Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is a state-of-the-art, computerized, full-service laboratory open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On-call pathologists are also immediately available for clinical consultation and for surgical pathology services. The laboratory has advanced instrumentation utilizing the expertise, innovation and experience of a team of well-trained professionals focused on delivering superior services to the healthcare community ranging in age from neonates to 24 years. The appropriateness, clinical necessity, timeliness and the extent of our laboratory services are determined, in part, by the complex needs of our pediatric patients and by our pathologists, director, managers, supervisors, laboratory staff and medical staff.

No. For your convenience lab services are provided at all three locations on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary. Patients can self-register for an appointment through MyChart if desired.

A blood test is a common, but important procedure that may help your child’s doctor diagnose an illness or monitor treatment.

Specimen collections may be obtained by blood (from the heel, finger or venous), urinalysis (clean catch or bagged), swabs and feces.

The test(s) will be sent to the hospital’s main laboratory for testing. The laboratory will send your test results to your doctor’s office. Your doctor will discuss the results with you.

A glucose tolerance test is used to detect diabetes or hypoglycemia. This test has timed blood collection and you should prepare to be at the lab for at least three hours. The two main tests are used to measure the presence of blood sugar problems.

Sweat tests are used to test for cystic fibrosis. The salt (sodium and chloride) from a stimulated area of the skin is measured. Please call the lab to schedule test prior to arrival and prepare to be at the lab for at least 2 hours.

• Lipid panel
• Basic metabolic panel (if specified by provider)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (if specified by provider)
• Insulin Level
• Hepatic panel (if specified by provider)
• Glucose tolerance test - to detect diabetes or hypoglycemia

The College of American Pathologists, the leading organization of board-certified pathologists, serves patients and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine. It is dedicated to quality medical care for the public with the services and information needed to ensure quality laboratory services.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology is recognized as the preeminent certifying agency for clinical laboratory personnel. Driscoll Children’s Hospital Laboratory employees are 100% ASCP certified.

Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
3533 S. Alameda St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
United States
(361) 694-5400

Pathology & Laboratory Service Locations

For your convenience all laboratory locations provide services on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary.

Open after 6 p.m. and on weekends and holidays
Phone: (361) 694-5425

• Patient parking is located in front of the hospital
• Please use hospital Main Entrance (Lobby) and stop at the Welcome Center. You will be directed to take the elevator to B (basement level).
• When you get off the elevator, turn left and enter the third door on the right marked "Laboratory."

Open 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday
Phone: (361) 694-5424

• Parking is available at front Pavilion parking lot.
• Please use main Pavilion entrance and stop at the Registration Desk, where you will be directed to the Outpatient Laboratory.

5945 Saratoga Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
(361) 694-6218
Open Monday – Friday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. – 10 p.m.

In conjunction with the Driscoll Children’s Quick Care, the Quick Care Laboratory provides STAT testing for minor emergency care aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients after hours. The Quick Care laboratory serves as a draw station for patients requiring lab testing on an outpatient basis. Patient registration, specimen collection and specimen processing can be performed at this location with ease and convenience for patients living on the south side of Corpus Christi. This laboratory provides services in the areas of hematology, basic chemistry, immunology and urinalysis.

Open 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday
Phone: (361) 694-5424
Parking is available at front Pavilion parking lot. Please use main Pavilion entrance and stop at the Registration Desk, where you will be directed to the Outpatient Laboratory.

• Patients will be registered in the Outpatient Lab
• Types of specimens collected:
• Blood specimens
• Throat swabs
• Nasal collections
• Ear swabs
• Eye swabs (noninvasive and swab only)
• Stool samples from diapers (we do not do rectal collections)
• Urine collections
• Sweat chloride collections (these are either scheduled in advance or available as a walk-in as staffing allows during dayshift only)

Phone: (361) 694-5427
Pathology and autopsy services are available.

Phone: (361) 694-5431
Services include frozen sections, routine and special stain Histology, Immunohisto-chemistry, in-house kidney biopsy work-ups, as well as non-gyn cytology.

Phone: (361) 694-5438
Microscopic and automated blood testing performed on samples obtained by fingerstick, heelstick and venous collection.

Phone: (361) 694-5408
State-of-the-art automated equipment provides a standardized method of quick and efficient testing on urine samples to include a chemical and microscopic analysis.

Phone: (361) 694-5435
The chemistry department is available for testing around the clock. It is capable of analyzing:

• Routine chemistry (glucose, calcium, etc.)
• Therapeutic drug monitoring (Valproic acid, Tacrolimus, etc.)
• Cardiac testing (hsCRP, MB and Troponin)
• Drug screens
• Sweat chloride testing

Phone: (361) 694-5443
Services include bacterial and viral isolation and identification by traditional and molecular methods, Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Parasitology and limited Mycology and Mycobacteriology

Phone: (361) 694-5486
Services include serum allergy testing, antigen and antibody testing for immune status or disease presence and endocrinology testing.

Phone: (361) 694-4543
Diagnostic services include identification of viral and bacterial diseases.

Phone: (361) 694-4079 or (361) 694-5411
The Flow Cytometry Department provides a wide variety of testing that includes immunophenotyping of cells used for the diagnosis, monitoring and evaluation of pediatric of leukemias/lymphomas, immunodeficiency states, allergic diseases, transplantation immunosuppression status and DNA ploidy analysis. The samples include peripheral blood, bone marrow and solid tissues. All samples are processed within hours on the day of receipt and final data are reviewed and reported by pathologists with interpretive comments.
Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended hours are available for special requests with approval by the pathologist.

Phone: (361) 694-4079 or (361) 694-5411
The Molecular Pathology Department performs a molecular cytogenetic technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on interphase prepared cells. Currently, the laboratory offers two FISH based assays for constitutional abnormalities. One is for the 22q11.2 microdeletion-DiGeorge Syndrome Critical Region, Velocardiofacial Syndrome. The other is the Aneuploid detection of Chromosome 13, 18, 21, X and Y for common fetal trisomies and sex chromosome aneusomies. The test is offered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a turnaround time of 48 hours.

Phone: (361) 694-5430
The mission of Driscoll Transfusion Services is to ensure adequate and safe blood and blood components for our patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Phone: (361) 694-5425