Division of Clinical Pathology

Blood Bank, Apheresis, and Transfusion Medicine
Medical Director: Peter A. Millward, M.D.

• Irradiation of blood products
• Antibody ID’s and titers
• Prenatal testing
• Donor testing
• RHIG preventive therapy (dispensed, not administered)
• Leukoreduction by filtration
• Therapeutic apheresis [Requires consultation]
• Therapeutic phlebotomy [Requires consultation]
• Direct Antiglobulin Testing (DAT or Coombs’ Test)
• Transfusion Medicine consultation/expertise

Please call the Blood Bank at (717) 531-8232 for further information.

Clinical Chemistry
Medical Director:  William J. Castellani, M.D.

• Routine chemistry profiles and panels.

• Therapeutic drug monitoring.

• Blood gas analysis; cooximetry; and whole blood testing for glucose, lactate and ionized calcium.

• Thyroid and fertility testing.

• Diabetes testing including hemoglobin A1C and microalbumin.

• Cyclosporine and FK506 testing.

• Sweat tests for cystic fibrosis screening, performed on outpatients twice a week by appointment and as needed on inpatients.

• Infectious disease testing including hepatitis, HCV and HIV markers.

• Wide variety of specialty tests, including intra-operative PTH and fetal fibronectin.

• Tumor markers including PSA, CA-125, and AFP.

• Cardiac markers - Troponin I, Myoglobin, CKMB and homocysteine.

• Inflammatory and nutritional markers.

• Serum/urine protein and immunofixation electrophoresis, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and associated tests including serum immunoglobulins, hemoglobin A₂ and hemoglobin F quantitation.

• Toxicology screening for drugs of abuse.

Please call the Chemistry Laboratory at (717) 531-8615 for further information.

Hematology, Thrombosis, and Hemostasis
Medical Director of Hematology and Thrombosis: Thomas P. Nifong, M.D.
Medical Director of Hemostasis: M. Elaine Eyster, M.D.

• Automated CBC, platelet, and 5 part differential.
• Reflex manual differentials performed by staff experienced in abnormal cell morphology.
• Reflex or orderable review by pathologist.
• Examination for blood parasites.
• Reticulocyte analysis by flow cytometry.
• Automated coagulation testing: aPTT, PT, fibrinogen and quantitative D-dimer.
• Specialized assays for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thrombosis, with physician interpretation: Protein S, Protein C, Antithrombin III, Activated Protein C Resistance, Lupus Anticoagulant Testing, and Mixing Studies.
• Specialized assays for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of hemostasis: Factor Analysis, Factor Screens, Factor Inhibitors, Heparin (Xa) Assay, Fletcher Factor Screen, Russell Venom Viper Time.

Please call the Hematology Laboratory at (717) 531-8115 for further information.

Microscopy
Medical Director: Thomas P. Nifong, M.D.

• Urine and serum pregnancy screen (Same day service).
• Spinal, serous, synovial, dialysate fluid cell counts and differentials.
• Synovial crystal examination.
• Kleihauer Betke fetal cell stain.
• Occult blood screen (stool and gastric).
• Urinalysis with reflex microscopic examination.
• Routine urinalysis with routine microscopic examination.
• Osmolality on serum and urine.

Please call the Microscopy Laboratory at (717) 531-8115 for further information.

Special Hematology
Medical Director: M. Elaine Eyster, M.D.

The Special Hematology laboratory offers the following clinical tests to outreach customers. A courier is available for same day delivery of specimens within a 40 miles radius of our laboratory. The following services are provided by our facility.

• Qualitative and Quantitative testing for Hepatitis C – RNA
• Quantitiative testing for HIV – RNA (Viral load)
• Hepatitis C gentotyping
• HIV genotyping for drug resistance
• Flow cytometry testing which includes 3-code marker detection and sophisticated strategies

1. Leukemia phenotyping
2. Lymphoma phenotyping
3. Lymphocyte subset analysis and immune panel
4. Cell surface kappa/lambda light chain analysis

• Platelet aggregation studies

Physician’s interpretation/impression is available for the above tests.

