Clinical Laboratory

UC Davis Medical Center Clinical Laboratory is a full-service anatomic and clinical pathology laboratory, offering one of the most extensive routine and esoteric testing menus in and beyond the Northern California region.

As part of a nationally ranked academic health center, our mission is to develop and deliver the highest quality comprehensive diagnostic services in the fields of pathology and laboratory medicine through established and novel diagnostic modalities.

Our pathologist faculty and clinical laboratory scientists are a group of dedicated professionals and accomplished experts who provide trusted diagnostic health-care services. We serve and work to improve the delivery of health-care in the community by assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease.

The Clinical Laboratory is home to one of the most technologically advanced laboratories in California, providing diagnostic pathology and testing not always available in the region.

The “Pavilion” Laboratory (Transfusion Medicine, Automated Hematology, Coagulation, Chemistry, Urinalysis and Specimen Receipt and Processing) provides services 24 hours per day 7 days per week in direct support of all the hospital inpatient areas, emergency medicine, OR and trauma.

Our menu of test areas includes, but is not limited to:

• Chemistry
• Coagulation
• Cytogenetic diagnostics
• Cytopathology and fine needle aspiration
• Flow cytometry
• Hematology
• Immunology and Allergy Testing
• Molecular diagnostics
• Special chemistry testing including toxicology
• Special coagulation
• Surgical Pathology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Urinalysis

We value all our clients and their patients, and understand their need for accurate and timely results. We provide STAT services 24/7 to the inpatient, emergency department, OR and trauma services.  We also provide a rapid turn-around time whenever possible, usually within 24 hours.

A comprehensive alphabetical directory of tests is available online and is regularly updated. Visit our Laboratory Test Directory for more information.

The Hospital Laboratory provides comprehensive Priority 1, STAT and routine laboratory testing services to the Emergency Department 24/7 everyday of the year. The Laboratory is located above the Emergency Department and is staffed to support the Hospital and the Emergency Department. Laboratory specimens collected in the Emergency Department are sent to the Laboratory through the pneumatic tube system. Specimens with EMR orders that are received with a bar code go directly on the automated testing lines. Manually prepared specimens are hand processed and immediately tested. Test results are reported through the Laboratory Information System and are immediately available to the Emergency Department physicians via the EMR System.

The Medical Staff and the Laboratory Medical Directors work together to insure that all patient testing needed for Emergency Care are readily available to the Emergency Department physicians and nurses. Please see Laboratory Tests available on a STAT Basis. Additional testing can be obtained though faculty (pathologist) consultation. A pathologist is either immediately available or is on call for immediate consultation.  In additional licensed laboratory staff is available on call 24/7 every day of the year.

The faculty and staff of the Clinical Laboratory are committed to exceptional service for every patient sample that entrusted to us.

Patients may have their specimens collected at one of our several conveniently located patient service
centers. We will provide courier service for physicians who prefer to collect specimens in their offices.

Specialized medical directors are available to answer questions about routine and specialty test selection and interpretation of test results.

Testing is performed at our state-of-the-art clinical laboratories in Sacramento. Our fully-automated robotics line for chemistry and hematology testing—the first of its kind in the region—standardizes testing processes, eliminating variability in outcomes and reducing delays.

Referring physicians and patient care teams are quickly provided with accurate, efficient results.

We recognize that consulting with a pathologist is often critical in developing an informed treatment plan. As valued members of the patient’s health-care team, our subspecialty pathologists are available to consult with clinicians and take necessary and additional steps to resolve questions around difficult cases.

Consultation requests are offered by phone or digital consultation. Digital consultations allow our pathologists to share a whole slide digital image of the case through a Web-based interface program.

Our pathologists offer diagnostic and consultative services to inpatients, emergency medicine, trauma, hospital based clinics, primary care providers, medical specialists, surgeons, and other health-care professionals. They consider medical information and imaging findings, in conjunction with observations through the microscope and other laboratory tests, to provide comprehensive evaluation.

Our pathologists examine the full range of prostate specimens, from needle core biopsies to radical prostatectomies. In addition to routine histologic processing, our laboratory offers multiplex (dual chromogen) immunohistochemical staining for simultaneous assessment of p63, CK34bE12, and racemase in prostate biopsy sections.

Our pathologists provide definitive diagnostic reporting on gastrointestinal specimens from all gastric, esophageal, small bowel, colon and liver biopsy materials. We also examine the full range of liver specimens, both native and transplant, from needle core biopsies to hepatectomies.

Our cytopathology laboratory is dedicated to providing comprehensive cytology support, including fine needle aspiration collection services. UC Davis Health cytopathologists provide consultation services for the full range of cytologic specimens, including fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies and non-gynecologic specimens and Pap smears, as well as HPV testing on liquid based Pap following standard of practice guidelines. Our cytopathologists have special expertise in the interpretation of thyroid, breast, head and neck, lung and body fluid cytological specimens.

Our gynecologic pathologists provide routine diagnostic surgical pathology services, serving as consultants for gynecologists and oncologists. They also play an active role in tumor board discussions and contribute input concerning treatment decisions for challenging cases.

Our dermatopathology service is a unique academic dermatopathology practice staffed by both practicing dermatologists and pathologists. We perform routine histopathology, direct immunofluorescence studies and routine wet tissue processing and handling, as well as provide expert second opinions.

Our service provides diagnosis of neurosurgical specimens, muscle and nerve biopsies, as well as brain autopsy. Pathologists perform gross and microscopic examinations of brain tissue and make neuropathologic diagnosis of dementia disorders, using routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and silver stains.

