Clinical Chemistry
Our clinical chemistry laboratory applies clinical assays and protocols in combination with state-of-the-art automated analyzers to determine the levels of a large array of important biochemical analytes in blood and other body fluids. These analytes are directly linked to the function of critical organs (e.g., liver, kidneys, heart, thyroid) and metabolic pathways (e.g., lipid profiles). Furthermore, these biochemical analytes play a critical role in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating a broad range of conditions, including diabetes, heart, kidney, and liver disease, cancer, and others. The most common specimens used for these biochemical tests are blood serum or plasma, urine, and occasionally cerebrospinal fluid in cases of meningitis (acute inflammation of the brain membranes).
The most common clinical analytes include blood glucose linked to diabetes, liver enzymes, lipids [total cholesterol, fractions of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides], cardiac enzymes released during a heart attack, electrolytes (sodium, potassium), urea and creatinine linked to kidney function, minerals (calcium, magnesium), vitamin D, hormones, albumin, amylase, and others. Major equipment in the laboratories includes Roche Cobas 8000 modular analyzers, Siemens Centaur immunoassay systems, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometers, BioRad Bioplex 2200 immunoassay platforms, Abbott Architect i1000SR instruments, and Inova Quanta-Lyser instruments.
For questions or additional information, please contact:
Roger Bertholf, PhD
Director, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Office: 713.441.3294
rlbertholf@houstonmethodist.org
Xin Yi, PhD
Associate Director, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Office: 713.441.4288
xyi@houstonmethodist.org
The most common clinical analytes include blood glucose linked to diabetes, liver enzymes, lipids [total cholesterol, fractions of good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides], cardiac enzymes released during a heart attack, electrolytes (sodium, potassium), urea and creatinine linked to kidney function, minerals (calcium, magnesium), vitamin D, hormones, albumin, amylase, and others. Major equipment in the laboratories includes Roche Cobas 8000 modular analyzers, Siemens Centaur immunoassay systems, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometers, BioRad Bioplex 2200 immunoassay platforms, Abbott Architect i1000SR instruments, and Inova Quanta-Lyser instruments.
For questions or additional information, please contact:
Roger Bertholf, PhD
Director, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Office: 713.441.3294
rlbertholf@houstonmethodist.org
Xin Yi, PhD
Associate Director, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Office: 713.441.4288
xyi@houstonmethodist.org