At Laboratory Medicine, we study the molecular and cellular components of blood and other body fluids. This work is crucial to diagnosing and managing illness and understanding the mechanisms and origins of disease.Our physicians, known as clinical pathologists, provide consultations to other doctors regarding optimal laboratory diagnostic approaches and the interpretation of complex laboratory tests. Our team includes pathologists, scientists, phlebotomists, medical technicians, technologists, and others who perform important support functions for our state-of-the-art laboratory. We are available every day, 24 hours a day, for physicians. We perform approximately 10 million tests each year, and also provide specialized high-tech testing to other hospitals in the Yale New Haven Health System and institutions throughout New England, and as far away as Puerto Rico. We also operate multiple satellite facilities and patient service centers located throughout the state. We ensure that every test we offer—at every location—is accurate and reliable. When physicians request to have patients’ blood drawn, here is what happens: Collection: A doctor, nurse, technician, or phlebotomist will draw the patient’s blood. Several tubes may be needed for different types of tests. Depending on what illness the patient might have, his or her doctor may want to obtain a urine sample, throat swab, or other sample. After the sample is collected, the container is labeled with the patient’s name and other information. The sample is received and processed by the Laboratory, and testing begins: Chemistry Testing Blood and other bodily fluids are tested for chemicals, drugs, and substances that indicate disease. We check cholesterol and other tests for risk of heart disease, glucose to monitor diabetes, or thyroxin to monitor the thyroid gland. Hematology Testing We analyze the amount and function of blood cells and plasma. Examples include the Complete Blood Count (CBC) that tells the doctor how many cells of each type are in the patient’s blood, and the prothrombin time (PT) to measure the time it takes for the blood to clot. Microbiology Testing We test a variety of specimen samples for infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or parasites. We often do urine cultures for urinary tract infections. Virology Testing We test for viral infections. This includes rapid tests for respiratory viruses such as influenza, molecular tests for noroviruses, and antibody tests for HIV. Immunology/Molecular Diagnostics Some tests are used to determine whether the immune system is functioning properly. State-of-the-art analysis of DNA and RNA is used to test for a variety of diseases and for the risk of developing certain diseases. Other specialized tests include the ANA, used to screen for autoimmune disease, and Factor V Leiden genotyping for patients with blood clots. Tumor Profiling Laboratory This lab analyzes tumor DNA to predict the sensitivity or resistance of tumors to a

The Cancer-Infectious Diseases (Cancer-ID) Program is an integrated multidisciplinary clinic that will provide supportive consultative services to people with HIV and cancer. Dedicated HIV/ID specialists from Yale Medicine will work closely with the patient’s oncology care team to manage care for patients with HIV undergoing cancer treatment. A team of providers, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists, will provide consultative services for people with HIV with hematologic malignancies, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, head and neck, thoracic, dermatologic, and breast cancers, as well as those with Kaposi Sarcoma, liver, gynecologic, and neuro-oncologic malignancies. Access to a wide variety of support services and clinical trials is also available. People with HIV have higher rates of cancer incidence compared to uninfected individuals. In addition, they have worse outcomes after a diagnosis of cancer. Because the majority of cancer clinical trials do not include patients with HIV among their study population, there is little evidence-based guidance with regard to cancer care for these patients. What’s more, the patient experience may additionally suffer because this patient population includes an underserved and understudied group who are often impacted by health inequities and health disparities. With the advent of immune-based therapies and personalized approaches to cancer care, the lack of data within the HIV population to guide treatment decision-making further impacts health disparities among this underserved population. The Cancer-Infectious Diseases, or Cancer-ID program, was established in July 2022 to provide consultative care to patients with HIV who are also diagnosed with cancer. Brinda Emu, MD, serves as the director of the Cancer-ID program. She and Mark Lustberg, MD, are HIV specialists with a specific interest in cancer care and will see patients on a consultative basis. The Cancer-ID program will be located within the Yale Center for Infectious Disease, which is directed by Lydia Aoun-Barakat, MD. The program additionally has the support of Yale Cancer Center leadership. It is led by Jill Lacy, MD, and a large network of consultative affiliated oncology faculty members across all oncology disease areas, who serve as liaisons and ambassadors within the Yale Cancer Center to ensure appropriate and timely care to patients with both HIV and cancer, including access to clinical care and ancillary services. There are three main goals of the Cancer-ID program: Provide consultative care to patients with both HIV and cancer to facilitate and manage both HIV infection and cancer care throughout and beyond cancer treatment Improve the patient experience while receiving cancer care Identify and engage patients in research activities and clinical trials when appropriate The program additionally hopes to build expertise in the clinical care of cancer among people with HIV, provide ou

The dedicated pediatric hematologists and oncologists of the Yale Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Program provide comprehensive and compassionate care for children with all forms of cancer and blood diseases, including leukemia, malignant tumors and lymphomas, as well as sickle cell disease, hemophilia, coagulation abnormalities, and platelet disorders. Our program utilizes a team approach to care, and is active in research that seeks to advance the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and blood diseases. Cure rates continue to rise for children with cancer. At Yale, we are determined that more and more children will survive, and that they will thrive. We work to design treatments that cause less discomfort to patients in the short term and fewer serious complications in the long term. Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s care team works with patients and their families to design individual treatment plans. In addition to an oncologist, our multidisciplinary team includes advanced practice providers, registered nurses, social workers, a psychologist, psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, nutritionist, and child life specialists, all who have expertise in the medical, social, emotional and educational needs of children and teens. Understanding that children with cancer and blood disorders need more than medical care, we work with patients and their families to help them meet their social, emotional, educational, and behavioral needs. Our support services include: Routine psychosocial evaluations for newly diagnosed patients and their families. Home visits for the most gravely ill or psychiatrically symptomatic children and their families. A school integration program that includes counseling for families and children about their rights to have special services. We work with school districts to make appropriate accommodations for students returning to school, including providing special education services, if necessary. Psychoeducation and neuropsychological testing for patients at risk for neurocognitive problems. Support groups for siblings and parents. End-of-life support team for children and families. HEROS Survivorship Program The HEROS (Health, Education, Research & Outcomes for Survivors of Childhood Cancer) Survivorship Program at Smilow promotes the lifelong health of pediatric cancer patients after their cancer treatment has ended.It was the first childhood cancer survivorship program in Connecticut to offer comprehensive care for adults and children who had survived pediatric cancer. In our specialty clinic, patients receive detailed cancer treatment summaries and an individualized schedule for future screening for chronic conditions related to their original cancer treatment. Our multidisciplinary team that includes a pediatric oncologist, nurse practitioner, psychologist, registered dietician, and nurse educator are committed to caring for each patient as a whole person and empowering survivors