Hematology GeneticsTesting Lab
Dominika Bajguz, MS, CGC
Elizabeth L. Palmer, MS, CGC
Jacquelyn Riley, MS, CGC
Integrated Genetic Lab Services
Supported by a multidisciplinary team and a robust laboratory stewardship program, Versiti's Integrated Genetic Lab Services delivers a focused, disease-specific approach to hematology diagnostics. Each test is thoughtfully reviewed to ensure the most appropriate, cost-effective approach to help clinicians achieve precise diagnoses while minimizing unnecessary testing and uncertainty.Multidisciplinary Team
Our unique approach features a multidisciplinary expert hematology team, including pathologists, scientists, practicing physicians, genetic counselors and laboratorians dedicated to the interpretation of genetic test results to support a specific, dedicated hematology diagnosis for each patient. Our team of experts is available for clinical consulting and interpretation of your test results as needed.
Disease-Focused Approach
With Versiti, you can feel confident knowing that each panel is specifically designed for hematology diagnosis, with careful gene-by-gene selection for clinical validity and utility, with comprehensive coverage of relevant regions. By comparison, panels built upon an exome or genome platform to analyze data across the entire set of human genes typically scale back data analysis to cover only designated genes. In this approach, breadth is offered at the expense of depth, resulting in gaps in coverage of potentially relevant genes.
Our NGS panels are custom-built and designed to cover every clinically relevant part of each gene expertly selected for analysis. Supplemental Sanger sequencing is included in our panel design to optimize reliable and accurate detection of relevant variants. This approach to panel design maximizes diagnostic utility and minimizes the risk of off-target results or incidental findings more likely to be identified by a broader testing platform designed for a less specific purpose.
Large deletions and duplications, also referred to as copy number variation (CNV), are a known cause of genetic disorders, but can escape detection by standard sequence analysis. Depending on the gene of interest, deletions and duplications have been shown to be responsible for approximately 10% of genetic disease. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) has proven to be a highly sensitive and accurate tool in detection of these deletions and duplications. High-resolution aCGH complements DNA sequencing and provides comprehensive mutation analysis.
Specifically designed panels:
- Clarification and/or confirmation of diagnosis in a patient with clinical and laboratory findings of a hematologic disorder when patient’s history suggests multiple disorders
- Identification of carriers with family history of unspecified bleeding disorders to provide accurate reproductive risk assessment and genetic counseling
Sample report available upon request.
Collaborative Lab Stewardship
An integral component of Versiti's hematology genetics services is an active laboratory stewardship and utilization guidance program to improve the value of laboratory services for providers and patients. Our multidisciplinary team reviews 100% of genetic testing requisitions, resulting in modifications for optimized testing or cost savings in 8.7% of all cases.* Our laboratory genetic counselors are always available for clinical consultation, and our multidisciplinary team of practicing hematologists, laboratory geneticists, and genetic counselors actively review patient clinical history, contacts the provider with clarifying questions as necessary, and works with clinicians to optimize orders as appropriate.
Our primary goals through our services are to:
- Reduce unnecessary testing and help ensure the most appropriate genetic test is ordered
- Avoid excess financial liability for providers and their patients
Learn more about Lab Stewardship.
Membership in PLUGS®
We are proud to be a member and sponsor of PLUGS (Patient-centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services), in its national mission to increase the value of testing to patients through laboratory test stewardship.
"The proper ordering and interpretation of advanced next generation sequencing panels requires a client-focused utilization management (UM) effort. [Versiti] is a leader in combining the most advanced specialty testing with superb UM support."
Mike Astion, MD, PhD
Medical Director, Department of Laboratories
Senior Vice President, PLUGS
Seattle Children’s Hospital
*Based on prior data analysis