Hematopathology and Transfusion Medicine


"Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity." - Hippocrates

Our Division of the Laboratory includes Hematology, Coagulation and Transfusion Medicine sub-divisions. We comprise a team of hematopathologists and medical technologists working together in a 24/7 operation. We work collaboratively with every clinical area within St. Paul’s and Mount Saint Joseph Hospitals to provide both diagnostic testing and therapeutic blood and blood product support. Our testing services are designed to support the clinical services provided by Providence Health Care.

The Hematology laboratory performs tests on blood, bone marrow and body fluids ranging from routine complete blood counts and blood film reviews to complex flow cytometry, and technically demanding bone marrow biopsies (we both perform and analyze them). We support the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS by performing CD4 counts – we are one of the largest testing facilities in North America for this test!

In the Coagulation laboratory, our diagnostic services range from routine INR measurements used in monitoring warfarin therapy to complex testing of individuals with either bleeding or clotting disorders. Much of our work supports the Adult and Pediatric Hemophilia Clinics located at St. Paul’s and Children’s Hospitals. We also receive referred-in samples from other hospitals in the province and are the only centre in western Canada providing certain highly specialized coagulation tests.

In the Transfusion Medicine laboratory, we perform diagnostic services such as determining patients' blood types. We also provide vital therapeutic support, ranging from liquid blood products such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma to fractionated plasma proteins used as replacement factors for hemophiliac and other patients with complicated needs, such as those undergoing cardiac surgery. All products for transfusion are collected and processed by Canadian Blood Services (CBS). For more information about donating blood, eligibility, etc., please visit the CBS website at www.blood.ca.

On a provincial level, St. Paul's Transfusion Medicine laboratory coordinates the Blood Product Redistribution Program, which ensures that precious blood products are not outdated in smaller hospitals around the province.

Our commitment to excellence relies on knowledgeable, dedicated staff who are passionate about patient care, quality and patient safety, supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and Lean workflow principles.

Each year...

  • We handle over 40,000 Blood Products
  • We analyze 150,000 Hematology samples
  • We test 115,000 Coagulation specimens
  • We examine 25,000 Blood Films
  • We perform 22,000 CD4 tests for Immunodeficient and HIV-positive patients

The Team

  • Hematopathologist, Division Lead and Residency Training Coordinator (Hematopathology) - Dr. Rodrigo Onell
  • Hematopathologist and Residency Training Coordinator (Transfusion Medicine) - Dr. Mohammad Bahmanyar
  • Hematopathologist - Dr. Hamish Nicolson
  • Hematopathologist - Dr. Peter van den Elzen
  • Team Lead, Transfusion Medicine - Tina Jacobucci
  • Team Lead, Hematology - Gurjit Bubra
  • Technical Coordinators - Colleen Chan (Transfusion), Steven Wong (Hematology)
  • Regional Transfusion Medicine Clinician - Liana Perruzza

Hours of Service
Routine and Stat specimen analysis 24/7
Specialized testing performed Monday through Friday except for statutory holidays
Lab results for physicians: Lower Mainland Call Centre 1-877-747-2522  Weekdays 0700-1700h
After hours including statutory holidays for results 604-682-2344 ext 63612
Fax 604-806-8342
Contact information for Transfusion Medicine: 604-806-8003, Fax 604-806-8627

Address
Laboratory, Hematology & Transfusion Medicine
2nd floor Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6

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