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 pediatric healthcare community. The appropriateness, clinical necessity, timeliness and extent of our laboratory services are determined, in part, by the complex needs of our pediatric patients and by our director, pathologists, managers, supervisors, laboratory staff and medical staff.

For a complete directory of testing offered at Driscoll Children's Hospital, please click on the button below.

DCH Full Laboratory Test Menu

No. For your convenience, lab services are provided on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary.

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

A blood test is a routine yet important medical procedure that can assist your child's physician in diagnosing an illness or monitoring treatment.

The laboratory will send your test results to your doctor’s office. Your doctor will discuss the results with you. If you are registered in MyChart, results will post electronically.

A glucose tolerance test is used to detect diabetes or hypoglycemia. This test has a 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 the test prior to arrival and prepare to be at the lab for at least two hours.

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 American public with the services and information needed to ensure quality laboratory services.

We are proud to be holders of accreditation from The College of American Pathologists (CAP), the leading organization of board-certified pathologists, that serve patients and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine.

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

Outpatient Laboratory – Pavilion

See full location details below

  • Patient parking is available in the parking lot at the front of the Pavilion.
  • Please use the 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 (Appointments can be pre-scheduled, or walk-ins are accommodated as staffing permits, specifically during daytime shifts.)

Inpatient Services

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

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

Hematology
Phone: (361) 694-5438
Microscopic and automated blood testing performed on samples obtained by finger-stick, heel-stick and venous collection.

Urinalysis
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.

Chemistry
Phone: (361) 694-5435
Around-the-clock testing, including:
• Routine chemistry (glucose, calcium, etc.)
• Therapeutic drug monitoring (Valproic acid, Tacrolimus, etc.)
• Cardiac testing (hsCRP, MB and Troponin)
• Drug screens
• Sweat chloride testing

Microbiology/Virology
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.

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

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

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

Clinical Flow Cytometry
Phone: (361) 694-4079 or (361) 694-5411
Hours: 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. Extended hours are available for special requests with approval by the pathologist.

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, and transplantation immunosuppression status. The samples include peripheral blood, bone marrow, body fluids, 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.

Molecular Pathology
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 the FISH-based assay for constitutional abnormalities including 22q11.2 microdeletion-DiGeorge Syndrome Critical Region, Velocardiofacial Syndrome. The test is offered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a turnaround time of 48 hours.

Stat Lab/Blood Bank
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.

Phlebotomy
Phone: (361) 694-5425

Seamless Specialist Care

Visit all your child's specialists in one trip to Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Contact any of our specialty clinics to schedule a convenient one-day visit to all your child’s specialists.

Call 361-694-5000 or your 
specialty clinic.

Meet the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Team

Van H. Savell, Jr. MD
Van H. Savell, Jr.
MD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Lisa Sutton MD
Lisa Sutton
MD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
See All Driscoll Children’s Doctors

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Locations

Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi

3533 S. Alameda St.
Corpus Christi
TX 
78411
(361) 694-5000
24hrs
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Main Laboratory
(361) 694-5405
24hrs.
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Pavilion
(361) 694-5424
Mon - Fri: 7:30 a.m - 6 p.m.

Quick Care, Saratoga

5945 Saratoga Blvd.
Corpus Christi
TX 
78414
(361) 694-1500
(361) 694-1537
Mon - Fri: 5 - 10 p.m.
Sat - Sun: 1 - 10 p.m.
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
(361) 694-6218

Specialty Center, Brownsville

5500 N. Expressway 77
Brownsville
TX 
78526
(956) 698-8600
(361) 808-2076
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Specialty Center, McAllen

1120 E. Ridge Rd.
McAllen
TX 
78503
(956) 688-1200
(361) 808-2075
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Miracle Stories

Together, Against All Odds

Our experts put their passion to work every day, helping kids defy incredible odds on their health journeys here at Driscoll.
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