Laboratory

Laboratory

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Stamps Health Services Laboratory is dedicated to Georgia Tech students and the health care providers responsible for their clinical management. Our goal is to provide the best clinical laboratory services to all we serve –  high quality, reliable, timely, and cost-effective. 

We are able to meet all the laboratory testing needs of our patients through a combination of in-house testing and our reference laboratory partner, Quest Diagnostics.  Each play an extremely valuable role in providing the screening tests needed for preventive care as well as complicated tests providers use to pinpoint early and accurate diagnosis, in addition to monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy.

We employ state of the art equipment including a laboratory analyzer and a laboratory information system (LIS) to process, store and manage data from all stages of medical and testing processes

Our in-house testing covers the acute medical needs of our patients. In-house testing includes CBC, Rapid Strep, FLU A&B, ESR (Sed Rate), UA (Urinalysis) with microscopic, Urine Pregnancy (qualitative), Mono (IM) Qualitative, Hemocult, Glucose (finger stick), Tissue KOH, Wet Prep (for Trichomonas), and Pinworm Prep.

       Laboratory General Information

    Compliance

    Our laboratory is certified at a level of moderate complexity under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act, and is accredited by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA).

    Outside Lab Orders

    Written requests are accepted but you must make an appointment with a SHS provider who will then order the test. Most test results can be returned in 48-72 hours. Charges apply to all lab tests and payment is due at the time of service. Once the lab tests are received, we will send the results to you via our secure patient portal and/or the ordering provider.

    Quality Improvement Program

    Our Quality Improvement Program monitors and evaluates the ongoing and overall quality of the total testing process. This includes all of the activities involved in pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processing of patient samples to assure accurate, reliable patient test results.

    Staffing

    Our lab is directed by a board certified pathologist, a medical technologist and medical laboratory technician who are registered with a recognized National Certification Agency for Laboratory Professionals, e.g. the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

       In-House Laboratory Tests

    Complete Blood Count

    Gives important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red blood cells , white blood cells , and platelets. A CBC helps your doctor check any symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, or bruising, you may have. A CBC also helps him or her diagnose conditions, such as anemia, infection, and many other disorders. A CBC test usually includes:

    • White blood cell (WBC, leukocyte) count. White blood cells protect the body against infection. When a person has a bacterial infection, the number of white cells rises very quickly.
    • White blood cell types (WBC differential). The major types of white blood cells are neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. The numbers of each one of these types of white blood cells give important information about the immune system.
    • Red blood cell (RBC) count. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They also carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be exhaled. If the RBC count is low (anemia), the body may not be getting the oxygen it needs. If the count is too high (a condition called polycythemia), there is a chance that the red blood cells will clump together and block tiny blood vessels (capillaries).
    • Hematocrit (HCT, packed cell volume, PCV). This test measures the amount of space (volume) red blood cells take up in the blood. The value is given as a percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood.
    • Hemoglobin (Hgb). The hemoglobin molecule fills up the red blood cells. It carries oxygen and gives the blood cell its red color. The hemoglobin test measures the amount of hemoglobin in blood and is a good measure of the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.
    • Red blood cell indices. There are three red blood cell indices: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). These numbers help in the diagnosis of different types of anemia.
    • Platelet (thrombocyte) count. Platelets (thrombocytes) are the smallest type of blood cell. They are important in blood clotting.
    • Mean platelet volume (MPV). Mean platelet volume measures the average amount (volume) of platelets.
    Rapid Strep Test

    The throat and tonsils are swabbed to collect bacteria from the infected area for testing. The bacteria are analyzed to see whether Group A strep (streptococcal) bacteria are causing the sore throat. Results of a rapid strep test are available in 10 to 15 minutes. Findings of a rapid strep test may include the following.

    A normal or negative test means that strep bacteria may not be present.​

    • Sometimes, negative results are wrong. This means that you may have a negative rapid strep test result and still have strep throat.
    • A throat culture may be done if the rapid strep test result is negative.

    An abnormal or positive strep test means that strep bacteria are present.

    • Antibiotic treatment can be started.
    • A positive test result does not distinguish those people with an active strep infection from those who are carriers of strep bacteria but actually have a viral infection (rather than a bacterial one).
    Flu A-B Test

    Influenza A+B Test detects and differentiates influenza type A and type B antigens directly from nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, nasal wash and/or nasal aspirate specimens. 

