Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Northridge Hospital Medical Center offers a full range of laboratory technologies that is unparalleled in the San Fernando Valley. Our state-of-the-art equipment and advanced lab procedures provide vital information to doctors that help people live healthier and longer lives.
Our highly skilled team of physicians, clinical laboratory scientists, laboratory technicians and laboratory assistants offer 250 different diagnostic tests in house, and perform 1.5 million lab tests annually. The lab analyzes everything from cholesterol to potassium levels, hormones to blood counts, and glucose levels to immune protection.
By offering highly sophisticated diagnostics, this department impacts the evaluation and treatment of almost every patient in the hospital. As part of a multi-site practice, the area's best experts, including world class Pathologists, are always on hand.
The Northridge Hospital lab is fully accredited and certified with the following agencies:
- College of American Pathologists (CAP)
- Health Care Financing Administration (CLIA)
- California Department of Health Services
Blood Bank
The lab maintains a blood bank used for emergencies and transfusions. We have ongoing blood drives within the community and hospital.
Our blood Donor Center is also a place where you can donate units of your own blood prior to surgery in case you ever need it.
The Latest Technology
The Northridge Hospital lab uses the GE Centricity Computer system. This system enables doctors to log onto the computer and receive lab results, radiology reports, EKG's and other critical information, immediately.
An automated tracking system is being implemented that will allow bar-coded test tubes to be read by computer, tubes will then be taken to designated analyzers where testing will take place, and tubes will be stored for several days. It will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, increasing the speed and accuracy of results and will reduce the possibility of error.
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology
Pathology is the study of the nature of disease. Pathologists aid in patient care by using studies to guide diagnostic and treatment choices.
The Division of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Northridge Hospital is a center for a variety of specialties including:
- Surgical Pathology
- Cytopathology
- Neuropathology
- Dermatopathology
- Immunopathology
- Autopsy Pathology
- Hematopatholy
- Transfusion Medicine
- Electron Microscopy
- Molecular Biology
Clinical Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Laboratory Medicine is the study of chemical and cellular diagnosis and management of illness. The Clinical Laboratory is made up of several dedicated facilities including:
- Microbiology/Virology
- Hematology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Immunology
- Transfusion Medicine
- Genetics
Outreach Services
The Northridge Hospital Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department boasts an active outreach program. It allows us to service patients in the San Fernando Valley as well as Orange County. We also serve as the regional laboratory for Catholic Healthcare West in Southern California.
