CHESTER – Memorial Hospital’s Laboratory Department continues to invest in innovation and efficiency to better serve patients and providers. Recent upgrades include a new partnership with Labcorp for reference laboratory services and the installation of a stateoftheart chemistry analyzer—both designed to deliver faster, more accurate test results.
Lab staff with new chemistry analyzer behind them: L-R Back Row: Chris Yankey, Abigail White, Jason Springs, Sarah Dickerson, Mike Whitt, Brandon Misselhorn. L-R Front Row: Nichole Clifton, Summer Hassebrock, and Lyssa Muckensturm-Wolf
Memorial Hospital has transitioned its reference laboratory testing to Labcorp, a nationally recognized diagnostic leader. This partnership expands access to specialized testing and enhanced clinical support while maintaining seamless workflows and dependable turnaround times for patient care.
“Our goal is always to improve how we support our providers and patients,” said Mike Whitt, Laboratory Director. “Partnering with Labcorp gives us access to broader testing options while maintaining the efficiency and quality our community expects.”
In addition, the laboratory recently completed a major equipment upgrade, transitioning to the Vitros 7600 chemistry analyzer. This advanced system has significantly improved turnaround times for common tests such as glucose panels and metabolic panels, helping clinicians make timely decisions. The analyzer also improves workflow by reducing downtime, requiring smaller sample volumes, and minimizing daily maintenance.
The upgrade has already allowed the laboratory to expand inhouse testing. Soon, testing will include Gentamicin levels, which help providers safely monitor antibiotic treatment, and HighSensitivity Troponin testing used to rapidly assess potential heart injury in patients with chest pain. These new testing capabilities further strengthen Memorial Hospital’s ability to support critical patient care on-site.
“These enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to efficiency, accuracy, and continuous improvement,” Whitt added. “By investing in both technology and trusted partnerships, we’re ensuring our lab is wellpositioned to meet the needs of our patients today and into the future.”