    A positive flu test means that the affected person most likely has influenza A or B, and treatment with antiviral medication may be prescribed to minimize symptoms. However, it may not tell the health practitioner which strain of influenza is causing the infection, how severe the symptoms are likely to be, or whether or not a person may experience any secondary complications.

    A negative influenza test may mean that the person has something other than influenza, that the test is not detecting the influenza strain, or that there is not sufficient virus in the specimen to allow it to be detected. This may be due to either a poor specimen collection or because a person has had the flu for several days and less virus is being shed.

    Sedimentation Rate

    Measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube in one hour. The more red cells that fall to the bottom of the test tube in one hour, the higher the sed rate. When inflammation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. These proteins are produced by the liver and the immune system under many abnormal conditions, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or cancer.

    Urinalysis

    A urine test checks different components of urine, a waste product made by the kidneys. A regular urine test may be done to help find the cause of symptoms. The test can give information about your health and problems you may have.  The kidneys take out waste material, minerals, fluids, and other substances from the blood to be passed in the urine. Urine has hundreds of different body wastes. What you eat and drink, how much you exercise, and how well your kidneys work can affect what is in your urine. More than 100 different tests can be done on urine. A regular urinalysis often includes the following tests:

    • Color. Many things affect urine color, including fluid balance, diet, medicines, and diseases. How dark or light the color is tells you how much water is in it. Vitamin B supplements can turn urine bright yellow. Some medicines, blackberries, beets, rhubarb, or blood in the urine can turn urine red-brown.
    • Clarity. Urine is normally clear. Bacteria, blood, sperm, crystals, or mucus can make urine look cloudy.
    • Specific gravity. This checks the amount of substances in the urine. It also shows how well the kidneys balance the amount of water in urine. The higher the specific gravity, the more solid material is in the urine. When you drink a lot of fluid, your kidneys make urine with a high amount of water in it, which has a low specific gravity. When you do not drink fluids, your kidneys make urine with a small amount of water in it, which has a high specific gravity.
    • pH. The pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) the urine is. A urine pH of 4 is strongly acidic, 7 is neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline), and 9 is strongly alkaline. Sometimes the pH of urine is affected by certain treatments. For example, your doctor may instruct you how to keep your urine either acidic or alkaline to prevent some types of kidney stones from forming.
    • Protein. Protein normally isn’t found in the urine. Fever, hard exercise, pregnancy, and some diseases, especially kidney disease, may cause protein to be in the urine.
    • Glucose. Glucose is the type of sugar found in blood. Normally there is very little or no glucose in urine. When the blood sugar level is very high, as in uncontrolled diabetes, the sugar spills over into the urine. Glucose can also be found in urine when the kidneys are damaged or diseased.
    • Ketones (acetoacetic acid and acetone). The presence of ketone bodies is important in the evaluation of carbohydrate metabolism which aids in the diagnosis and management of diabetes.
    • Blood (hemoglobin). This test detects blood or intact red cells. Normally, no blood is detectable in urine. The presence of blood in urine may be due to kidney disease, acute infection, etc.
    • Leukocytes (wbc). Normal urine specimen generally yield negative results. An increase in leukocytes may be an indication of kidney or urinary tract infection.
    • Nitrite. This test is an indirect method for early detection of significant bacteria in urine.
    • Bilirubin. Normal adult urine does not contain detectable levels of bilirubin. Positive result may be found in liver disease.

    In addition to the chemical properties of urine listed above, a microscopic examination is also performed on urine sediments to identify formed elements, e.g. WBC, RBC, and Bacteria.

    HCG Blood Tests

    The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test is done to check for the hormone hCG in blood or urine. Some hCG tests measure the exact amount and some just check to see if the hormone is present. HCG is made by the placenta during pregnancy. The hCG test can be used to see if a woman is pregnant.

    Mononucleosis Tests

    Are blood tests to look for antibodies that indicate mononucleosis (mono), which is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The antibodies are made by the immune system to fight an infection.

    Hemoccult Tests

    This simple test checks for the presence of hidden blood in a patient’s stool.

    Blood Glucose

    A blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood. Glucose comes from carbohydrate foods. It is the main source of energy used by the body. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body’s cells use the glucose. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the blood when the amount of glucose in the blood rises.

    Normally, your blood glucose levels increase slightly after you eat. This increase causes your pancreas to release insulin so that your blood glucose levels do not get too high. Blood glucose levels that remain high over time can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels.

