STAT testing
Rapid answers in acute situations
For patients suspected of or diagnosed with an inborn error of metabolism that heightens the risk of critical illness or death due to metabolic decomposition, or when testing will facilitate emergent treatment decisions, STAT testing is available.
STAT testing overview
Approval of requests for STAT testing is at the discretion of the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory (BGL) clinical lab director on call, who guides clinical decision-making and management decisions. Examples include:
- Establishing a diagnosis during an acute crisis.
- As a follow-up to certain abnormal newborn screening results.
- To monitor the clinical status of an acute patient with a known diagnosis.
Our laboratory aims for rapid turnaround times for all specimens to provide the best possible care for all patients. To accommodate STAT requests and ensure appropriate staffing, requests must be made as soon as possible after a test is ordered. Ordering laboratories must discuss the clinical indication for STAT testing with our BGL laboratory directors, who determine when STAT testing is approved.
Tests for which results are expected to provide the most clinical significance, given the patient’s history and current presentation, will be prioritized as STAT.
STAT testing request process
To request STAT testing, a current test order must be placed with Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
To inquire about whether STAT testing is available
Our routine turnaround times often meet the needs of providers and patients even in urgent situations. Before requesting STAT testing, please review the typical turnaround times for routine specimens as outlined in the FAQ section below.
If STAT testing is required for clinical care, the client's laboratory staff must call Mayo Lab Inquiry (MLI) at 800-533-1710 with the following information:
- Patient name and DOB.
- MCL order number(s).
- Test(s) requested as STAT.
- Clinical information supporting why this situation is critical:
- Acute crisis in a patient with a known diagnosis? What is the diagnosis?
- Acute crisis in a patient without a diagnosis. Primary problems (hyperammonemia, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, etc.)? What possible diagnoses are being considered?
- Is the patient in the intensive care unit (ICU)?
- Follow-up of an abnormal newborn screening result (for what condition) and the patient’s current clinical status.
- Name and phone number to reach the clinical provider (not lab staff) during both business hours and off-hours. This is for additional clinical discussion if needed and to provide notification of results to the person responsible for direct patient care.
- Expected date of specimen arrival at MCL.
Discussion about the clinical indication for STAT testing
MLI staff will facilitate a conference call between the BGL clinical physician on call and the client lab staff, who will provide the clinical indication for STAT testing.
- The BGL physician will determine whether STAT testing is approved and if so, which test(s) will be performed STAT and which will be processed routinely.
- An estimated availability of results will be provided based on the anticipated specimen arrival. STAT testing may not be guaranteed for samples not received as expected.
MLI staff will obtain additional information, including shipment tracking, from the client to facilitate the ordering of STAT testing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does STAT testing require Mayo Clinic Laboratories approval?
- STAT testing approval is necessary to guide clinical management decisions while being good stewards of laboratory resources.
- Unnecessary STAT testing has the potential to delay results and impact the care of other patients.
- Due to the large volume of specimens received daily, additional information is needed to identify specimens that require special handling.
When must notification of a STAT specimen request be made?
- STAT requests must be made as soon as possible after a test is ordered.
- Our staff manages as many as 40,000 specimens daily, with samples processed in the order received. All samples received require accessioning, processing, and distribution to the appropriate testing laboratory. Advance notification of STAT testing requests allows MCL staff to locate and triage specimens accordingly.
How do I order STAT testing?
- After placing the initial test order, sendout lab staff should call MLI at 800-533-1710 to request STAT testing approval.
What information needs to be provided when requesting STAT testing?
- STAT testing is approved based on the supporting clinical indication (i.e., what makes this a critical situation).
- The name and phone number of the clinical provider (not lab staff) responsible for receiving result notification.
- The expected date of specimen arrival.
Why aren’t all requested STAT test requests approved for STAT turnaround?
- Not all tests ordered at the time of the STAT request will be performed STAT. The results of tests expected to provide the most clinical significance, given the patient's history and current presentation, will be prioritized as STAT.
Can I request serial STAT testing for a patient?
- Serial STAT testing requests are discouraged. Clients should time the collection of serial monitoring specimens to align with shipping and test setup times.
- Unnecessary STAT testing has the potential to delay test results and impact the care of other patients.
- In the rare case that serial STAT testing is clinically necessary, communication with Mayo Clinic Laboratories and approval by the BGL director are required for each order.
Can I order STAT testing if I am not currently a Mayo Clinic Laboratories client?
- An account must be established prior to sending a specimen. Contact MLI at 800-533-1710 to create an account.
What is the typical turnaround time for routine specimens submitted for plasma amino acids (Mayo ID: AAQP)?
- AAQP is set up Monday through Friday.
- The published turnaround time for results is 3–5 days upon arrival. On average, reports are available in 2.7 days. Results are not reported on weekends.
- Once a sample has arrived, specific turnaround time estimates can be provided by calling 800-533-1710.
| Day received | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday and Sunday |
| Reported | Tuesday– Wednesday | Wednesday– Thursday | Thursday– Friday | Friday– Monday | Monday | Tuesday |
What is the typical turnaround time for routine specimens submitted for urine organic acids (Mayo ID: OAU)?
- OAU is set up Monday through Saturday. Routine testing samples need to be received in the testing laboratory the day prior to setup. Results are typically available by 5 p.m. the next day.
- The published turnaround time for results is 3–5 days upon arrival. On average, reports are available in 3.4 days. Results are not reported on Sundays.
- Once a sample has arrived at MCL, specific turnaround time estimates can be provided by calling 800-533-1710.
| Day received | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday and Sunday |
| Reported | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Monday | Tuesday |
What is the typical turnaround time for routine specimens submitted for plasma acylcarnitines (Mayo ID: ACRN) test results?
- ACRN is set up Monday through Friday.
- The published turnaround time for results is 2–5 days upon arrival. On average, reports are available in 2.2 days. Results are not reported on weekends.
- Once a sample has arrived at MCL, specific turnaround time estimates can be provided by calling 800-533-1710.
| Day received | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday–Sunday |
| Reported | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Monday |
What is the typical turnaround time for other test results?
- To provide the best possible care for all patients, our laboratory aims for rapid turnaround times for all specimens.
- Information regarding estimated turnaround times is available in the MCL Lab Test Catalog.
- Once a sample has arrived at MCL, more specific turnaround time estimates can be provided by calling 800-533-1710.
How are the results of STAT testing reported?
- The results of STAT testing will be reported to your institution per the typical process your sendout laboratory uses.
- In addition, the results of STAT testing will usually be called to the number provided for the clinician caring for the patient.
- In the rare event that a serial STAT request is approved by the testing laboratory, the result of the first specimen will be called. The results of subsequent STAT specimens might not be called to the ordering physician.
Is there an additional fee for STAT testing?
- A nominal fee is assessed for the additional handling and triage of the specimen from the MCL receiving facility to the testing laboratory.
- As of February 2025, BGL does not charge an additional fee to cover the costs incurred by the testing laboratory to perform STAT testing. We reserve the right to implement a fee in the future.
- Specific pricing inquiries should be directed to MLI at 800-533-1710 and will require an account number.