BWH Clinical Laboratories
General Information
Online Resources
Search Our Site
Contact Information
 Brigham & Women's Hospital Clinical Pathology & Laboratories

Test Requisitions

The test requisition envelope for the clinical laboratory must be filled out when ordering tests from all laboratories except the Blood Bank, Microbiology, Virology, Cytogenetics, Cytology, Tissue Typing and for HIV testing. Tests to these laboratories should be sent directly in plastic bags with their specific requisitions filled out appropriately.

The requisition envelope must be filled out in the following way:

You must use a ballpoint pen when filling out the requisition. Ink of other pens or pencils will rub off the requisition.

  1. Stamp with patient's addressograph plate or print the patient information as required. 
  2. Print information as required: 
    • Name of ordering clinician. 
    • Clinician ID number. 
    • Practice location (use a rubber stamp if available). 
  3. Print physician ID code. (This is essential to ensure printed reports have the correct physician's name on the report for the patient's medical record.) 
  4. Print the date and time of specimen collection. 
  5. Print the location where report will be sent. If an outpatient, and not seen in a recognized group practice at BWH, indicate the private office. Reports will be sent to the physician's report address as it appears in the BWH professional staff directory. 
  6. Clearly indicate with a checkmark or "X" in the box to the left of the test name. If a test is requirested is STAT, put a written star "*" (preferably in red) to the right of the test name, and a STAT sticker at the top of the requisition.
Note: To expedite processing in the lab, blood, urine & body fluids should be sent in separate envelopes.

It is essential that all specimens have proper identification, and that they be rapidly transported to the laboratory. Incorrectly identified specimens can cause unnecessary problems within the laboratory, and can be dangerous for the patient.