Shipping

Shipping | Billing | Lab Policies | AccessAthena®
 > Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping Kits

Athena Diagnostics provides all shipping materials and pays shipping charges for specimens sent to us. Our shipping containers include:

• A prepaid airbill
• Sample container
• Shipping container
• Profile selection guide (if applicable)
• Dry ice label (if applicable)
• Athena Diagnostics’s Guide to Shipping and Handling
• A Test Requisition form
• A patient reimbursement brochure

Unacceptable Specimens

To ensure Athena Diagnostics’s ability to conduct the test with accuracy and the highest quality, specimens may be considered unacceptable by Athena Diagnostics under the following circumstances:

• The blood/muscle sample arrives hemolyzed, or thawed, if a frozen sample is required
• The shipping box is damaged and the sample has been spilled or destroyed
• The blood/muscle sample is less than the minimum required volume/amount
• The blood/muscle sample is unlabeled

Incomplete Requisition Forms

An incomplete Requisition Form will result in delay of testing and result reporting. Please enclose a completed Requisition Form with the submission of specimen(s).

Instructions for Shipping

1. Label the tube with the patient’s name, date and time of collection.
2. Complete the Requisition Form. Please be sure to fill in all fields of information, including the patient or responsible adult signature(s) and the physician’s signature. Check the test(s) ordered.
3. Verify that the appropriate specimen requirements have been met (sample type, volume, collection tube type).
4. Place container with specimen in shipping carton.
    

   The following are special containers used for certain tests:
   Cold Pack (4-8°C) Shipping Container	Dry ice containers	CMT containers
   ADmark® assays	THROMBX™ Profiles	CMT 1 Evaluation
   Tau/Aß42	Muscle biopsies	Pressure Palsy Neuropathy
   Peroxisomal Disorders		Chronic Demyelinative Neuropathy
   Adrenoleukodystrophy
   Refsums Disease Test

1. Place completed Requisition Form on top of sample container. Ship via Athena Diagnostics’s overnight service.
2. Shipping carriers:

Shipping Address for Specimens

Athena Diagnostics, Inc.
Four Biotech Park
377 Plantation Street
Worcester, MA 01605

Specimens can be shipped Monday through Friday, please refer to the set-up schedule for the individual test(s) in order to expedite turnaround time.

Specimens should not be shipped on Saturdays or any day preceding a holiday. Federal Express and UPS do not deliver on the following holidays:

• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Day

We suggest that muscle specimens be shipped only Monday through Thursday.

Athena accepts international specimens for testing. We request that they be accompanied by payment in US dollars. If pre-payment is not received, there will be a delay in result reporting. Canadian and overseas specimens require special courier assistance. Please call our Client Service Representatives for further information.

Additional Questions

For inquiries regarding the above information, please call our Client Services Department at 1-800-394-4493, extension 2, or fax them at 508-798-7135.For inquiries regarding the above information, please call our Client Services Department at 1-800-394-4493, extension 2, or fax them at 508-798-7135.
Specimens can be shipped Monday through Friday, please refer to the set-up schedule for the individual test(s) in order to expedite turnaround time.

Athena Diagnostics, Inc.
Four Biotech Park
377 Plantation Street
Worcester, MA 01605

For inquiries regarding the above information, please call our Client Services Department at 1-800-394-4493, extension 2, or fax them at 508-798-7135.

Specimens can be shipped Monday through Friday, please refer to the set-up schedule for the individual test(s) in order to expedite turnaround time.