By Allison Cordray, Laboratory Director, Pershing Health System
When you have blood drawn at Pershing Health System, the process may seem quick—just a few minutes with a phlebotomist and then you’re on your way. But what happens next is far more detailed than many people realize. Behind the scenes, your blood goes through a complex series of steps using highly specialized equipment—all performed right here in our in-house lab.
As the Laboratory Director at PHS, I want to walk you through what happens to your blood after the bandage goes on, and how our team transforms that small sample into valuable information that your provider can use to make important decisions about your health.
From Phlebotomy to High-Tech Testing
It all starts with our amazing phlebotomy team. At PHS, Nicky and Kristin are two of our specially trained professionals who are responsible for collecting your blood and labeling it correctly. Their precision is critical—everything that happens next relies on their accuracy and care.
Once your sample reaches the lab, it moves through several analyzers, each designed for specific testing.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Sysmex Analyzer
Your blood first goes into the Sysmex analyzer, which runs a Complete Blood Count. This test measures your red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and more. It gives us a quick, detailed look at your overall blood health and helps identify things like infections, anemia, or other conditions.
Manual Slide Review
If the Sysmex flags anything abnormal, we move to a manual slide review. This means one of our skilled technologists looks at your blood under a microscope to confirm or clarify any irregularities. This extra step ensures accuracy, especially when something doesn’t look quite right.
Hemoglobin A1C Testing
Next, we may run an A1C test—especially if your provider is monitoring or screening for diabetes. This test reflects your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months and is a key tool in diagnosing and managing diabetes.
Centrifuge – Plasma and Serum Separation
The next step involves separating your blood into layers using a centrifuge. This machine spins the sample at high speed, which separates the plasma or serum from the red blood cells. Once separated, we can use the sample for a wide range of additional lab tests.
Vitros Chemistry Analyzer – Thyroid and More
After centrifugation, the plasma or serum moves into our Vitros analyzer, where we perform a variety of chemistry and immunology tests. This might include a Free T4 test to check thyroid function, or a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) to evaluate how well your liver and kidneys are functioning and to assess your electrolyte balance.
The Vitros is an integrated system that gives us a broad and detailed picture of what’s going on inside your body—all from just a small amount of blood.
Results You Can Trust—Close to Home
One of the things I’m most proud of is that all of this testing happens right here in Brookfield. There’s no need to send your labs out to some distant facility. Because we process samples locally, your results get to your provider quickly, which means faster answers and better care for you.
Did You Know?
In addition to testing samples in our hospital lab, our team also visits local long-term care facilities every week. We travel to Marceline and Brookfield to draw blood from residents who can’t easily travel to the hospital.
This service helps ensure that even our most vulnerable community members receive timely lab work and consistent care.
Scheduling Lab Work
If your provider has ordered blood tests—or if you simply need routine lab work—our lab is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday 7:30 am to 12: 00 pm. No appointment is needed. Just check in at the Admissions Desk, and we’ll take care of the rest.
We’re here to serve the people of our community, and my team works hard every day to ensure you get the care, accuracy, and information you need.
Want to See It in Action?
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of your blood sample’s journey through the PHS Lab! From the initial draw to our high-tech analyzers, this short video reel walks you through what happens after the bandage goes on. Click here to watch reel.
Right care. Right here. Right at home.
Need a provider? Contact Community Medical Associates (660-258-1050) or Meadville Medical Clinic (660-938-4213) for compassionate, patient-centered care.
