Skip to main content

Main menu

  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Health and Economic Impact
    • Research Impact Video
    • Strategic Plan
  • Our Research
    • Research Focus
      • Brain Health
      • Cancer
      • Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence
      • Heart Health
      • Healthy Aging and Mobility
      • Immune System
      • Injury and Rehabilitation
      • Lung Health
      • Mental Health and Substance Use
    • Research Centres and Programs
      • BC Centre on Substance Use
      • Centre for Aging SMART
      • Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation
      • Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation
      • Centre for Lung Health
      • Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
      • Immunity and Infection Research Centre
      • International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries
      • M. H. Mohseni Institute of Urologic Sciences
      • Ovarian Cancer Research Centre
      • Community Research Program
      • Emergency Medicine Research Program
      • Hematology Research Program
      • Skin Research Program
      • Other Research Focus Areas
    • News and Stories
    • Researcher Directory
    • Events and Workshops
  • Research Services
    • New to VCHRI
      • Working at VCHRI
      • Regulations and Training
      • Membership with VCHRI
      • Learning and Development
    • Starting Your Project
      • Research Facilitation
      • Awards and Funding
      • Grant Management
      • Operational Approval
      • CST Cerner
    • Developing Your Project
      • Clinical Trials Administration
      • Clinical Research Unit
      • Research Privacy
      • Financial Policies and Procedures
    • Additional Support
      • Indigenous Health Research Unit
      • VCH-VCHRI AI Hub
      • Communications and Media Relations
      • Study Recruitment Support
      • Innovation and Industry Partnership
    • Internal Awards
    • Clinical Research
    • Indigenous Research
  • Participate in Research
    • Reasons to Participate
    • Participant Stories
    • Find a Study
    • Recruitment Support

User menu

  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Our Research
  3. News and Stories
  4. A day in the lab: Core Lab

A day in the lab: Core Lab

Stories Jan 16, 2018 3 minutes

At the heart of Vancouver General Hospital the Core Lab buzzes with activity.

At some point, most patients need to give a blood, saliva, urine or other bodily fluid sample for testing. Where do these samples go and what happens to them?

The Core Lab at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) is where your sample may potentially end up if you give it to one of the many hospitals or clinics in the Lower Mainland. This diagnostic lab is a beehive of activity at the centre of the hospital. It’s where medical technologists and lab assistants work to efficiently and accurately process the huge volume of samples that come in each day. 

Jennifer Shin operates the main chemistry analyzer at the Core Lab.

“We have about 80 staff working in here at any given time,” explains Romy Chan, Technical Support Coordinator in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “Many shifts start at six a.m. so that the lab can support early-morning sample collections and diagnoses, and assist with patient discharges.” The early start means lab staff can help doctors diagnose patients more quickly—and get them home sooner. 

Lourdes Cabrera and Melba Tamayo are some of the friendly faces at the outpatient laboratory in the Diamond Health Care Centre, where most patients will interact with lab staff.

Right after a patient gives a body fluid sample, the sample begins its journey to the Core Lab. At VGH, special couriers—called “runners”—may pick up and deliver samples to the Core Lab, working as quickly as possible. Other samples, such as those collected at the outpatient laboratory in the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre and other nearby buildings, are actually sent in special containers though a pressurized tube system that connects these buildings to the Core Lab. 

The samples need to be delivered quickly to not only ensure the prompt discharge of patients, but because some samples may be unsuitable for analysis in as little as 30 minutes. Once the samples arrive at the Core Lab, a special “dispatcher” processes and assigns them to different groups by priority.

Renya Oprecio waits by the pneumatic tube system to receive new deliveries of samples via the tube network that connects different buildings on the VGH site to the Core Lab.

Samples designated as “super STAT” typically come from the emergency department, intensive care unit, or from pre-admission (for patients going to surgery) and will be processed within one hour. Less urgent samples, such as those used for research, are designated as “routine” and will be processed ASAP and most results are available within 24 hours. Once designated, the samples are assigned to different lab staff who work to process and analyze them.

In addition to diagnosing patients and supporting the everyday hospital function of VGH, the lab also supports research. “We support both clinical trials and in-house studies,” explains Dr. Sophia Wong, Medical Biochemist. “In-house means a clinician here at the hospital has a research question and wants to initiate a study, such as trying to implement a new technology, begin a pilot project, or perhaps try something new they’ve seen in a medical journal.”

Jackie Chiu teaches Charlie Hua, a student from BCIT, how process samples on the urinalysis instrument.

The Core Lab is also a teaching lab where trainees, residents and medical students can learn the everyday lab procedures and how to use specialized equipment. To ensure the accuracy of results, quality control checks take place multiple times per day on every instrument. The lab has some of the most stringent quality control standards of any area of the hospital. Despite this, the atmosphere in the lab is cooperative, fun and supportive. 

Though you won’t see the Core Lab staff when you visit the hospital or give a sample, their diligence keeps the entire hospital at VGH running smoothly and supporting innovation. 

 

Related Articles

Behind the lab doors: BC Brain Wellness Program

Behind the lab doors: Brain Behaviour Laboratory

Behind the lab doors: Eye Care Centre

Share:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Email

Get the latest research headlines in your inbox

Subscribe

Recent News and Stories

Type
Announcement

Celebrating the life and distinguished career of Dr. Marcel Dvorak

May 14, 2025
Type
Stories

More equitable representation needed in Parkinson’s research

May 9, 2025 parkinsons, patient engagement, women
Type
Stories

Gamified stroke recovery improves arm function

May 8, 2025 stroke, rehabilitation
See more news

Get updates!

Join our newsletter mailing list to stay up to date on features and releases.

Subscribe

Quick Links

  • News and Stories
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Media Enquiries

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • YouTube

© 2025 VCHRI. All rights reserved.

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy