Clinical Pathology Laboratories

• Assists the Clinical Pathology Laboratories by performing the primary accessioning and processing for clinical and research specimens.
• Handles 2,500 specimens daily and over 750,000 specimens annually.

The Support Services staff members assist the professional and technical staff and are vital to the efficient functioning of the laboratories.

Accessioning:

• Each specimen is accompanied with a requisition indicating tests ordered by the clinician.
• Tests are ordered into the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and labels print with a unique accession number, specimens are then labeled.
• Specimens are received from in-patients, clinics, Emergency Room, and Outreach offices through the pneumatic tube system, the mail and hospital runners.
• An Exceptions Desk follows up on incomplete and incorrect requisitions, as well as, collection tube errors.
• A Customer Service desk receive calls for additional tests and inquires regarding test ordering.

Processing:

• Depending on the type of tests, specimens are usually centrifuged.
• After centrifugation, the serum/plasma is separated off and spaced in a tube(s) and sent to the laboratory performing that test.
• Other specimens are directed to the Commercial Mailouts to be packaged and sent out.