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Medical Services:

Lab Services

Expertise. . . Every Step of the Way

Accurate and timely laboratory testing is essential to modern healthcare. In fact, most healthcare decisions are directly affected by laboratory data and results. Reliable laboratory results enable more accurate diagnoses and more targeted, efficient patient treatment.

The Northwest Community Healthcare Laboratory has:

6 board-certified Pathologists, a PhD Clinical Chemist and Clinical Microbiology consultant on staff.
Ninety-five percent of the Laboratory employees are ASCP board-certified or eligible.

Our laboratory staff provides point-of-care testing and immediate results for a variety of laboratory tests, in addition to performing over one million tests per year.

If you Need Tests - Preparing for your Visit

Fasting
Certain tests require a period of fasting (nothing to eat or drink, except water) prior to having your blood drawn. Ask your physician if fasting is required for the test they are requesting. In addition, ask your physician if any medications you are taking can cause interference with the test you will be having.

What to bring
Upon your arrival, have your doctor’s order, insurance card and ID ready for registration.

Getting Your Results
Test results are always sent to the ordering physician. Depending on the test, the results can take 1-4 days to process. Consult with your physician as to how long your test results will take.

Within Northwest Community Laboratory Services, our…

Chemistry Department performs over 1 million tests annually including Lipid Profiles which include Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL and HDL, Glucose, Metabolic Panels, Thyroid Testing, PSA and drug monitoring tests. The Chemistry Department can perform these tests from blood and/or urine samples in order to help assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatments of patients. Most test are completed that day!
Hematology Department performs such tests as complete blood counts to diagnose infections and anemia, 250 Protimes daily to monitor blood clotting, and urine tests for diabetes and infection.
Histology Department processes 20,000 surgical cases per year. The Histology Department involves the study of tissue and biopsies.
Pathology Transciption and Support Staff generate over 40,000 reports per year. The staff process a large volume of telephone inquiries for laboratory information.
Cytology Department reads over 19,000 Pap Smears and Thin Prep Pap Tests per year. Tests are performed to help detect cervical cancer and precancerous cells.
Blood Bank Transfusion Service transfuses over 12,000 units of blood and blood components per year. The Blood Bank performs over 78,000 tests annually to include compatibility testing, Prenatal and Neonatal testing as well as complex workups to meet patients’ needs.
Microbiology Department performs 6700 tests for influenzae during the flu season (October through April) as well as 5000 strep screens and throat cultures annually.
Phlebotomy Department is experienced in drawing blood tests from patients in all age groups. In addition, the phlebotomy staff travels to many nursing homes in the metropolitan area, servicing geriatric patients on a daily basis.
Laboratory Services handles hundreds on telephone calls per day to answer questions from patients, nursing staff and physicians.
Molecular Diagnostics provides DNA and RNA analysis through amplification of minute quantities of genetic material for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, genetic mutations, and tumor markers.

Last Updated on 05/07/08

Medical Services:

Lab Services

Expertise. . . Every Step of the Way

If you Need Tests - Preparing for your Visit

Within Northwest Community Laboratory Services, our…

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