Laboratory sections, purpose, and tests

Administrative Office

Responds to telephone calls, handles specimen collection requests, and handles some specimens.

Phlebotomy (Sample Collection)

Collects samples from patients and processes samples for testing or transport.

Hematology

Studies the blood in normal and diseased states; usually limited to the study of cellular components and not the chemistry of blood.

Hematology Tests

Complete blood cell count (CBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, sedimentation rate, body fluid cell counts.

Coagulation

Studies blood clotting mechanisms as an aid in the diagnosis or monitoring of patient therapy.

Coagulation Tests

Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), D-dimer, factor eight, fibrinogen assay, heparin level, von Willebrand factor.

Urinalysis

Studies urine to aid in patient diagnosis to follow the course of a disease or the body’s metabolism.

Urinalysis Tests

Urinalysis, specific gravity, urine pH, urine glucose.

Chemistry

Performs biochemical analysis of blood and body fluids to determine the status of a patient.

Chemistry Tests

Comprehensive metabolic panel, iron studies, renal panel, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol.

Microbiology

Cultures samples to determine if pathogenic organisms are present in a sample and determines the organisms’ sensitivity to antibiotics (culture and sensitivity).

Microbiology Tests

Blood cultures, throat cultures, anaerobic cultures, urine cultures, parasite identification, stool culture, mycobacterial (tuberculosis) culture, virus cultures, fungal cultures, genital cultures, mycoplasma cultures, antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Immunology

Studies antigens and antibodies to determine immunity to disease or presence of disease.

Immunology Tests

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, rubella, syphilis (rapid plasma reagin [RPR]), hepatitis testing.

Immunohematology (Blood Bank)

Determines compatibility of blood and blood products that are to be administered to patients.

Immunohematology Tests

Compatibility testing, antibody screens or A B O, R h determination.

Cytogenetics

Studies deficiencies related to genetic diseases.

Cytogenetics Tests

Chromosomes analysis, prenatal chromosome screening.

Molecular Diagnostics

Uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies to study the presence of various diseases or infections.

Molecular diangostics Tests

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, HIV and other infectious diseases.