Before sending a case...

Contact UIDL Client Services to verify your institution is ready to send samples, receive results, and accommodate invoicing.

General consult checklist

Required details for every test and consult request sent to UIDL. Expand each step to view details.

✅ 1. Review Test Directory

Review the UIDL Test Directory to verify collection and rejection criteria, turnaround times, and the appropriate requisition for your request.

Contact UIDL Client Services to verify availability if the Test Directory does not contain your desired test.

✅ 2. Establish Billing and Payer Directives

It is the responsibility of the referring institution to review payer options with patients. Visit the Billing page to verify your options.

✅ 3. Complete Test Requisition

A completed requisition must accompany any sample or add-on request sent to UIDL.

Requisition Downloads

Within the United States:

Requisitions accompanying samples collected within the United States require the following:

Referring Institution
  • Referring institution name
  • Address, phone number
  • Fax number for resulting
Ordering Physician
  • Clearly and accurately indicate ordering physican's name, NPI, and phone number to be called by our pathologists with preliminary results.
Patient Demographics
  • First and last name, date of birth, and gender
  • Phone number and address
  • Diagnosis codes
  • Relevant clinical history and lab data
Billing Directive
  • Verify billing directive: 
    • Referring Institution (Client)
    • Patient Insurance
    • Patient (Self-Pay)
  • Referring institution is responsible for vetting and providing complete and accurate insurance documentation if choosing to bill the patient's insurance.
Test Details
  • Place of service (collection location), date and time.
  • Specimen source
  • LAB Code from UIDL Test Directory & specimen details

Outside of the United States:

Additionally, requisitions accompanying samples collected outside of the United States require the following:

  • Email address for reporting
  • Prepayment
  • Importer certificate

✅ 4. General Specimen Collection

The Supply Order Form can be used to request collection and transport materials.

  • Supplies can be ordered individually, in bulk, or assembled in kits for your convenience. 
  • Refer to Specimen Tips to guide sample collection and ensure standards and specifications of UI Health Care are met.

✅ 5. Label Specimen

To ensure the best possible patient care and most accurate test results, specimen (slides, blocks, wet tissue vials) labels must include the following: 

  • Two identifiers that match the accompanying documentation. Acceptable identifiers include:
    • Patient name
    • Date of birth
    • Unique patient ID number.
  • Collection date and time
  • Tissue source

Failure to comply with identification requirements may result in specimen rejection (test cancelation) or specimen return to ordering facility for correction (result delay). UIDL will contact referring institution to provide documentation or confirm misidentified information.

✅ 6. Send Case to UIDL

Our Contact and Availability page confirms hours of operation and holiday or weekend deliveries.

Please consult with your preferred shipping company to ensure shipping requirements and special services (such as Saturday or First Priority services) are available in your area.

  • UIDL provides complimentary FedEx overnight services to all clients.
  • Shipping supplies can be ordered via the supply order form.
  • Local courier services can be arranged for local clients. Contact UIDL Client Services to verify if your institution is eligible.

Shipper’s Responsibility: The shipper is required to comply with the rules and guidelines for transport of medical specimens as set forth by the US government. Failure to follow instructions for packaging and shipping specimens can result in the delay, loss or destruction of your specimens. UIDL will not be held responsible for any attributable liability.

✅ 7. Results and Material Returns
  • Cases originating within the United States will require a fax number for reporting.
  • Cases originating outside of the United States will require an email address for reporting.
  • Contact UIDL Client Services to inquire about electronic resulting.
  • For consultation requests sent with processed specimens, a hard copy of the final report will be included with the return of the referring institution's slides and blocks.

Shipping address

Department of Pathology
University of Iowa Diagnostic Laboratories (UIDL)
200 Hawkins Drive 5231 RCP
Iowa City, IA 52242-1087

Specimen tips

Review the below links to confirm test specific details related to labeling, documentation, and specimen collection.