Serology

Some infectious agents do not grow well in the lab and the best way to detect their presence is to test the patient’s blood for antibodies produced against the agent.

Some diseases detected this way may include mononucleosis, syphilis, Helicobacter pylori-related disorders, chicken pox, and shingles. 

Autoimmune disorders such as Lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Celiac disease, scleroderma and polymyositis can also be detected in serology.

Routine urinalysis including macroscopic and microscopic results, qualitative pregnancy tests, detection of occult blood in stools and gastric contents, pH testing of urine and body fluids, and stool lactoferrin testing is also available.

Specimens are accepted 24/7 in the lab and result turn-around time varies depending on the test.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is the most commonly used molecular technique to detect and study microbes.  Compared to other methods, PCR sequencing and analysis is definitive, reliable, accurate and fast.

Our routine molecular based diagnostic testing menu includes:

  • HIV and HCV viral load (PCR)
  • Chlamydia trachomatis (PCR)
  • Neisseria gonorrhea (PCR)
  • Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA by PCR)
  • Clostridium difficile (PCR)
  • Herpes Simplex Virus (PCR)
  • Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis (PCR)
  • Factor II Prothrombin genotyping
  • Factor V Leiden genotyping
  • CSF Enterovirus (PCR)