Finger stick lab tests have the potential to significantly improve the quality of the care at Gateway Psychiatric. Regular monitoring of labs are an important part of good care for many of our patients, but some find it difficult to get labs done on time.
A new technology from clinical laboratory provider OpAns may allow us to perform many of the necessary tests using a finger stick.
This technology allows us to collect and preserve the very small sample to be found in a single drop of blood and then send that specimen to OpAns for analysis using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Currently these collection kits can be used to test for lithium, lamotrigine, valproate and other therapeutic blood levels as well as for substance use.
Soon they will be able to test for hormone levels (thyroid, cortisol, etcetera) and many other clinical laboratory tests.
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