UTMB Laboratories' Outreach Program
UTMB Laboratories' Outreach Program, provides
laboratory testing for community physicians and hospitals in Galveston County
and the surrounding counties as well as testing for the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, and the UTMB's satellite clinics throughout our service area.
Client Services
Client Services at (800) 522-2266 is the main
access point for outreach clients to order phlebotomy supplies, request a
specimen pick-up, check on test results, ask technical questions or request a
clinical consultation with a pathologists. The alternate local telephone number
for Client Services is (409) 747-2900. Client Services is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. They are closed Saturday, Sunday, and UTMB
Holidays. After hours, a Laboratory supervisor will answer (800) 522-2266.
Appointments: Some laboratory procedures are
performed Monday though Friday by appointment only and may be scheduled in
advance by calling the client service number.
Special Information: Client Service personnel
will provide laboratory data only to persons licensed under the provisions of
the law. Laboratory data will not knowingly be released to patients. Patients
are asked to request all laboratory information from their primary care
physician so the data can be interpreted properly.
Courier Services and Phlebotomy
UTMB Laboratories have couriers who will pick-up
specimens from the client / physician's office on a routine basis. The client /
physician's office staff should contact the UTMB Laboratories' Client Services
Office at (800) 522-2266 or (409) 747-2900 for sample pick-ups. If the client
has sufficient laboratory test volume, arrangements can be made for a courier to
stop daily. The courier will routinely pick-up samples after 4 p.m. Drop
boxes are provided for after-hours pick-ups.
When using UTMB Specimen Collection Center send a
UTMB requisition slip with the patient. A special requisition is not necessary.
Specimens can be drawn for any insurance carrier and will be sent to the
required reference laboratory.
Specimens may be delivered directly to the main
laboratory in the Hospital twenty four hours a day at:
Sample Management
301 University Blvd.
7.412 Clinical Services Wing (CSW)
Galveston, Texas 77555
Telephone: (409) 772-3302
If shipping from off campus using a common carrier
such as Federal Express, please specify INSIDE DELIVERY.
Test Result Reporting
Routine test results can be delivered via hospital
printer, fax machine, or laboratory printer depending on the client's location
and the amount of information to be delivered. The UTMB Information Services
Department is developing an electronic medical record accessible to UTMB staff.
Requests for special handling for test results
on a specific patient such as, "Call Results to Dr. Jones at 763-9999" should be
written on the laboratory request form. A Laboratory Technologist will call the
results when the test is completed. However, the telephone number must be listed
on the request form (an answering service number or pager number is acceptable).
will be handled similarly to
the special handling for test results. If the Laboratory does not have a
specific telephone number for the clinic or physician's office, every effort
will be made to contact the physician using the telephone number on file with
the Hospital or Client Services.
Turn Around Times
Most routine chemistry and hematology testing is
performed the day it is received in the laboratory. Analysis time, report print
time and courier delivery time should be less than 2 days. Some special
chemistry testing will take an additional day. Turnaround times for
microbiology, virology, and cytopathology or other anatomic specimens will
normally be less than 5 days, depending on the type of testing required.