Laboratory Medicine | Core Laboratory

Hematology Section

The Hematology section of the Core Laboratory at St. Louis Children's Hospital handles routine hematology, urinalysis testing, and urine and serum pregnancy testing. This laboratory is experienced in processing the small volume specimens obtained from infants and young children and offers rapid reporting of specimen results by utilizing state-of-the-art cell counting equipment. It offers expertise in the interpretation of blood smears and spinal fluid specimens from newborns and young children. Many children are referred to the phlebotomy and hematology laboratory services for the accurate and rapid evaluation of bleeding problems. Special hematology tests include osmotic fragility, NBT (nitrozene blue tetrazoleum), and ORO (oil red O). We are a regional referral center for APT testing. The laboratory also offers the antia-Xa monitoring assays for unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, and the heparinoids. Platelet function screening of whole blood samples and bleeding time testing are available.