Please call the Special Hematology Laboratory at (717) 531-8559 for further information or visit the Special Hematology Laboratory website.

Microbiology
Medical Director: Peter C. Appelbaum, M.D., Ph.D.

• Rapid Strep A antigen detection.
• DNA probe system for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. Gordonae and M. avium-intracellulare complex.
• Gas chromatography (IDS) identification of unusual gram negative rods, gram positive organisms and other Mycobacterium species.
• Rapid (4 hour) identification of fermenter and non-fermenter gram negative rods, yeasts, anaerobic bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhea, Hemophilus species and Gardnerella.
• Rapid identification of methicillin resistant staph aureus.
• Continuous monitoring system for blood cultures.
• MIC sensitivities for yeasts and TB.
• Enhanced recovery and more rapid TAT for the isolation of acid fast bacilli.
• Fecal leukocyte detection.

Please call the Microbiology Laboratory at (717) 531-5113 for further information.

Histocompatibility
Scientific Director: Paula J. Romano, Ph.D.
Associate Director: Ronald E. Domen, M.D.

• The Histocompatibility Laboratory performs all Histocompatibility testing required for solid organ and bone marrow transplant programs. This testing consists of state-of-the-art serological and molecular typing for all W.H.O. recognized antigens of the HLA A, B, C, DR and DQ loci. In addition, various types of white cell crossmatching and antibody screening are performed to determine whether or not a potential transplant recipient has antibodies directed against HLA antigens, and in particular, those of a specific donor.

• This laboratory provides centralized Histocompatibility services for the entire region served by the Gift of Life donor transplant program.

• HLA typing (at a nominal cost) for individuals that volunteer as potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program.

• HLA tissue typing is also requested for Disease Association studies, when the presence or absence of a particular antigen is informative, e.g. HLA B27 in ankylosing spondylitis.

Please call the Histocompatibility Laboratory at (717) 531-5118 for further information.

Virology
Scientific Director: Wallace H. Greene, Ph.D.

• The Clinical Virology Laboratory offers a comprehensive service for viral isolation, rapid direct detection with viral diagnostic assays and viral serologies.

• The lab offers technical and scientific expertise and support by working closely with the health care provider to determine the most appropriate and cost effective course of action. The laboratory is in operation Monday through Friday, 0800 - 1630 hours, Saturday 0800 - 1200 hours and Sunday 1300 - 1600 hours.

• All positive results are telephoned to the requesting physician. Special instructions in collection techniques are provided by the virology staff. In addition all viral collection supplies provided at no cost.

• We offer isolation and identification for the following viruses: adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, mumps, measles, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and varicella-zoster virus.

• Molecular diagnostic assays for chlamydia and Neisseria gonorrhea are available.

• Because our virology lab is within the medical center we achieve optimal sensitivity with viral cultures due to decreased transport times. We are also readily available for on-site or phone consultations.

Please call the Virology Laboratory at (717) 531-5121 for further information.

Cytogenetics Laboratory
Medical Director: Roger L. Ladda, M.D.

The Cytogenetics Laboratory provides chromosomal analyses of peripheral blood leukocytes and fibroblast cultures derived from tissues, chorionic villi and amniotic fluids. This service is part of the comprehensive clinical genetics diagnostic and counseling program provided by the Section of Human Genetics, Growth & Development,   Department of Pediatrics.

For more information, please contact the Cytogenetics Laboratory at (717) 531-8414.

Core Endocrine Laboratory
Scientific Director: Laurence M. Demers, Ph.D. DABCC

Our core endocrine laboratory provides comprehensive speciality hormone analysis such as insulin (total and free), pro-insulin, PTH (intact), androstenedione, aldosterone, 17 OH Progesterone, DHEA-S, ACTH, HGH, IGF-1, IGF-BP3, free testosterone and other analytes such as estriol, N-telopeptide, bone specific alkaline phosphatase and renin activity.

For more information, please contact the Core Endocrine Laboratory at (717) 531-8317.