A Blessing Health System laboratory with special testing technology located in Quincy celebrates its first anniversary July 15 with expanded services and a national accreditation.
Rivercross Diagnostics is known as a reference lab because of its unique capabilities. It is a free-standing clinical molecular lab. Rivercross’s ability to test specimens at the molecular level for viruses and other disease-causing organisms is an alternative to traditional diagnostic testing procedures for infectious diseases. It helps physicians identify select infections at early stages, choose treatments, prevent further transmission, and reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
In addition, Rivercross Diagnostics is able to process large numbers of test samples at one time. High volume, same-day testing helps patients and their providers make important clinical care decisions.
Blessing established Rivercross Diagnostics in response to the region’s COVID pandemic.
“Patients and their providers received COVID test results more quickly with the opening of Rivercross Diagnostics,” said Tracy Murphy, MD, medical director. “The time it takes to get results decreased from days to just a few hours because tests no longer have to be sent out of town for testing. This allows patients to know sooner if they have to quarantine or not, and if they can have a surgery or other procedure, or if it needs to be rescheduled.”
Between July 15, 2021 and July 1, 2022, Rivercross Diagnostics processed 47,581 tests. The busiest month to date was January 2022 – as the Omicron variant of COVID gripped the region. Rivercross processed 8,204 specimens that month, more than 500 per day on some days.
In February 2022, Rivercross Diagnostics added a combination COVID-Influenza A/B test to its menu of services, and in June began running a test for the strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) most likely to cause cancer.
Dr. Murphy expects testing for other respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases to be added to Rivercross Diagnostics’ menu of services in the future.
Also during its first year of service, Rivercross Diagnostics earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program’s goal is to improve patient safety by advancing the quality of pathology and laboratory services through education, standard setting and ensuring laboratories meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
In addition to Dr. Murphy, the Rivercross Diagnostics staff includes Dr. Michelle Combs, manager, and six lab techs, assistants and runners.