Calgary Laboratory Services

Welcome to Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS). We are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Calgary Health Region, operating the medical laboratories in four acute care hospitals (Alberta Childrens, Peter Lougheed, Rockyview, and Foothills Medical Centre), a Diagnostic and Scientific Centre, South Calgary Health Centre and Patient Service Centres in the community.

CLS provides multi-disciplinary diagnostic laboratory and pathology services to more than one million people in the Region.

We are uniquely positioned to build on the expertise and strengths of both hospital and community laboratories. In addition to providing a full range of diagnostic testing, CLS offers:

Mobile client services
Employment related and occupational health clinical testing
Pre-employment drug testing
Laboratory Physician consulting services
Laboratory support to research projects and clinical trials
Referral testing to other Regions and organizations in southern Alberta

Research, which is fundamental to the CLS service delivery model, complements our commitment to patient care. Our researchers continue to improve and develop new methods of diagnosing a variety of diseases. Future advancements in this area will ensure Calgarians receive leading edge diagnostics through integrated research and training programs.

CLS is an example of success in meeting the diverse challenges associated with the growing demand for laboratory medicine services and the management of health care resources. We are committed to excellence in providing an accessible, accountable and integrated health system, which promotes shared responsibility for improved health.

Facilities

Diagnostic and Scientific Centre (DSC) is situated in the University Research Park close to the University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) and the new Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH). The DSC provides laboratory testing for community physicians and also supports the testing for many centralized departments. Over 60% of all testing performed at CLS occurs at this site.

Patient Service Centres (PSC) are located throughout Calgary and in Airdrie and Cochrane. The centres focus on phlebotomy and electrocardiogram services for the patients of community-based healthcare providers. Refer to the CLS website www.calgarylabservices.com for the most up-to-date map of locations and hours of operation.

Mobile Services provides phlebotomy and electrocardiogram services to non-ambulatory patients living in the community who have serious medical conditions and are unable to travel to a CLS Patient Service Centre. CLS staff travels directly to the patient’s residence to perform the service(s) required. A physician must request that a patient be placed on the mobile collection service based on eligibility by meeting criteria established in collaboration with the Calgary health Region.

Rapid Response Laboratories (RRL) operate in each of the acute care hospital sites. They provide phlebotomy service for inpatients and outpatients as well as on-site testing of general laboratory test procedures in Chemistry, Hematology, Transfusion Medicine and Anatomic Pathology. The RRL coordinates the transfer of microbiology samples and non-urgent tests to the Diagnostic and Scientific Centre. The RRL also plays an active role in the sample collection and shipment of specimens from patients involved in Clinical Studies and provides Quality Assurance support for on-site Point of Care Testing (POCT) such as metered capillary blood glucose monitoring performed by nursing at the patient care unit leave.

CLS Administration

Diagnostic and Scientific Centre
9-3535 Research Rd. NW
Calgary, Alberta
T2L 2K8

Switchboard Phone: (403) 770-3500
Laboratory Information Centre: (403) 770-3600

For more information on all the services CLS provides, refer to our website at www.calgarylabservices.com

Calgary Laboratory Services Board and Executive Team

CLS Board:

Kay Best, Chair
Bill Trafford
Janet Umphrey
Dr. Hans van de Sande
Dr. Mo Watanabe

CLS Executive:

Dr. Fred Swaine, Chief Operating Officer
Paula Hall, Vice President, Technical Operations
Dr. Omar Shokeir, Vice President, Medical Operations
Donna Schendel, Vice President, Human Resources
Paul Riegel, Vice President, Finance
Dr. Jim Wright, CHR Regional Clinical Dept. Head, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

CLS Organizational Structure

CLS Governing and Reporting Structure