|
MISSION
The mission of the Clinical Virology Laboratory is to provide state-of-the-art services for the diagnosis of human viral infections and the determination of antiviral drug resistance for patient care in the UPMC and affiliated hospitals and clinics.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The UPMC Clinical Virology Laboratory is a section of the Division of Clinical Microbiology in the Department of Pathology. The Laboratory was established in the early 1970's by Dr. Monto Ho, a renowned virologist who trained at Harvard with Nobel Laureate Dr. John Enders, and was then the Director of the Division of Clinical Microbiology. In 1976, he recruited Dr. A. William Pasculle, fresh from completing his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, to be the Assistant Director of Clinical Microbiology, with specialty in bacteriology and mycology. In 1978, Dr. Ho expanded the Division to address growing needs in clinical virology by recruiting Dr. Charles Rinaldo, who was completing his postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital with Dr. Martin Hirsch in the immunology of human cytomegalovirus infection, as the second Assistant Director in Clinical Microbiology, with specialty in virology. Dr. Pasculle was promoted to the Director of Clinical Microbiology in 1999. In 1992, the Division further expanded by hiring Kirsten St. George, Ph.D., as a Virology Assistant, with specialty in clinical virology. The Clinical Virology Laboratory staff currently consists of one lead technologist and six technologists. These staff members each have extensive experience in clinical virology ranging from 5 to 30 years.
SERVICES
The UPMC Clinical Virology Laboratory offers a range of culture, antigen and molecular test procedures for the diagnosis of viral and chlamydial infections and the delineation of herpesvirus drug resistance. The Laboratory provides a comprehensive consultation service to assist the clinician in choosing the appropriate tests and interpreting the results. Academic excellence is promoted in an environment where the test procedures are integrated into the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease state.
We also refer specimens to appropriate laboratories for the detection of unusual viruses, mycoplasma and rickettsia.
- ISOLATION OF VIRUSES ("VIRAL CULTURES")
- RAPID HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS AND VARICELLA VIRUS DETECTION
- CMV EARLY ANTIGEN DETECTION FOR BAL, URINE, THROAT, ETC
- ROTAVIRUS EIA
- RAPID RESPIRATORY VIRUS CULTURE AND NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION
- ANTIVIRAL SENSITIVITY TESTING (herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus)
- DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS
- CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE TOXIN ASSAY
- MOLECULAR TEST FOR CMV BY REAL-TIME PCR
- HMPV RT-PCR (up coming)
Continue ...
|
