Services

The Biobehavioral Laboratory serves as a research Core Facility in the School of Nursing. The primary focus and function of the laboratory is to implement specific analytical and biochemical assays on samples obtained from clinical research studies. The major analytical tools used on these studies involve High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Radioactive Immune Assay (RIA), and the automated Immulite analytical system. The Biochemical lab utilizes the separation chemistry of HPLC with electrochemical detection, in order to determine specific hormone concentrations of urine Catecholamines, and Serotonin from both urine and plasma. The Radioimmune Assay (RIA) is used to detect trace amounts of urine Cortisol, Testosterone, and FSH, as well as the plasma Catecholamines. Assays involving ELISA methodology include the ability to detect urinary Estrones, Melatonin and Creatinines. The Immulite apparatus is a multipurpose analyzer, which can be utilized to assay a wide variety of hormones found in serum and plasma, such as HGH, C-reactive protein, ACTH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Prolactin, FSH, and serum Cortisol, each requiring a separate run. Research planning services are also provided by the Office for Nursing Research and the lab manager. The lab manager works with researchers involved in grant preparation in order to determine projected assay costs, technician time, sample storage, data analysis and use of shared lab resources.