About Us

Marin Medical Laboratories is a pathologist-owned and operated pathology group providing anatomical, clinical and administrative services to hospitals, multi-specialty clinics, surgery centers, physician offices and other clinical reference laboratories since 1947.

Our pathologists have special competence in the areas of cancer diagnosis, lymphoma classification, myelodysplasia identification, infectious disease diagnosis, immunologically mediated disorders, inflammatory skin disorders, gynecologic diseases, liver disorders and gastrointestinal diseases.

We provide the following services to hospitals and physicians throughout Northern California:

• Surgical Pathology Clinical Pathology Services and Consultations
• Cytopathology
• Fine Needle Aspiration Cytopathology
• OB/GYN Pathology
• Dermatopathology
• Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pathology
• Hematopathology
• Immunopathology
• Immunohematology and Blood Banking
• Neuropathology
• Pediatric Pathology
• Esoteric Pathology Tests Performed In-house (ER/PR, Bone Marrow, Special Stains, ThinPrep Testing, and Immunohistochemistry)
  

We are committed to providing our referring physicians with timely pathology reports. Anatomic pathology results are generally available within forty-eight (48) hours. Our services are available twenty-four (24) hours a day, three hundred sixty-five (365) days a year. We provide a courier to pick up your specimens and deliver your reports and supplies on a daily basis.

Our Pathologists pride themselves on a standardized reporting system that includes diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic parameters.

Unique Diagnostic Tools

• ThinPrep Cytology – The ThinPrep Pap test has improved sensitivity over conventional Pap smears. The ThinPrep is also used for processing non-gynecololgic cytology and fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens
• Immunohistology – Available for the evaluation of tumors

Quality Assurance

• Our group conducts ongoing internal quality review
• Each review-evaluates histologic and cytologic diagnoses rendered, and includes a process to verify previous diagnoses when major surgery is involved
• Internal reviews are benchmarked against outside evaluations done by university and non-university consultants
• Results of the review are used to direct educational efforts and address credentialling questions

Cytology

• Our cytotechnologists are registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), and licensed by the State of California
• Strict limitations on cytotechnologist workloads are mandated by accrediting organizations with ongoing review of quality
• Close supervision of technical and clerical aspects
• No off-site screening – all smears screened in accredited Cytology laboratory
• Pathologists review all abnormal and reactive smears as well as non-gynecological cases
• Physicians are notified with malignant and high-grade dysplasia diagnosis
• Previous Pap and biopsy results are available for review and correlation as part of our quality assurance
• Ongoing quality assurance, including individual cytotechnologist and pathologist diagnosis statistics, are benchmarked against total Cytology statistics
• In addition to CLIA-required 10 percent negative re-screen of Pap smears, all high-risk patients are re-screened by a pathologist
• Cytotechnologists and cytopathologists participate in CAP proficiency testing
• Continuing education available to cytotechnologists

Commitment to Excellence

• Marin Medical Laboratories provides laboratory medical direction to Marin General Hospital and Novato Community Hospital
• Our hospital-based laboratories, as well as independent histology and cytology laboratories, are accredited by the state of California, College of American Pathologists (CAP), and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA)
• Our pathologists are inspectors for the Laboratory Accreditation Program of the CAP
• Our pathologists regularly participate in risk management training as part of our continuing medical education activities
• Our pathologists are routinely awarded the CMA Physician Recognition Award for continuing education
• Expert consultation service can be rapidly obtained from within the group
• Quality assurance programs internally and externally