Our bone and soft tissue pathologists provide routine service and comprehensive expertise for adult and pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors. Our pathologists provide high-quality consultative services to orthopedic and pediatric surgeons for difficult bone and soft tissue tumor cases.

The pulmonary pathology service provides diagnosis of pulmonary diseases in routine and difficult cases, working closely with pulmonary oncologists, thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists.

Our hematopathology service provides expert consultation for bone marrow specimens. We provide comprehensive bone marrow reports incorporating findings with the results from our internal flow cytometry and cytogenetics laboratories. Our hematopathologists also evaluate lymph node biopsies for lymphoma or benign lymph node disorders.

The Hematopathology laboratory also offers:

• Histology laboratory with hematology immunohistochemical stains
• Dedicated bone marrow biopsy technician with cytochemical stains available
• Cytogenetics with FISH testing
• Flow cytometry lab with testing 7 days a week
• Hematopathologist on call 24 hours a day

Chemistry services include both routine and STAT chemistry testing. A large variety of testing is performed – from basic electrolytes, lipids, enzymes, cardiac tests, drug screens and urinalysis to more esoteric tests for tumor markers, anemia and other endocrine tests. Hgb A1c, hepatitis, HIV antibody testing and Vitamin D testing are also included.

Chemistry testing is performed 24 hours a day as STAT services for inpatient, emergency department and trauma services.

Toxicology laboratory services include both routine and STAT analysis of drugs and metabolites in blood and urine samples.  Testing includes therapeutic and transplant drugs (cyclosporins, FK506, sirolimus, etc.), overdose drug screening (confirmation for amphetamines and opiates), drugs of abuse screening, alcohol and volatile analyses and whole blood lead analysis. Categories of drugs tested include analgesics, antiarrhythmics, sedatives, antidepressants, antihistamines, opiates and stimulants.

The lab performs testing for adults and pediatric patients utilizing a variety of analyzers and methods including immunoassay, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, LC/MS/MS and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

An alphabetic and detailed list of analytes tested can be found online in our Laboratory Test Directory. Visit our Laboratory Test Directory for more information.

The coagulation laboratory offers an extensive array of clinically relevant assays and is the only Sacramento area laboratory to provide specialized coagulation testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The coagulation test menu includes inhibitor screen testing, fibrinogen, D-dimer, fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP), fibrin monomer, thrombin time, antithrombin activity, factor VIII activity, factor IX activity and platelet function screening testing (PFA-100).

Other coagulation testing includes specific factor assays, vonWillebrand’s factor activity (ristocetin cofactor) and antigen, and inhibitor assays (Bethesda titer). Heparin levels (anti-Xa activity) and testing for antibodies in patients suspected of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia are also available. For thrombophilia evaluation, we offer protein C activity, protein S activity, antithrombin activity, plasminogen activity, anti-cardiolipin antibody, anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibody and lupus anticoagulant testing.

Platelet aggregation testing is available using whole blood luminescence to evaluate for thrombocytopathy or drug effect. Interpretive reports are provided for vonWillebrand’s and thrombophilia workups, as well as platelet aggregation studies.

The microbiology laboratory offers full-service bacteriology, mycology, virology and parasitology testing. Guided by a board-certified medical microbiologist, the laboratory provides highly sensitive, accurate, timely and appropriate results using standard and innovative test methods.

For bacteriology, both aerobic and anaerobic cultures are available including specialized cultures for less common organisms (e.g., Legionella spp.). Routine and confirmatory bacterial susceptibility testing using a combination of automated and reference methods are also performed.

Mycology services include fungal cultures of all relevant body sources and yeast and mold identification by experienced specialists.

For viral detection, testing is offered in partnership with the molecular pathology laboratory, for nucleic acid amplified detection of respiratory viruses, herpes viruses, hepatitis viruses and HIV to complement the spin amplification cell cultures (e.g., shell vials) and direct fluorescent antibody test methods.

The molecular pathology laboratory offers comprehensive molecular services that include nucleic acid testing (DNA and RNA) for three broad categories including inherited disorders, infectious diseases and hematology/oncology testing.

UC Davis Health’s molecular pathology laboratory offers an extensive test menu exclusive to the Sacramento region. The current test menu includes, but is not limited to:

Genetics

• Cystic Fibrosis mutation analysis
• Hereditary hemochromatosis
• Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)
• Prothrombin (G20210) mutation
• Prader-Willi Syndrome

Oncology

• BCR/ABL Philadelphia Chromosome t(9;22) qualitative
• RAR-APL t(15;17) qualitative
• Her2/neu FISH
• EGFR, k-ras, b-raf mutation detection

Infectious Disease

• BK quantitative by PCR
• Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
• CMV quantitative and qualitative by PCR
• EBV quantitative and qualitative by PCR
• Hepatitis C quantitative and qualitative
• Hepatitis C Genotype
• Hepatitis B quantitative and qualitative
• Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping
• Respiratory viral panel by PCR

The laboratory utilizes leading-edge technology to provide rapid, sensitive and specific testing, providing quality patient testing within a standardized and efficient timeframe.

The Laboratory’s transfusion service is AABB-accredited and performs a full range of testing in blood typing, compatibility testing and antibody identification.

The service is FDA registered for irradiation of red cells and platelets as well as washing red cells. Consultations are available by the medical director and associate directors with expertise in transfusion medicine.