August 20, 1986
VA HANDBOOK 7610 (240)
CHAPTER 240. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION -
PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE SERVICE
1. APPROVAL OF CRITERIA
Criteria approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on August 20, 1986.
2. DEFINITION
a. A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center Laboratory Service provides a wide range of clinical and
anatomic pathology services whic h are necessary to carry out tests and procedures for diagnostic use in patient care.
b. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Satellite and Independent Outpatient Clinic Laboratories provide limited
services based on the need to screen for or monitor a disease process or to determine the need for hospitalization. Specimens
for more complex tests are collected, processed and forwarded to medical center laboratories for performance of the tests.
c. Refer to the following space criteria chapter(s) for additional functions that may be required in laboratory service:
(1) Chapter 410, LLTS -- Laboratory staff lockers and toilets.
d. Location of facilities: The following factors should be taken into consideration when determining the location of
laboratory service within the medical facility:
(1) The location of all elements of laboratory service should provide for effective movement of patients, specimens and
reports to and from those areas (emergency room, ambulatory care, surgery, intensive care units and post anesthesia recovery
rooms) requiring the most rapid response to requests for service. It must never be located in the basement level for reasons
outlined below.
(2) The provision of effective hospital systems for specimen transport will impact on the location of laboratory service.
For example, laboratory service should be located directly above ambulatory care to allow rapid delivery of specimens by
dumbwaiter.
(3) The anatomic pathology unit should be conveniently located with respect t o Surgical Service operating rooms for
direct, personal communication between pathologists and surgeons.
(4) The electron microscopy suite should not be located near vibration--producing equipment, or near equipment that
generates intense electrical fields.
e. Figures 240.F1 and 240.F2 demonstrate the intrarelationship of functions within Laboratory Service. Figure 240.F3
demonstrates the intrarelationship of functions within Anatomic Pathology, a section within Laboratory Service.
240-1
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