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About RDL |
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RDL is dedicated
to principles of excellence
that has distinguished itself above other
labs and
has a respected history of providing a
variety of reliable tests
among other resources that help hundreds of professionals.
RDL Reference Laboratory is dedicated
to the principles of excellence and consistency
in esoteric laboratory testing. We are committed
to aiding the clinician in early diagnosis and
continued disease management through the design
of profiles and panels that provide the ordering
physician an array of selected tests. These tests
assist to resolve the various clinical problems
faced in practice in the most cost-effective
manner possible. RDL uses cutting edge technology
performed solely by experienced, licensed professionals.
RDL staff treats our clients, their staff
and their patients with the respect they all
deserve. RDL Client Services Representatives
are geared to do “whatever it takes” to
satisfy our clients. |
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| What
Differentiates RDL from Other Labs |
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Results are reviewed every
day and given to one of our Medical
Directors (both are rheumatologists) so that
there is direct contact between
the laboratory director and clients regarding
unusual or potentially problematic results ensures
discussion of the patients’ clinical history
and facilitates additional or repeat testing,
if appropriate. Sera are routinely stored for
two months, but are often stored indefinitely
for future comparisons, if deemed necessary. |
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RDL was the first lab in the country offering
reflexive ANA profiling and has continued
to enhance ANA profile testing by adding new tests
after their clinical utility was well established
in the scientific literature. We now offer four ANA
profiles to choose from. |
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We believe that today, more than ever, the
commercial esoteric laboratory must aid the clinician
in early diagnosis and continued disease management.
Our profiles and panels have been designed by our
medical directors/clinicians specifically to do just
that. |
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Since its inception, RDL has strived to be as cost-effective
as possible. The many profiles (reflexive)
and panels we develop are not only more
affordable than ordering individual tests,
but have been designed to search for specific diagnoses. |
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RDL has adopted the philosophy of avoiding
the use of home brews except in rare instances
where an important commercial assay is not currently
available. Although more expensive, the manufacturing
process and quality control requirements used by
commercial vendors in kit production is more likely
to ensure consistent quality and reliability of test
results with this approach. |
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Since its inception in 1977, the two laboratory
directors have collected sera from the patients
in their rheumatology practices. This large serum
bank over samples consists of well-characterized
rheumatic diseases, both clinically and serologically.
We have utilized this resource in order to evaluate
the sensitivity, specificity and overall performance
of commercial assays and have selected only those
kits which have proven to be consistently reliable
over time. The serum bank has enabled RDL to define
clinically relevant cutoff levels of assays in order
to optimize the value of the results. Furthermore,
RDL has collaborated with several biotechnology companies
interested in developing high quality assays utilizing
our serum bank. |
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When one calls RDL Reference Laboratory during regular
working hours, there are no phone trees.
The phone is answered by a live individual who refers
individuals to the appropriate person or department. |
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RDL Reference Laboratory was established in 1977 by two UCLA-trained rheumatologists, Drs. Robert I Morris and Allan L. Metzger. After three years of practice, following their fellowships, they found inconsistent performance by local, as well as national commercial laboratories in ANA testing, and inadequate availability of autoimmune disease testing. These conditions made it apparent that, if Drs. Morris and Metzger wanted quality testing that could be trusted, they would have to form their own laboratory.
Initially, the menu contained only autoimmune tests,
but over the years the menu has expanded to include
infectious disease testing. Physicians in most sub-specialties
use our services and we have many university teaching
centers, hospitals, other laboratories, researchers
and biomedical companies forwarding specimens daily.
With the growth of our menu, the company’s divisions
and staff have also increased.
As rheumatologists and laboratorians, the directors have created and offer profiles and panels that provide the ordering physician an array of selected tests that help to resolve the various clinical problems faced in practice without increasing unnecessary costs.
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