The Clinical Core Laboratories is a 24/7 high-volume laboratory performing 3.6 million tests per year.
The Clinical Core Laboratories in the Department of Pathology make extensive use of automation, autoverification, statistical quality control, lean principles, and real-time throughput monitoring. Medical laboratory scientists and technicians in the Clinical Core Laboratories use integrated, highly automated analyzers, decision-support software and information technology to deliver world-class service.
- Specimen Control: specimen receipt and processing
- Chemistry: routine automated chemistry assays (including electrolytes, renal function, cardiac markers, endocrinology, therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology), serum protein electrophoresis, gas chromatography for toxic alcohols/glycols
- Flow Cytometry: Includes analysis of blood, bone marrow, body fluids, and tissues
- Hematology: Routine automated blood counts, coagulation/hemostasis, hemoglobinopathies, body fluid analysis, bone marrow, and thromboelastography (TEG) testing
- Point of care (POC) testing
- Urinalysis
- Support Services: Call Center, Reagent Laboratory, Sample Transport (runners), Material Management
- Critical Care Laboratories
- Special Care Nurseries Laboratory:
- Provides on on-site laboratory adjacent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Intermediate Care Nursery and the Newborn Nursery.
- Provides rapid response laboratory services which set the Laboratory Standard of Care for the clinical management of these critically ill babies.
- Provides a limited test menu with rapid turnaround time of 10 minutes or less.
Core Laboratory shared values
The Clinical Core Laboratory achieves the departmental mission and vision while embracing the following shared values:
- Engaged faculty
- Deliver laboratory services using innovative approaches
- Provide leadership within the department
Our guiding philosophy is to practice continuous quality improvement, by embracing principles of Lean.
Lean practices
The Clinical Core Laboratories use Lean practices and values the faculty and staff to create changes that improves quality and safety, increases productivity and enhances the job experience for all staff. Shared values and continuous quality improvement are the foundation for advancing the Clinical Core Laboratories.
Timely and accurate
The laboratories play a crucial role in ensuring timely and accurate results for these designated centers. The ability of the lab to provide testing and meet turn-around time criteria is integral to the success of these services in providing high-quality health care related to the prevention, detection, and treatment of UI Health Care patients.
Supporting service lines
The inpatient and outpatient laboratory testing is integrated into this one location which promotes operational efficiencies by capitalizing on economies of scale. The laboratories also support testing for several service lines that carry designations such as the Chest Pain Center in the UI Emergency Department, Cystic Fibrosis Center, UI Stroke Center, and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
