The team is led by lab manager Jason Kletz, and assistant manager Ann Howard.

On average, PMH’s lab techs have over 15 years of experience working in the hospital’s lab and 22 years of lab experience overall. Their techs work in 15 certified specialty areas of the lab, including chemistry, toxicology, hematology, microbiology, immunology, and transfusion medicine.

“Our lab professionals generate data to assist physicians in determining the presence or absence of disease, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and to screen and maintain health,” said Howard.

PMH’s lab reports over 300,000 lab tests every year to the community’s healthcare providers to ensure patients receive the best care possible.

With the arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, medical labs have been brought to the forefront of public health in the news.

“From the early days when viral testing supplies were extremely scarce, through the first year of fighting the pandemic, we have been able to process 5,000 Covid-19 tests at PMH,” said Kletz. “We perform both complex RNA tests and rapid antigen tests here in our hospital lab. Both test methods at PMH will detect all of the variant strains of concern listed by the CDC.”

Amid a pandemic, the lab went through its biennial certification last year. “Our lab was inspected and recertified by Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, (HFAP) our accrediting body,” said Howard.

“While inspections are always tense and stressful, we take great pride in our work, and receiving our accreditation for another two years ensures our patients are receiving the best health care possible,” said Kletz.

“As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be offered locally and throughout the country, the Pulaski Memorial Lab Team encourages all communities to wear masks, social distance, and get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccines are our best tool to defeat this deadly virus,” said Kletz. “If you have questions, speak with your healthcare provider about your concerns, but we would strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Stopping the spread is how we stop COVID.”