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Primary Care Alberta Clinical Updates - March 26, 2026
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Update: Bicillin L‑A® (Benzathine Penicillin G) Shortage – Interim Alberta infectious syphilis guidancePlease note the update below from Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services, following up on their Feb. 18 announcement about a national shortage of Bicillin L‑A®.
To help mitigate this shortage, Health Canada has permitted the temporary importation of Lentocilin® (benzathine benzylpenicillin). Until supply stabilizes, the following interim clinical direction (aligned with PHAC guidance) applies across the province:
Lentocilin® is available for use in syphilis cases and contacts who are: - pregnant, or
- persons whose adherence to treatment and followup is uncertain.
Bicillin LA® is reserved for syphilis cases and contacts who are: - infants <1 month of age, or
- allergic to Lentocilin®.
For all other suspected or confirmed non-neurological syphilis, the recommended treatment is: - Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 14 days (primary, secondary or early latent syphilis)
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 28 days (late latent syphilis)
For patient treatment history, case consultation, or medication access, contact STI Centralized Services at 1-855-945-6700 (option 4). Due to limited supply, clinics are asked to place small, incremental orders to avoid exhausting supply.
Thank you for your continued collaboration in ensuring safe and effective syphilis treatment during this national shortage.
Ongoing measles awareness needed, cases on the rise in 2026
As we enter April and the Easter long weekend, Albertans are reminded that the continued circulation of measles in our communities – combined with a seasonal increase in people travelling – requires ongoing vigilance.
Testing and confirming cases is an important part of preventing additional spread to others, especially babies, pregnant women, seniors, and those with weak immune systems. Anyone suspecting they have measles should contact Health Link 811.
If you or your patients or clients have not had the measles vaccine, or if you are not sure about vaccine history, please call Health Link at 811 or your local community health centre.
More information, including resources for health professionals, can be found at www.ahs.ca/measles.
Lab bulletin: Update to management of immunocompromised patients for HPV primary testing
Effective March 17, colposcopy is recommended for immunocompromised patients testing positive or indeterminate for any high-risk HPV genotype on their HPV primary test. This applies only to patient age groups that are eligible for HPV primary cervical cancer screening (currently ages 50-69).
Read the full lab bulletin.
Lab bulletin: New ophthalmic pathology requisition
Lab bulletin: Reporting changes to tests involving aldosterone and renin
Effective March 24, the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) will transition to the DiaSorin Liaison instrument for testing of “Aldosterone, plasma,” “Aldosterone, Urine, 24 hour,” “Renin, plasma,” “Aldosterone/Renin Ratio Panel (ARR),” and order sets that involve these tests. New pediatric reference intervals for “Aldosterone, plasma” and “Renin, plasma” will be implemented at both UAH and the Calgary Immunochemistry Laboratory.
Read the full lab bulletin.Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation.
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Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation. |
Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation. |
Effective Feb. 19, if ammonia is ordered at an acute care site that does not perform testing onsite, samples will be frozen and sent on scheduled couriers. This is a change from being automatically sent by stat transportation, and applies to Edmonton area suburban hospitals. A list of impacted sites is available in the lab bulletin. If results for ammonia are required stat at the impacted sites, please contact the laboratory to request stat transportation. |
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