Lab Services

AUI has a CAP Accredited Pathology laboratory. Our on-site laboratory includes an experienced staff and state-of-the-art analytical equipment, and provides fast, accurate results.

The lab has been directed by Nick Maruniak, MD and offers services including:

Clinical Lab Services

Routine blood work including but not limited to:

• PSA test: The PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, often combined with a digital rectal exam, is a common and reliable method to check for prostate cancer before symptoms appear. A recent study concluded that PSAs reduce prostate cancer deaths by about 30%.
• Urine culture: This test identifies blood or organisms that may be causing a urinary tract infection. A routine urine culture test is typically performed in the physician’s office, clinic or lab. The urine sample is tested with a treated chemical stick and examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria or blood. Color, odor, pH levels, protein, glucose, blood and nitrate levels also are tested.
• Urine PCR: A highly sensitive test to detect bacteria in urine that may not be found on a routine culture.
• Testosterone analysis: Checks male hormone (androgen) levels in the blood. This blood test is advised in suspected cases of low testosterone. Patients with low testosterone may experience low libido, fatigue or erectile dysfunction.
• Blood test for kidney function: A BUN creatinine ratio is a blood test that compares the levels of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) to creatinine. A normal ratio typically falls between 10:1 and 20:1. A higher ratio may indicate kidney problems or dehydration, while a lower ratio might suggest liver issues or malnutrition.

Pathology Lab Services

• Urine cytology: A microscopic exam of urine to look for cancerous cells.
• FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization): A test that detects genetic changes in urine cells early on that may indicate the presence of bladder cancer.
• Tissue analysis/biopsies: Diagnostic tissue testing and analysis for cancer cells.

Other Laboratory Initiatives

• Genetic testing: Multigene testing of a patient’s blood to identify the presence of inherited genes that increase the risk of prostate cancer (includes the BRCA gene, which is implicated in prostate and breast cancer). LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GENETIC TESTING PROGRAM HERE.
• Molecular microbiology: Geared toward patients with chronic, recurring urine infections, and for whom previous antibiotics have not been affected, our laboratory team looks at the genetic make-up of a patient’s urine sample. Studying the sample’s DNA, pathologists can help the physician determine the best treatment protocol for each specific patient.
• Genomic testing: Genomic testing, or personalized medicine, allows us to identify if a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer is at low risk or high risk for developing a more aggressive form of cancer, based on the patient’s genetic make-up. Low risk patients typically undergo “active surveillance,” whereby they get tested regularly but receive no treatment for their cancer diagnosis. However, if genomic testing places the patient in the high-risk category, a physician may choose to treat the cancer or take a more aggressive form of surveillance. While genomic testing has helped breast cancer patients for nearly two decades, it’s now an important tool for monitoring prostate cancer patients.