William t. dahms, M.D. clinical research unit

Dahms Clinical Research Unit Laboratory Resource

The Dahms Clinical Research Unit Laboratory Resource provides complete biospecimen management including sample collection, processing, storage, and analysis. The laboratory supports investigators who collect samples in the community by developing customized sample collection and processing instructions as well as analyzing the samples. The laboratory resource is available to all investigators in the Cleveland area. Facilities are available for long term storage of specimens. The laboratory is composed of two parts, the processing facility and the analytical lab.

The sample processing facility (220 sq. feet) is located in the DCRU nursing division room 7323 Horvitz Tower, Rainbow Babies and Childrens’ hospital. The facility is staffed by dedicated sample processors 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and on weekends when the nursing division is open. The services offered include sample processing to stability, shipping specimens to remote sites, sample collection from the OR, clinics, etc., and courier service to send and receive samples between other CTSC sites in Cleveland. DNA extraction and isolation of PBMCs in a sterile environment are also available.  The service is managed by personnel from the CLIA certified analytical lab.

The analytical laboratory consists of 996 sq. feet in rooms 692 and 693 of the Rainbow Babies and Childrens’ Hospital. It is regularly staffed from 8a.m.-4:30 p.m. The lab is CLIA certified (#36D0723882). Analytical capabilities include a wide range of kit based ELISA and radioimmunoassays. Instrumentation consists of two YSI glucose analyzers, a 10 well Micromedic Apex gamma counter, and a Molecular Devices ELISA microplate reader. The lab also owns a Meso Scale Discovery multi-plex analyzer capable of determining up to 10 analytes simultaneously.

The standard equipment includes one biosafety cabinet, five refrigerated centrifuges, four -70 freezers, two -20 freezers, one liquid nitrogen freezer, and two refrigerators. The freezers and refrigerator are on backup power and monitored constantly for temperature deviations. Staff is trained to respond to any alarms 24/7.