Ordering lab tests

I want to be able to order lab tests. What do I need to know?

All community pharmacists with a PRAC ID may register to order lab tests.

How do I register for a PRAC ID?

Pharmacists, like all practitioners and allied practitioners, must complete and submit the Practitioner/Allied Practitioners Information form AHC11234 found on the Health professional business forms page on the Alberta Health website. Instructions on how to complete the AHC11234 form are on the same Alberta Health webpage under the link to the form.

Completed forms may be submitted to the Provider Relationship and Claims unit at Alberta Health by

• fax: 780-422-3552; or
• email: Health.Pracforms@gov.ab.ca

For more information, contact the Provider Relationship and Claims unit at the above email address or by phone at 780-422-1522 (or toll-free at 310-0000, then 780-422-1522 at the prompt).

Pharmacists employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) should contact AHS Pharmacy Services for information on how to register and order lab tests.

Know the standards

The Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians include the pharmacist’s responsibility to consider appropriate information for each patient (Standard 3). This includes the ordering of laboratory tests. It is your responsibility to become familiar with the standards and guidelines before you begin ordering lab tests. In October 2018, ACP introduced new standards for laboratory and point of care testing:

• Standards of Practice – Laboratory and Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
• Guidance for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians – Laboratory and Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)

Have a plan for receiving results

Results for all lab tests ordered by pharmacists will be available via Netcare in the same way as results for tests ordered by other health professionals. However, to ensure timely responses and follow-ups for tests you have ordered, you will be required to provide the lab with information regarding how results can be received in your workplace.

• If you work in an AHS facility, a PCN, or a physician’s office where other health professionals are already receiving results, you can likely receive results for the tests you order via the same method as other health professionals. It is your responsibility to consult with your work location to determine whether results for the tests you order can be received and whether there are any additional workplace requirements to do so.
• If you work in a community pharmacy that is in, or adjacent to, a physician’s clinic, you may be able to receive results via the same method as the clinic.
• If you work in a community pharmacy in another location, you must arrange with the lab to have results delivered.

For additional information, or if you need assistance in determining how you will receive results, please contact the lab you are registering with.

24/7 coverage required

As indicated in the ACP standards and guidelines, pharmacists must have a system in place to ensure appropriate follow-up of critical results for lab tests they order on a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week basis. You may feel that you are able to provide 24/7 coverage; however, there are times when all of us are indisposed or unavailable. For this reason, you are encouraged to consider developing agreements, partnerships, or arrangements, such as on-call groups, with other pharmacist or physician colleagues to meet this requirement.

• If you work in an AHS facility, a PCN, or a physician’s office where other health professionals are already receiving critical results, you may be able to provide after-hours coverage via the same method as other health professionals. It is your responsibility to consult with your work location to determine whether this is possible.
• If you work in a community pharmacy, you may need to establish an on-call schedule with other pharmacists who work with you. Alternatively, you may wish to develop partnerships or on-call groups with other pharmacists, other pharmacies, or physician colleagues.

After-hours emergency contact information must be made available to the lab at the time of registration or must be available via a messaging service at your regular contact number. Lab representatives will not leave information regarding critical results on answering machines or voicemail.

How to register

• Information and a registration package for all labs are available on the AHS webpage Pharmacists/Optometrists Ordering Laboratory Tests.
• Forms and requisitions can be found on the AHS webpage Forms & Requisitions.