Titles

Division Co-Chief, Laboratory and Genomic Medicine
CLIA Medical Director, BJH Pathology Services & Memorial Hospitals
Medical Director, Special Chemistry and Serology/Immunology
Medical Associate Director, Clinical Chemistry
Co-Director, Clinical Chemistry Fellowship

Education

Boards

Recognition

Research Interests

Our research focuses primarily on the laboratory diagnostics of endocrinology and reproductive physiology with a particular emphasis on maternal-fetal medicine. Our work has investigated the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and its variant forms. In particular, we are interested in the beta core fragment of hCG (hCGβcf) which is the predominant form of hCG in urine after five weeks of pregnancy. We have shown that high concentrations of this variant can interfere with certain pregnancy tests and cause false negative results. We have also been studying how hCG concentrations increase with age.

Although hCG is best known for its production by the placenta, it is also produced in the pituitary gland in peri-and past-menopausal women. Our research has focused on ways to differentiate between pituitary and placental hCG. I am also active in the field of ethics in laboratory medicine. I have published several papers on ethics, professionalism, and error disclosure.

Selected Publications

• From Diagnosis to Delivery: A Look at the Continuing Gap in Maternal Testing

  Publication

• The Changing Face of Academic Laboratory Medicine—A Decade Later and Beyond

  Publication

• Commentary on Normal Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Elevated Free Thyroxine in a Patient Presenting with Self-Reported Heart Palpitations

  Publication

• A Second Opinion: Expert Commentary on "Persistent Mild Increase of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in a Male Patient with Testicular Pain"

  Publication

Assistant

Dionne Brierton

Administrative Professional