DeKalb Clinic Laboratory employs state-of-the-art technology to provide its patients the most accurate results in a convenient and timely manner. The laboratory employs 16 professionals, making it the second largest laboratory in the county. The laboratory Medical Director is K. P. Reddy, M.D. Pathologist. Dr. Reddy is board certified in clinical and anatomical pathology.
The DeKalb Clinic Laboratory is fully compliant with federal regulations, including the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), the Health Care Financing Act (HCFA), and is inspected by the Commission of Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA). The laboratory subscribes to the proficiency testing program. This means that the laboratory is sent unknown samples regularly throughout the year for every test that they perform. The samples are graded by the American Proficiency Institute (API), and results sent back to the laboratory.
A brief description of our laboratory departments follows. Test methodologies can be provided to the patient upon request.
Chemistry and Immunochemistry
Our chemistry department runs a wide battery of tests, including glucose, kidney function, liver function, cardiac and electrolyte testing. We run these tests on the Beckman CX5 analyzer. Immunoassay testing such as thyroid, serum pregnancy, total and free PSA, Vitamin B12, is performed on the Beckman Access. Glycated and Hemoglobin A1C testing is performed on the Abbott IMX.
Hematology
Our hematology department runs tests such as CBC, Hemogram, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, (ESR) and Mononucleosis testing. Our blood counts are performed on the Abbott CellDyn 3500 analyzer. This analyzer provides an automated 5-part WBC differential with histograms.
Coagulation
Our coagulation department performs Prothrombin Times and other coagulation function tests on the Instrumentation Laboratory ACL 1000 analyzer. Our facility's Protime Clinic monitors the coumadin for over 400 patients, and the timely testing of our patient's prothrombin times is a high priority.
Microbiology
The microbiology department performs culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing from a wide variety of sources such as throat, urine, wound and stool. The BioMerieux Vitek 32 analyzer is used to test a large number of antibiotics for their efficacy against the problem organism. Minimum inhibitory concentration reports (MIC) of the antibiotic that will kill the organism alert the physician to the best antibiotic to use. During the strep throat season, our microbiology lab can perform as many as 75 rapid strep tests in a day! All rapid strep tests are backed up by culture, providing the patient with the added insurance that if strep is present, we will find it.
Urinalysis
As many as 100 urines a day are analyzed using the Bayer Clinitek 200+ analyzer. A standard battery of urine chemistry tests is performed, including glucose, ketones, protein and occult blood. The urine is then centrifuged and a technologist examines the urine sediment under the microscope. The presence of white and/or red blood cells and bacteria indicate a possible urinary tract infection. The urinalysis test is considered routine by many, but it provides the physician with very valuable clinical information about the state of the body. Urine pregnancy testing is also performed in this department.
If you have any questions about the tests that we can provide, please contact the laboratory at (815) 758-8671, Ext. 5050. Information about our test methodologies and our accreditation can be provided upon request. DeKalb Clinic's laboratory provides routine and specialized testing for the detection of disease.
