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Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
We know that a child’s well-being can hinge on how quickly treating physicians can obtain meaningful test results. That’s why our Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine uses advanced methods to offer comprehensive diagnostic procedures on both a routine and an emergency basis. Each of the department’s sections, including Anatomic Pathology, Blood Bank, Chemistry, Cytogenetics, Hematology, Microbiology and Virology, accepts specimen referrals and is staffed by medical technicians and technologists who work under the direction of MDs or PhDs.
In addition to the routine tests and pathology evaluation, our section of Anatomical Pathology accepts referrals for muscle biopsies (light microscopy, histochemistry, EM) including mitochondrial cytopathies, kidney biopsies (light microscopy, immunofluorescence, EM), Evaluation of mucosal biopsies for Hirschsprung’s disease, electron microscopy evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure (Ciliary Dyskinesia).
Our cytogenetics laboratory offers a consultation service to clinicians and oncologists and has developed expertise in solid tumor and hematologic oncology karyotypic alterations for pediatric and adult malignancies, routine peripheral blood karyotyping, testing of products of conception, tissue culture, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing, inclusive of touch preparations from frozen tissue and formalin-fixed paraffin-imbedded samples, molecular cytogenetics, genetics of autism, disorders of sexual differentiation, and contiguous gene syndromes.
Because of our concern for the generations to come, we run a Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program. This School of Medical Technology insures maintenance and promotion of our tradition of excellence in laboratory technology by training the medical technologists of the future.
Our department laboratories are certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Health. Our blood bank is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), CAP and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Important patient information
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is located on the lower level of the hospital.
Outpatient blood collection services are offered
Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The outpatient blood collection site is located on the main floor of the hospital in the back of the Admissions suite.
Important phone numbers
Laboratory Administration: (215) 427-5306
Anatomical Pathology: (215) 427-5272
Blood Bank: (215) 427-5267
Chemistry: (215) 427-5254
Cytogenetics: (215) 427-5290
Hematology: (215) 427-5260
Microbiology: (215) 427-5246
Virology: (215) 427-5296 or (215) 427-5297
Molecular Genetics: (215) 427-5297
Outpatient testing facility
Our staff members are experts in collecting blood from infants and children. The laboratory performs a large variety of routine and specialized pediatric testing services for outpatients. If your insurance company permits testing to be performed at St Chris, you can bring your doctor’s prescription test orders to the Admissions Department to register. After registration, go to the blood collection site window and sign in.
Your testing is either performed or referred by the laboratory at St Chris. We will send results directly to your physician and the physician will communicate the results to you. Please note: Pennsylvania state law prohibits us from giving results directly to the patient.
Quest Diagnostics and Lab Corp of America blood collection site
St. Chris is designated as an expert pediatric specimen collection site for both reference laboratories. Patients go directly to the blood collection site window and sign in- no hospital registration is required. You will need to have the reference lab test order form and your child’s insurance card.
We send the samples to the reference lab for testing. The reference lab sends results to your doctor. Please call your physician for results.
Meet the Team
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has a highly qualified team of board-certified experts who are specially trained to work with the individual and unique needs of infants and pediatric patients.
The team is led by Jean-Paul de Chadarevian, MD, FRCPC, Director, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
