Chemistry

The Chemistry Laboratories of the Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine reflect the state of the art in automation and technology in laboratory medicine. Accredited by the New York State Department of Health and the College of American Pathologists and staffed by 70 licensed professionals, including five with PhD degrees and 65 technologists, our Laboratory operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing excellent turnaround times while performing nearly 5 million tests a year. 

The Core Laboratory for Chemistry features total laboratory automation with a stockyard that can store up to 15,000 specimens. Our Director, Damodara Rao Mendu, PhD, DABCC, and Assistant Director, Marie E. Grace, PhD, along with the Supervisors and Clinical Pathology Resident-On-Call are always available for consultation and to facilitate the use of the Laboratory’s services. As part of a dynamic academic teaching hospital, the Laboratory also participates in a number of studies requiring laboratory testing. We encourage investigators to contact Dr. Babic during the grant-writing process to seek advice on the most appropriate testing protocols.

Read our COVID-19 antibody test interpretation guide and frequently asked questions.

Our Chemistry Laboratory combines modern automation with the personal skills of a dedicated team of pathologists, clinical chemists, and technologists. We provide a range of services, including routine testing, stat testing, point–of-care testing, and specialized tests, and report critical values to providers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more about our Clinical Services

The Chemistry Laboratory is constantly expanding its services by adding tests and technologies, including the following:

  • Methotrexate: now offered every day until 9 pm
  • New Tests: Beta-hydroxbutyrate will soon be replacing our ketone assay.
  • Cystic Fibrosis Sweat Chloride Testing: As recommended by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we have adopted a lower abnormal limit for newborns under the age of three months.
  • Confirmatory Testing of positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) screen: If you need confirmatory testing, please request a HCV RNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and submit a pearl capped top tube.

The Center for Clinical Laboratories performs tests for Celiac Disease. These include both serological and HLA genotyping tests. We perform these tests according to the Celiac Disease Algorithm. We assay IgA for all celiac serology requests, followed by the appropriate tissue transglutaminase and deamidated gliadin antibodies. For monitoring purposes, use the serological test that was most positive at the time of diagnosis. We perform serological tests three times a week. Human leukocyte antigen genotyping can be used to exclude celiac disease when serology test is equivocal. We require an informed consent for HLA Genotyping.

The staff of the Chemistry Laboratory includes the following highly skilled and fully accredited members: 

Damodara Rao Mendu, PhD, DABCC
Director of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
rao.mendu@mountsinai.org

Marie E. Grace, PhD
Director, POCT Mount Sinai Health System
Associate Director, Clinical Chemistry Labs
marie.grace@mssm.edu

Judit Tolnai
Coordinator, Point-of-Care Testing
judit.tolnai@mountsinai.org

Folagbayi Arowolo, PhD
Assistant Director of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
folagbayi.arowolo@mountsinai.org

Daniel Kirchhoff, PhD, DABCC, MLS(ASCP)
Assistant Director of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Daniel.Kirchhoff@mountsinai.org

Dipika Patel, MLS(ASCP)
Lab Manager, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Dipika.patel@mountsinai.org