Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Akron Children's has a full-service laboratory, offering tests ranging from routine chemistry screens, blood cell counts and microbiology cultures to those requiring sophisticated instruments and techniques. The tests, while geared to children, can be performed on specimens from any age patient.
Akron Children's lab is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the FDA (Blood Bank) and holds a CLIA Certificate.
Staffed by more than 100 medical technologists, administrators, secretaries and pathologists, our lab performs more than 300,000 tests each year.
Our laboratories for cytogenetics, molecular diagnostic (DNA), virology and electron microscopy, as well as our neuropathology and fetal pathology services, are the only ones of their kind among area hospitals and serve as regional referral centers.
Our chemistry lab offers a blood lead level test, a required health screen, which is especially geared for children. Our DNA lab's LightCycler is an automated system for using DNA probes to detect infectious diseases and genetic disorders.
Many sections of the lab participate in medical research, new product development, and the evaluation of new tests and techniques.
Akron Children's Pathology Department also plays an important role in medical education. Our staff developed the pathology curriculum at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). We also offer a one-year pediatric pathology fellowship training program, which is accredited by the American College of Graduate Medical Education.
Our department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has upgraded its chemistry and immunochemistry testing platforms, resulting in several changes and improvements.
