Director:  Don Giacherio, Ph.D.
Administrative Manager:  Sue C. Stern, M.S. MT(ASCP)

Automation Section
Director:  Don Giacherio, Ph.D.
Day Supervisor:  Eric VasBinder, B.S. MT(ASCP)
Afternoon/Midnight Supervisor:  Melanie Herbert, B.S. MT(ASCP)
Location:  2F453 University Hospital
Phone:  734-936-6702
Hours of Service:  24 hours, 7 days per week

Special Chemistry (including Ligand & RIA)
Director:  Don Giacherio, Ph.D.
Day Supervisor:  Mara Williams, B.S. MT(ASCP)
Location:  2F453 University Hospital
Phone:  734-936-6702
Hours of Service:  7:30 am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday

Drug Analysis & Toxicology
Director:  Thomas Annesley, Ph.D.
Day Supervisor:  Sheridan Mattson, B.S.
Location:  2F453 University Hospital
Phone:  734-936-6758
Hours of Service:  7:00 am to Midnight, 7 days per week

Immunology
Directors:  Jeffrey Warren, M.D.
Day Supervisor:  Linda Thomas, B.S. MT(ASCP)
Location:  Traverwood; 2910 Huron Parkway
Phone:  734-936-6749
Hours of Service:  7:30 am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday

Revised 3/26/08

Services:

The laboratories provide service 24 hours a day to meet the medical needs of patients at the University of Michigan Health System and of client hospitals through the MLabs outreach program.

Automated chemistry performs approximately 7 million tests per year.  The lab utilizes a Siemens LabCell (including 3 Centaur instruments and 3 Advia 2400 instruments) to offer a menu of over 100 assays on blood, urine and other body fluids 24 hours per day.  An extensive menu of specialized testing (including prenatal screening, hormone, hepatitis and HIV testing, tumor markers, vitamins, and trace elements) is offered by the chemistry section utilizing high pressure liquid chromatography, fluorescence polarization, radioimmunoassay, chemiluminescence, ELISA methodologies and atomic absorption.

In addition, the drug analysis and toxicology section also offers comprehensive testing programs for banned drugs and drugs of abuse as well as more than different tests for therapeutic monitoring.

The immunology section offers a wide variety testing including autoantibody testing, protein electrophoresis, viscosity measurement, cryoglobulin evaluation and syphilis serology.  A variety of methodologies, including enzyme immunoassay, indirect immunofluorescence, high resolution protein electrophoresis, immunofixation and nephelometry, are utilized to perform this testing.

Also, Point-of-care testing is supported by consultation on the selection and operation of laboratory equipment for use in the clinics and patient care units.  An extensive glucose meter program for the Health System is maintained by the chemistry section.

Donald A. Giacherio, Ph.D., Director of Chemcial Pathology
Assistant Professor
Clinical Chemistry and Point-of-Care Testing

Dr. Giacherio received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1980. He took Post-Doctoral training in Clinical Chemistry at the Mayo Clinic from 1980-1982. Dr. Giacherio is certified as a Laboratory Director by the Michigan Department of Health. He has served as the Michigan Section AACC Program Chairman. Dr. Giacherio has been a faculty member at the University of Michigan since 1982.

Thomas M. Annesley, Ph.D., Professor of Clinical Chemistry
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Toxicology

Dr. Annesley received his Ph.D. from Rice University in 1979. He took Post-Doctoral training in Clinical Chemistry at the Mayo Clinic from 1979-1981. Dr. Annesley is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry and is certified by the Michigan Department of Health as a Laboratory Director. Dr. Annesley serves as a member of the Editorial Board of the journal, Clinical Chemistry. He has been a Faculty member at the University of Michigan since 1981.