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Department of Pathology Heersink School of Medicine

Laboratory Medicine

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Division Director: Sixto Leal, M.D., Ph.D.

The second-largest clinical division in the Department of Pathology after Anatomic Pathology, Laboratory Medicine engages in clinical service, oversight of clinical laboratories, teaching and research.  Most faculty members are responsible (Section Head) of one or more clinical laboratory and are responsible for the analysis of blood, urine, body fluids and tissue used for the diagnosis and management of disease. The division conducts approximately 6million tests annually for the UAB Health System. All sections of the UAB Hospital Laboratories are automated and integrated with the UAB Hospital information systems allowing test results to be seen at remote sites. Our laboratories are also accredited by: CAP, CLIA and AABB, and the proficiency of our very experienced staff is monitored by internal and external quality assurance programs.

A 4-year old $6.8 million automated core laboratory (Clinical Chemistry, Coagulation and Hematology) located in the heart of the UAB Hospital performs millions of tests annually, in addition to tests performed in other laboratories such as Blood Bank, Microbiology, Flow Cytometry, and Immunology. Each laboratory is managed by highly skilled medical technologists and most are staffed 24/7.  The Division also works with the laboratory at the large outpatient building, The Kirklin Clinic, and the affiliated Highlands Hospital, both in the downtown Birmingham campus.  In addition, there are several satellite laboratories as part of the outreach services of the UAB Health System.  Our faculty members and trainees are available for consultation regarding appropriate laboratory test utilization and interpretation of results 24 hours a day, and reached via the UAB Paging Operator.

The Division has 16 full- and part-time faculty members with MD and/or PhD degrees. It offers 1-year fellowships in Hematopathology (in conjunction with AP) and Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine. Special expertise includes the following: