Diagnostics and laboratory

Diagnostic laboratory services in Riverside, California

The Anatomical Pathology & Clinical Laboratory Department at Riverside Community Hospital provides rapid and precise diagnostic services to patients in the Inland Empire region. The Clinical and Pathology Laboratory provides a complete laboratory service for all types of patients ranging in age from neonates through geriatrics. The laboratory is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including holidays. The State of California Department of Public Health licenses the laboratory under the provisions of the Laboratory Act of the State of California. The laboratory will be operated in compliance with the regulations of the licensing authority. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredits the laboratory.

To schedule a lab test, call our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (951) 788-3463.

Our lab's services

Our Anatomical Pathology & Clinical Laboratory Department is a full-service lab with an extensive test menu to meet our community's expanding needs.

Inpatient: the Clinical Laboratory is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Outpatient: There are no outpatient services in the laboratory. There is P.A.T. (Pre-Admission Testing), the P.A.T. department business hours are from Monday through Friday, and it is located by the main lobby adjacent to the registration area. Pre-surgical patients utilize this service.

All services for inpatients and P.A.T. patients are rendered only upon written or phone request with fax order from the physician, or computer orders entered into the Meditech System (LIS). The laboratory does not do “Direct-To-Consumer Testing” (DTC).

Our lab offers a wide range of services, including:

Anatomical pathology

Anatomical pathology employs a range of services, including surgical pathology and cytology, to evaluate bodily fluids and tissues from body sites. This allows us to provide a definitive diagnosis promptly so that clinicians and oncologists can make necessary and appropriate treatment decisions for our patients.

Blood transfusion

We ensure safe blood transfusions for patients. This involves providing blood components for transfusion in addition to consultations for patients with immune hemolytic anemia, hemolytic disease of the newborn and specialized testing for patients with antibodies to red cell antigens.

Chemistry

Chemistry panels are tests to determine the body's overall wellness and functionality, often involving a blood sample. We offer a wide range of chemical tests, such as:

• Electrolyte tests
• Glucose tests
• Infectious disease testing, including hepatitis tests
• Therapeutic drug monitoring
• Toxicology tests
• Tumor markers

Coagulation

Blood clotting is a protective mechanism of the body against bleeding. Coagulation studies help clinicians make crucial decisions to control bleeding or eliminate harmful clots that can cause damage. Common coagulation tests include:

• Fibrinogen
• Prothrombin time
• Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
• D Dimer
• TEG (Thromboelastography)

Hematology/Cytology and Urinalysis

Hematology is the study of disorders of the formed elements of the blood, such as anemia, leukemia and lymphoma. Hematology employs a variety of complex study tools, including molecular methodology.

Immunology

Immunology methods are used to diagnose a range of disorders of the immune system and to evaluate malignant disorders of blood and lymphoid cells. Through immunology, we study:

• Infectious diseases, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test (HIV) and Hepatitis Test
• Malignant lymphomas

Microbiology

Clinical microbiology is the study, identification and antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms known to cause infectious diseases. Through microbiology, our focus is to rapidly and accurately identify microbial diseases found in blood and body fluids.

Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy is the process of puncturing a vein, usually in the arm, with a cannula to draw blood. Our phlebotomists are licensed by the State of California to perform venipuncture.

Point of care testing

Point of care tests are designed to be used at the bedside or near the site where the patient is located. This allows rapid test results with the potential to expedite medical decision making.

Point of care tests include:

• Blood gases tests
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests
• Creatinine tests
• Electrolytes tests
• Glucose tests
• Occult blood tests
• Pregnancy tests
• Urinalysis
• iPTH
• POC RT PCR SARS COVID-19 Testing

Our clinical lab teams

Our lab team is highly trained and experienced. Many of our scientists are board certified, and all of our staff members have received specialized training and complete annual competency assessments as per state regulations. All specimen analyses are performed by California-licensed Clinical Lab Scientists.

Our clinical lab team includes:

• Board-certified anatomical and clinical pathologists
• Clinical lab scientists
• Cytotechnologists
• Histotechnologists
• Lab assistants
• Laboratory clerk
• Phlebotomists
• Medical laboratory technicians

Our commitment to quality

Providing quality patient care is our number one priority. Quality control measures are in place to evaluate all testing methodologies. Internal and external quality measure dashboards are reported to a variety of committees and regulatory agencies.