ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City and Pathology Service Associates LLC (PSA), Florence, SC, have joined forces to offer special pricing to 400-plus pathologists affiliated with PSA for ARUP’s esoteric molecular oncology and cytogenetics-testing services.

ARUP is a national clinical and anatomic-pathology reference lab, and PSA is a nationwide-network affiliation and a principal provider of business services and support to independent pathologist practices.

“ARUP is pleased to extend our esoteric clinical and anatomic-pathology services and expertise to Pathology Service Associates,” said Ronald L. Weiss, MD, MBA, the company’s president and COO. “This collaboration will allow ARUP to help improve patient care by supporting our fellow pathologists and the success of their local and regional anatomic and clinical services.”

ARUP’s division of anatomic pathology, staffed by more than 30 full-time faculty, performs diagnostic testing—from small biopsies to large resections based on a diagnostic-center-of-excellence model encompassing a range of specialties. The clinical practice of anatomic pathology is supported by several core labs, which provide a range of services. The division updates its menu by offering a multitude of molecular techniques, such as melting-curve analysis, PCR, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques for detection of gene amplification involving HER-2/neu, EGFR, and other gene sequences of diagnostic and therapeutic importance.

PSA-affiliated pathology practices will have access to ARUP Consult®, an online resource providing lab testing information and diagnostic advice regarding test selection and interpretation for more than 1,500 lab tests. Disease-specific topics with background information, test-ordering suggestions, and diagnostic algorithms are co-authored and maintained by ARUP’s panel of medical faculty and consultants and include recommendations that are congruent with, and link to, national guidelines and relevant references.

“PSA is pleased to offer our affiliated pathology practices special pricing on services which will assist them in maintaining a competitive advantage in their markets,” said PSA President Al Sirmon. “PSA chose to partner with ARUP because of their philosophy to support their clients’ existing test menus by offering highly complex and unique lab tests, rather than competing for referring physician office business.”

PSA furnishes business services and support to independent pathology practices through an integrated approach of billing and collection services, practice-marketing support, and business-support services. www.psapath.com

ARUP is an enterprise of the University of Utah and its department of pathology, employing 2,100 people. It offers more than 2,000 tests and test combinations, ranging from routine-screening tests to highly esoteric-molecular and -genetic assays for patients nationwide. Its clients include more than half of the nation’s university teaching hospitals and children’s hospitals, and multihospital groups, major commercial labs, group-purchasing organizations, military and government facilities, and major clinics.