Screening and Reference Services
The Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory provides the following screening and reference services (select a link or scroll down to view them all:
1. General Chemistry
Chemistry tests include thyroid function tests, measurement of hormones, and many other less frequently ordered biochemical markers that are not available in your area.
Post-Mortem Toxicology
RRPL conducts detailed drug analysis of several specimen types from routine autopsy cases for coroners and pathologists province wide.
Toxicology
Analysis to detect a variety of drugs and toxic substances in biological specimens including: prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and measurement of drugs in cases of accidental or intentional overdose.
Screening is provided to monitor patient compliance in the provincial methadone program and other drug treatment initiatives. This includes legal confirmation if necessary.
Fecal Immunochemical Test
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is available in Saskatchewan to test for occult (hidden) blood in stool samples.
Residents over age 50 automatically receive a test kit by mail from the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer (SPCRC). Samples are sent to RRPL for analysis.
For more information on the SPCRC visit the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
2. Endocrinology
Physicians use this test to measure hormone levels and assist in the diagnosis of various endocrine diseases.
3. Newborn Screening (Neonatal Testing)
RRPL conducts all newborn screening for the province, providing testing of all newborns for inherited metabolic diseases. All newborns in Saskatchewan are screened for at least 30 rare disorders to ensure they have the best possible chance for a healthy life.
Most babies with a disorder look healthy at birth. However, if their disorder is not detected and treated, they may be at risk of having serious health problems including developmental disabilities, recurrent sickness, and even death. Early identification is the key to effective treatment.
4. Prenatal Maternal Serum Screening
The RRPL conducts all prenatal screening for the province. Expectant mothers are tested for four biochemical markers. Along with other background information these markers may establish a risk to the fetus for several disorders.
Prenatal screening is done through a blood test available to all pregnant women in Saskatchewan as part of their prenatal care. Test results may indicate the chance of having a baby with uncommon conditions such as spinal defects (open neural tube defects) and some chromosome abnormalities (Down syndrome, trisomy 18).