Critical and Alert Values

Critical values are defined as any test result that may require rapid clinical attention to avert significant patient morbidity or mortality. Critical values are defined by the medical director of each technical section. Prompt verbal notification is provided to clients for results that the immediate attention of a clinician.

Alert values refer to any result that is not a critical value but that requires timely intervention (e.g., therapeutic drug monitoring, public health, infection control indication).

Critical Values List

Alert Values List

In compliance with HIPAA, test results are communicated verbally only to a member of the healthcare team responsible for the patient and authorized to take patient results. For authentication, client contacts are asked for:

Their full name (first and last)
Their department
Their position or title

In addition to the critical test result(s), and any accompanying information, the following information is provided:

Patient name, spelled out
Client ID number
Full test name
Date and time of collection

The client contact receiving the verbal information is asked to:

Read back the test results
Read any other information provided
Correctly spell the patient’s full name

Test results and protected health information (PHI) are not left on voice mail. All verbal critical value notifications are documented, and records stored. A monthly Critical Call Log Report is available to clients.