Laboratory Services
The HMH Laboratory Department provides quick, convenient service for lab screenings/testing. It is a full-service lab, which is fully accredited by the College of American Pathology, the highest ranking for labs nationwide, and the only lab accredited in the area. The outpatient laboratory is located on the first floor on your left after exiting the hospital main lobby. Operating hours are: Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Private areas are provided for patients to have their blood drawn by our qualified phlebotomists. The lab is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week and makes every effort to accommodate patients. Special arrangements can be made with advance notice. Most lab testing is completed and returned to the patient’s physician office in 24 hours or less. All screenings require a physician order to be completed.
Tests and Screenings available are:
- CBC, or comprehensive blood count
- CMP, or comprehensive metabolic panel
- BMP, or basic metabolic panel
- PT, or prothrombin time; this is commonly used for patients using blood thinners to ensure blood is thin enough
- Extensive thyroid testing
- Cancer markers, or indicators of progression or remission of disease like prostate and colon cancers
- Lipid panel, cholesterol testing for HDL and LDL levels
- Urinalysis
- Employment Drug Screening
- DNA collection
- Paternity testing collections
Laboratory Staff
The lab staff is made up of phlebotomists, medical laboratory technicians (MLT) and medical technologists (MT). Phlebotomists are the healthcare professionals trained to collect blood samples, as well as other types of samples. They are the front line of the laboratory. They perform registration, order entry and various other clerical duties. They make certain that the physician’s order provides all the information required for processing. MLTs and MTs are the people behind the scenes. MLTs have an associates degree in clinical laboratory science (CLS), while MTs have a bachelors degree in CLS. They are nationally certified to perform diagnostic tests on blood, urine, stool and other body fluids. They have extensive training in hematology, chemistry, blood bank and microbiology testing. They receive additional training in quality control, calibrations and statistics to ensure the accuracy and precision of all lab tests performed. They maintain and assure this accuracy through proficiency testing, which tests and grades their abilities to obtain accurate results.
Pathology and Cytology Laboratories
HMH is affiliated with Pathology and Cytology Laboratories in Lexington, KY. Dr. Patrick Crowe from the group is the HMH lab medical director. Pathology and Cytology Laboratories, Inc., and Chipps, Caffrey & Dubilier, P.S.C. are specialists in Anatomic Pathology, Cytopathology, Hematopathology, Neuropathology, GI Pathology, Clinical Laboratory Consultations and Laboratory Medical Directorships. Founded in 1967, Pathology and Cytology Laboratories, Inc. provides the highest quality service and professional expertise to physicians, clinics, and hospitals. Pathology and Cytology Laboratories is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, The American Society of Cytology and The Health Care Financing Administration. The laboratory has twelve (12) Board-Certified Pathologists, (four of whom are also certified in Cytopathology, one in Hematopathology and one in Neuropathology) and fourteen (14) ASCP certified Cytotechnologists covering many hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, clinics, and physician offices. ASCP registered consulting medical technologists are available upon request for continuing education, seminars, in-service programs, mock laboratory inspections to aid laboratories in their preparation for CAP inspection, JCAHO inspection, and Medicare/State inspections.