    There are several different types of blood glucose tests.

    • Fasting blood sugar (FBS) measures blood glucose after you have not eaten for at least 8 hours. It is often the first test done to check for prediabetes and diabetes.
    • 2-hour postprandial blood sugar measures blood glucose exactly 2 hours after you start eating a meal. This is not a test used to diagnose diabetes.
    • Random blood sugar (RBS) measures blood glucose regardless of when you last ate.
    • Oral glucose tolerance test is used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test is a series of blood glucose measurements taken after you drink a sweet liquid that contains glucose.
    • Glycohemoglobin A1c measures how much sugar (glucose) is stuck to red blood cells. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes. It also shows how well your diabetes has been controlled in the last 2 to 3 months and whether your diabetes medicine needs to be changed.
    KOH Prep

    It is not always possible to accurately diagnose a fungal or yeast infection based on appearance alone. A potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation test can help determine whether you have an infection.

    Wet Prep (for Trichomonas), and Pinworm

    A test to find the cause of vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina and the area around the vagina (vulva).

    Covid-19 Test

    A rapid test for the qualitative detection of COVID-19 antigens in nasal swab specimens

       Laboratory Test Fees

    The following prices listed are for students taking 4+ credit hours and have paid the health fee. Prices will vary for spouses and students who have not paid the health fee.

    Laboratory Test Cost Per Test
    Hepatitis A Titer
    $19.10
    Hepatitis B Titer
    $22.28
    Varacella Titer
    $21.79
    Measles Titer
    $20.54
    Mumps Titer
    $21.18
    Rubella Titer
    $18.72
    Chest X-Ray
    $45.00
    Quantiferon
    $70.33
    Urinalysis
    $0.00
    Glucose (Finger Stick)
    $0.00
    Urine Pregnancy Test
    $0.00
    Mononucleosis
    $0.00
    Strep
    $0.00
    Flu (A/B)
    $27.00
    Complete Blood Count (CBC)
    $14.00
    Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
    $17.62
    Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
    $18.38
    PAP Smear
    $45.38
    HIV
    $0.00
    RPR
    $18.70
    Urine Culture/Colony Count
    $22.31
    Herpes Simplex Type 1 & 2
    $36.71
    T4, Free
    $19.32
    Ferritin
    $18.72
    Hemoglobin A1C
    $19.92
    Lipase
    $18.72
    Ova & Parasites
    $31.88
    Iron & Iron Binding Capacity
    $21.95
    Basic Metabolic Panel
    $17.09
    T3, Free
    $19.95
    Prolactin
    $18.72
    Sickle Cell Test
    $21.48
    Iron, Serum
    $18.58
    Vitamin D (25-OH) $39.11
    Chlamydia Trach, DNA $0.00
    N. Gonorrhoeae, DNA $0.00
    Hepatic Function Panel $17.01
    H. Pylori Breath Test $73.25
    Testosterone, Free and Total $33.52
    Renal Function Panel $17.27
    Stool Culture $49.45
    Stool Ova and Parasite $31.88

       Testing for Campus Activities

    HPS

    Our laboratory provides phlebotomy services and lipid profiles in support of students currently enrolled in a HPS class at Georgia Tech. Students must present identification, complete our consent form and pay prior to blood collection. Results are given to the class teacher. Stamps Health Services does not document, monitor or provide medical advice for HPS testing.

    ROTC

    Our laboratory provides phlebotomy services and laboratory testing in support of students currently enrolled in ROTC at Georgia Tech. Students must present identification, complete our consent form and pay prior to blood collection. Results are given to ROTC. Stamps Health Services does not document, monitor or provide medical advice for ROTC testing.

    Athletic Association

    Our Laboratory provides phlebotomy services and laboratory testing for the Athletic Association (AA). Student must present a completed test requisition form signed by the ordering physician. The billing and results from this testing is managed directly by the Athletic Association. Stamps Health Services does not document, monitor or provide medical advice for AA testing.

    Research Protocol

    Stamps Health Services Laboratory offers phlebotomy services for the Research activities at Georgia Tech. The Laboratory staff will be available to conduct such draws as pre-arranged by scheduling. Researchers must have a current Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol in order to utilize these services, and blood donors must be enrolled students with Georgia Tech-issued identification.

    Looking for Covid-19 Health Information?

    Learn about Covid-19 prevention, symptoms, testing, and vaccines: Covid-19 Health Information