Overview
The UAB Clinical Immunology Laboratory is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) licensed and College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited diagnostic laboratory. The laboratory performs a variety of tests to identify autoantibodies for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases and antibody and molecular tests to detect infectious diseases. The lab also collaborates with the Clinical Chemistry laboratory to identify and characterize cryoglobulins and monoclonal gammopathies. The laboratory runs about 16,000 tests per month.
Our Faculty and Staff
Jose Lima, MD
Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine
Section Head, Immunology
Laboratory Supervisor
Mel-Marie Datka
Lead Technologists
Jane Pruet and Jessica Williams
Technologists
Howard Asher, Kim Greer, Ronda Janowicz, Lakeasha McTear, Donna Payne and Stacey Smith
Residency Training
Residents spend 3 months in the core Immunology rotation; they are primarily responsible for handling calls from bench technologists, clinical house staff and clinicians, and serving as liaison on behalf of the laboratory. They are introduced to several different immunologic tests and assay platforms throughout the rotation (which is combined with Microbiology).
The application and clinical value of these tests are highlighted in the laboratory teaching sessions to residents in various fields of medicine by the Director and guest speakers.
Laboratory practices, policies and quality metric performances are reviewed with the residents during weekly staff meetings.
Residents also have the opportunity to review and familiarize themselves with the different ANA and ANCA Indirect Fluorescent Assays patterns.
The Immunology and invited Specialty faculty (e.g. Hematology, Infectious Disease, etc.) give didactic lectures to the residents during the rotation, including a series of basic and recent clinical advances in Immunology.
Our Testing
Tests offered include an indirect immunofluorescence assay for detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), and anti-mitochondrial/smooth muscle antibodies. Utilizing ELISA, the laboratory performs assays for SS-A, SS-B, Sm, RNP, anti-CCP, EMA IgA by IFA and tTG IgA antibodies for celiac disease, and antibodies useful to diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease. Serological chemiluminescent microparticle assays are performed to detect immune responses to HIV-1/HIV-2, Hepatitis-A, -B, and -C, CoV-2 IgG, Treponema pallidum (Syphilis) as well as well as ELISA for EBV (Mono), VZV and H. pylori. Utilizing Turbidimetric quantitation of serum free light chains, IgG subclasses, IgM, IgA, C3, C4 and complement function are measured. Molecular testing for Chlamydia, Trichomonas, and Gonorrhea is also performed.
Contact Us
Specific test information can be found at: http://www.labsource.hs.uab.edu/labsource/#/home
Director – Jose Lima, MD (joselima@uabmc.edu ). Phone – (205) 934-9529
Laboratory Supervisor – Mel-Marie Datka (mdatka@uabmc.edu). Phone – (205) 934-6554
Laboratory Medicine Resident – Contact UAB Paging (205) 934-3411