit a test?

Immco Diagnostics supplies specimen collection kits free of charge. You can call (716) 691-0091 or 800-537-TEST, ext. 310/321, to obtain the kits. If you draw in your office, the specimen can be placed in the kit and returned to Immco by FedEx, using the preprinted labels. The specimen can also be drawn at any draw station, give the patient a specimen collection kit along with a script for the draw. The draw station will return the kit to us. Also we can provide you with a list of draw stations in the Upstate New York area and arrange for pickup by a courier.

How long are the specimens stable for?

Specimens for most of the tests are stable at ambient temperature during shipment. If a sample is stored prior to shipment, it is stable refrigerated (2-8 degrees centigrade) for up to 5 days, and frozen (-20 degrees centigrade) up to a year. However, the viability differs with different specimens; for example, stability for serum may be different than for a biopsy or mucous specimen. Please check the Test Request Form under “Specimen Requirement” for information. If you have any questions, please call Immco Diagnostics at 800-537-TEST, ext. 321 and our staff will be happy to assist you.

Why was my specimen unacceptable for testing?

A specimen may be unacceptable due to a number of reasons, for example, if the vacutainer tube it is collected in is not specific for the test requested as the test may require serum or whole blood, or plasma for testing. If the blood is icteric or hemolysed, the specimen is unacceptable as it interferes with the fluorescence. Also, biopsy site for various immunological and histological tests varies depending whether a lesional, perilesional or normal biopsy specimen is required. The specimen then has to be placed in the right color tube provided in the kit, as the solutions in the tubes are different depending upon whether it is an immunological or histological test. For specialized mucous tests, specimen collection and viability differ from the standard specimen collection. Please refer to the individual Test Request Forms under “Specimen Requirements”. For additional information, please consult the Collection and Handling Section in the TEST REFERENCE MANUAL. If you have any questions, please call Immco Diagnostics at 800-537-TEST, ext. 300, and our staff will be happy to assist you.