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Pathology Laboratory Services Catalog

The VCU Department of Pathology’s online Laboratory Services Catalog (PLSC) is updated daily from the Pathology Information System and is the most current resource for laboratory testing information.

Recent Catalog Changes and Updates:

Effectively immediately, April 25, 2011, the VCUHS Pathology Microbiology Laboratory will stop direct testing for influenza A and B and RSV.
The reasons for this are two-fold:

  1. when prevalence is low, the number of false-positive test results significantly increases, and in turn, the positive predictive value decreases; and
  2. the laboratory has had no influenza A or B positive specimens for over 2 weeks.

When deemed appropriate, the laboratory will resume direct detection of these viruses using molecular assays as was performed this past season.

In the event that these three viruses, or other respiratory viruses (e.g., adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1-3, and human metapneumovirus) are suspected, viral culture of respiratory specimens are available year-round. These viruses can be detected in culture within 24 or 48 hr.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Betty A. Forbes, Laboratory Director, at 828-3494.

Outreach Clients: The Department of Pathology provides all supplies necessary for the collection, preparation, and preservation of the specimens submitted for testing at no additional charge to our outreach clients.

Preprinted multiple part requisitions are available for clients for each laboratory discipline including the general  clinical laboratory, forensic toxicology, molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, cytology, and surgical pathology test offerings. Upon request, the Outreach Client Services and Marketing and Sales staffs will assist in designing a customized request to meet your specific needs.