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04.11.03

Children’s labs work wonders behind the scenes
 

Members of the Lab Control staff process Children’s samples.

pril 20 to 26 is National Laboratory Week, a time to recognize the vital role laboratory professionals play in health care. The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of four divisions Core Lab, Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Lab, Transfusion Medicine and Laboratory Support Services and smaller specialty labs.

Together, these labs perform more than 1.5 million tests per year for Children’s patients and the pediatric clinic at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “We also provide testing services to more than 100 healthcare facilities and more than 200 research studies,” says to Mary Ellen Cortizas, JD, administrative director of the labs.

A dedicated staff of 180 phlebotomists, technologists and laboratory scientists handle this massive workload. Much of the work is performed around the clock and out of sight of the rest of the hospital.

Some of the most important steps in lab testing begin within Lab Support Services, Phlebotomy and Lab Control. The Phlebotomy draws blood for inpatients, and over 100 outpatients each day. “Lab Control is the central processing area for all Children’s lab samples,” says lab manager Michele Hope, MHA, MT (ASCP). “It also sends close to 5,000 specimens to reference labs each month.”

The Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Lab, where staff work closely with clinicians to provide early diagnosis and optimum management of infectious diseases, is home to what lab manager Janet Matsubara, MS, MT (ASCP), describes as “the microbe sleuths who identify infectious agents in body fluids and tissues.” Despite the advanced technology employed in microbiology, says Matsubara, there is little automation. “Most of the work depends on the experience, the eyes and even the nose of the technologist.”

Transfusion Medicine Services is home to the hospital’s Blood Donor Center and Blood Bank. The Donor Center sees close to 15,000 donors a year and collects approximately 10,000 units of blood and 2,000 units of platelets while The Blood Bank processes these donations and provides blood to patients throughout Children’s and the Jimmy Fund Clinic. “In 2002 15,000 units of blood were cross-matched for patients,” says lab manager Maureen Beaton, MT (ASCP) BB.

The Core Lab, managed by Mary Jo Hipp, MS, MT (ASCP), comprises the Hematology, Chemistry, Endocrinology, Non-cellular immunology, Urinalysis and Coagulation labs. The Core Lab is highly automated, with cutting-edge technology performing the bulk of the clinical tests performed each year.

In honor of National Laboratory Week, Children’s clinical labs will celebrate with a variety of events around the theme of wellness, including group yoga, a stress and relaxation seminar, chair massage and more. “We are happy to honor these unsung heroes of the hospital,” says Orah Platt, MD chief of Laboratory Medicine. “They work around the clock to generate the critical results that count for our patients.”