Clinical Laboratory Services

Point-of-care testing at Geisinger includes a wide variety of tests such as blood gas, general chemistry, pregnancy, urinalysis, coagulation (TEG, PT/INR).  The Point-of-Care Testing Department verifies that the clinically appropriate point-of-care testing is used to ensure testing quality and patient safety.  Test accuracy is ensured through personnel training, procedures and other quality assurance practices. Because point-of-care testing is often performed at bedside by doctors or nursing staff, and results are usually obtained in two minutes or less, patients are able to receive more timely and appropriate medical treatment.

Hoi-Ying (Elsie) Yu, PhD, DABCC, FAACC
Director

The Blood Bank is composed of two sections:  Transfusion Services and Donor Room Services. The Blood Bank provides units of blood and blood components and has the capability to provide a variety of specialized services such as compatibility problem resolution and specially modified products. In addition, consultation for inpatient and outpatient therapeutic apheresis is available for patients with certain neurological and hematological diseases. Special services such as the collection, processing, freezing, storage, and thawing of peripheral blood human progenitor cells are also provided.

The Chemistry Laboratories in the Geisinger Health System consist of several technical sections, including Automated Chemistry, Blood Gases, Toxicology, Urinalysis, Immunology and Serology. Our state-of-the-art total laboratory automation system connects a front end preanalytic automation system with Chemistry, Hematology and Coagulation Testing to improve operational efficiency.  Specific testing includes metabolic panels, hepatic function panels, renal function panels, cardiac markers, thyroid tests, fertility tests, therapeutic drug monitoring tests, lipid panels, diabetes monitoring tests, cancer markers, etc. The Chemistry Laboratories support all specialties including Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Nephrology, Hematology/Oncology, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease, Women’s Health, and General Medicine.  Specialized STAT testing is available to meet the clinical need.  Test methods are standardized across the entire Geisinger System.  Therefore, providers and patients can be certain of the same results no matter at which Geisinger hospitals/clinics they are located.

The Coagulation Laboratory at GML is highly technical and automated, capable of handling a large volume of coagulation samples with speed and accuracy. The lab is staffed by skilled medical laboratory scientists and laboratory technicians with years of experience.  We offer a wide range of specialty coagulation testing for bleeding, hypercoagulable, and platelet disorders. The lab is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is always a pathologist available for consultation.

The Flow Cytometry Laboratory at GMC serves the medical community by offering integrated laboratory evaluations for the study of disease at the cellular and subcellular level. The flow cytometry laboratory provides state-of-the-art services to pathologists and clinicians. Our work includes multiparameter immunofluorescence to aid in the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and immunodeficiency disorders.

The laboratory is staffed by medical laboratory scientists with over 20 years of experience in flow cytometry and additional experience in immunology. The laboratory is staffed five days a week with an on-call service on the weekends and holidays for emergency services (contact Client Services at 800 695 6491). Pathologists from the flow cytometry laboratory are available for consultation.

The GML Hematology Lab offers the specialized tests needed to diagnose and treat hematologic disorders. It is a highly technical and automated laboratory, capable of handling a large volume of hematology samples with speed and accuracy. The Hematology Lab is staffed by skilled medical laboratory scientists and technicians with many years' experience. The lab is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is always a pathologist available for consultation.

The immunology-based laboratories (serology, immunopathology, and clinical immunossay) perform several types of testing on blood and urine. Generally, the tests measure levels of antibodies to infectious agents (viral and bacterial) or to autoantigens (normally occurring substance in the body that, through disease processes, causes an immune response or formation of an autoantibody, a "response to self"). We also do testing to identify diseases of the immune system. All testing is done rapidly and cost-effectively, by knowledgeable and experienced staff employing state-of-the-art technology.

Hoi-Ying (Elsie) Yu, PhD, DABCC, FAACC
Director

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The microbiology laboratory of the Geisinger Medical Laboratories employs the latest technology for rapid, accurate and cost-effective microbiology testing. Testing is available for six distinctive sections - bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, virology, parasitology and molecular infectious diseases. Each section is staffed by medical technologists with appropriate specialty training.

The Molecular Pathology Laboratory at Geisinger is a state-of the-art diagnostic laboratory providing cutting-edge clinical molecular diagnostic services for patients of the central Pennsylvania region. 

The laboratory is CLIA-certified and accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

As part of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Diagnostic Medicine Institute, this laboratory is committed to meet the needs of our clinicians and patients by quickly adapting the scientific discoveries and advances in infectious disease, genetic disorders, and hematopoietic and solid tumor malignancies.

Genetic Test Menu:

• Prothrombin (Factor II) Mutation Analysis, PCR
• Factor V Leiden Mutation Analysis , PCR
• HFE Mutation Analysis, PCR
• MyGenVar Cystic Fibrosis-CFTR Gene, Carrier Screening, Next Generation SequencingMyGenVar Cystic Fibrosis-CFTR Gene, Whole Gene, Next Generation Sequencing

Infectious Disease Test Menu:

• HIV-1 RNA Quantitative\
• Hepatitis C RNA Quantitative
• Hepatitis C Genotype, PCR

Oncology Test Menu:

• BCR-ABL1 p190/p210, Diagnostic, RT-QPCR
• BCR-ABL1 p210, Monitor, RT-PCR
• BCR-ABL1 p190, Monitor, RT-PCR
• BRAF Mutation Analysis, PCR
• EGFR Mutation Analysis, PCR
• KRAS Mutation Analysis, PCR
• MyGenVarCyto Pancreatic Cyst and Bile Duct Fluid Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing.
• MyGenVar Hematology Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Myeloproliferative Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Breast Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Central Nervous System Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Cervical and Endometrial Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Custom Gene Panel 5-50 Mutations, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenVar Custom Gene Panel >50 Mutations, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Colorectal Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Comprehensive Solid Tumor Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Dermatologic Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Gastoesophageal Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Genitourinary Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Head and Neck Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Hematolymphoid Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Hepatobiliary Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Ovarian Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Pancreatic Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing\
• MyGenVar Rapid Acute Leukemia Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Soft Tissue Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• MyGenvar Thoracic Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing\
• MyGenvar Thyroid Neoplasm Gene Panel, Next Generation Sequencing
• NRAS Mutation Analysis, PCR
• Detailed testing information for molecular pathology tests is available in our Test Catalog.

The laboratory is directed by Yi Ding, MD, PhD, FCAP.

The toxicology section offers urine drug testing, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) testing, toxic alcohols testing, and lead testing to support multiple specialties. Urine drug testing is used to detect unprescribed or illicit drug use as well as monitoring adherence to prescribed controlled substances. Geisinger offers both urine drug screen and confirmation tests, and has decision support testing strategy designed for opioids and benzodiazepines compliance monitoring for pain management programs. TDM helps clinicians determine the concentration of drug/drug metabolite in blood at timed intervals to establish correct dosage and yield optimum therapeutic outcomes. Geisinger’s TDM test menu includes but is not limited to immunosuppressants, antiepileptics, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and psychiatric drugs.