Medical Screening and Special Testing

Medical Screening and Special Testing

The Division of Medical Screening and Special Testing, part of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, offers specialized laboratory testing in prenatal screening, reproductive endocrinology, and women's health, with the highest quality, rapid turnaround and reasonable cost. 
 
From research to clinical practice, our laboratory has developed both a national and international reputation in these areas of testing. We were involved in the development of, and were the first academic program in the U.S. to offer the Quad test for prenatal screening. We also served as the central laboratory in the FASTER Trial, a large-scale, national intervention trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to compare first and second trimester screening methods. We have now implemented a new generation of screening using cell-free DNA in maternal plasma. 
 
Our laboratory is among the most experienced in the U.S. in the measurement of inhibin A and related proteins, and was the first to report on the use of inhibin types in prenatal screening and testing for ovarian reserve.

Contact Information:

Women & Infants Hospital Medical Screening and Special Testing 
70 Elm Street 
2nd Floor 
Providence, RI 02905  
P: (401) 453-7650

Hours 
Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Call (401) 453-7650 for help finding a location convenient for you

Test Offered:

Prenatal Screening

  • AFP PLUS Quad Test
  • Full and Serum Integrated Test
  • PAPP-A
  • Inhibin A
  • Amniotic Fluid AFP
  • AChE 

Fertility

  • hCG
  • LH
  • FSH
  • Prolactin
  • Estradiol
  • Progesterone
  • Testosterone
  • DHEA Sulfate
  • AMH
  • SHBG

Tumor Markers

  • CA15-3
  • CEA
  • hCG
  • AFP

Thyroid Function

  • TSH
  • TT4
  • FT4
  • T Uptake
  • TSH in Pregnancy
  • FT3
  • Total T3
AFP Plus Quad Test

It is a blood test done between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy that allows us to measure certain substances that come from the developing fetus and placenta and are present in a mother’s blood.

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The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test

AMH is a normal product of developing ovarian follicles. The amount of AMH measured in serum during the start of a new menstrual cycle is directly related to the number and health of small growing follicles.

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Nuchal Translucency Prenatal Screening Test

Women & Infants Hospital Prenatal Diagnosis Center, in collaboration with our Division of Prenatal and Special Testing, offers additional prenatal screenings for Down syndrome: two nuchal translucency (NT) based screening tests. 

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Screening for Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome number 21 in the cells of the developing baby. 

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Serum Integrated Test

The Serum Integrated Test is a prenatal screening for Down syndrome and open neural tube defects. 

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STEP-UP

Screening, Treatment, Early Prevention, & Understanding Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a common medical condition in pregnancy that can harm you and/or your unborn baby. One pregnant woman in about 25 will develop preeclampsia. Any pregnant woman can get preeclampsia, but some women have an increased risk.

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Meet the Medical Screening Team

Our staff of pathologists, program coordinators, medical technologists, research technicians, and clerical workers are dedicated to providing the highest level of quality and support available anywhere. We are available seven days a week to answer your calls.

Geralyn M. Messerlian, PhD

Dr. Lambert-Messerlian is the director of the Division of Medical Screening and Special Testing and a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She has a national and international reputation for her studies of the inhibin and activin family of gonadal and placental hormones, and was involved in the first studies in the U.S. on the clinical use of inhibin A in prenatal screening for Down syndrome and inhibin B in assessment of ovarian reserve. She is the author or coauthor of more than 100 research studies, review articles and scientific abstracts. 

Glenn Palomaki, PhD

Dr. Palomaki is an associate director of the division and associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He has received grant and contract support in the areas of prenatal screening and genetic testing, directed or participated in several structured evidence reviews, authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, and lectured on genetics and prenatal screening to national and international audiences. 

Diane S. Panizza, BS, MT (ASCP)

Diane S. Panizza has been the supervisor of the division's laboratory since 1985. She is an expert in all facets of hormone and tumor marker assays, prenatal screening tests, and interpretation of test results. Ms. Panizza is one of the most knowledgeable laboratory professionals inthe area of prenatal screening and hormone assays and is a great resource to laboratory professionals throughout the U.S.