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SickKids

Lab & Testing Services

Phone:
416-813-7200
Hours:
Customer service representatives are available Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Two lab professionals in lab coats seated at a bench in front of two computers. In the background are other lab professionals at work.

Welcome to the Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine

The Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) at SickKids is a leading, world-class facility working towards reducing the impact of childhood illness by quickly providing diagnoses that lead to early selection of best treatment options. DPLM is a valuable and integral part of the SickKids team, generating original research and providing timely, specialized diagnostic services for health-care providers in Canada and around the world. 

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Requisitions

Download requisition forms.

Test Catalogue

Browse our test catalogue.

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Contact Us

View our lab contacts, operating hours, and shipping and drop-off information.


Discover our divisions

A SickKids staff member wearing a lab coat and blue gloves carefully pours a liquid from a pipette into a flask in a laboratory setting. He is focused on his task, with lab equipment and a computer screen visible in the background.

Clinical Biochemistry

Explore our labs and services in Routine Biochemistry, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Metabolic Diseases and more.

A laboratory professional wearing blue gloves and a white lab coat holds up a piece of laboratory equipment with thin, reflective strips. She appears focused, with a computer screen displaying sequencing-related information in the background.

Genome Diagnostics

Explore our labs and services in Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Microarray and Clinical Fibroblast.

A laboratory professional wearing blue gloves is using a pipette to place a drop of blood onto a glass slide.

Haematopathology

Explore our labs and services including Haematology, Coagulation, Flow Cytometry, Molecular Haematopathology, Blood Transfusion and Tissue Bank.

A lab professional wearing a lab coat and black gloves using a large pipette.

Pathology

Explore our labs and services specializing in Electron Microscopy, Histology, Immunopathology, Molecular Pathology, Morphometry and Neuropathology.

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Microbiology

Explore our diagnostic services offered by the Microbiology Laboratory, covering Bacteriology, Virology, Serology, Mycology and Molecular Microbiology.


Licensing & accreditation

DPLM has successfully participated in and has received many accreditation certifications provincially, nationally and internationally. Expand the sections below to view current certificates and licenses.

Health Canada - CTO Tissue (pdf)
Expiry: December 31, 2025

  • American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG)
  • Canadian Immunohistochemistry Quality Control for Pathology (CIQC)
  • CDC Newborn Screening Program
  • Charles River Proficiency Test Program
  • College of American Pathologists (CAP)
  • Continuous Improvement and Qualifying for Accreditation Project (CIQAP)
  • Euroimmune - Serology
  • European Research Network for evaluation and improvement of screening, Diagnosis and treatment of Inherited Disorders of Metabolism (ERNDIM)
  • Exchange with Mount Sinai
  • FHCRC - Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Seattle Cancer Care Center (Peer group assessment program)
  • Immprove Quality Assurance Scheme - Immunology
  • Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH)
  • Institute for Research Information and Quality Assurance
  • International External Foundation Quality Assessment Programme (ECAT)
  • International Proficiency Testing Schemes (IPTS)
  • International Tay-Sachs Testing (NTSAD)
  • Internal Split Sample Procedure (I.S.S)
  • KKGT - Stichting Kwaliteitsbewaking Klinische Geneesmiddelanalyse en Toxicologie (Association for Quality Assessment in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology) - Netherlands
  • Labquality EQA Program
  • LGC Standards
  • National Lab for HIV Immunology
  • National Lab for HIV Reference and Service (NLHRS)
  • National Microbiology Laboratory – Molecular Microbiology
  • North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association (NASCOLA)
  • Pharmacokinetic
  • Post analytical DNA Sequencing Challenge SEC
  • Qnostic – Molecular Microbiology
  • Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD)
  • Siemens Urinalysis Proficiency Study
  • Stichting Kwaliteitsbewaking Medische Laboratoriumdiagnostiek (Dutch: Foundation for Quality Medical Laboratory Diagnostics) - (SKML)
  • United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UKNEQAS)
  • Vitamin D External Quality Assessment Scheme (DEQAS)

Statement of responsibility

Outlined below are the standard terms and conditions which apply to the referral of all specimens for laboratory testing to SickKids unless otherwise stipulated in a separate agreement.

Responsibility of SickKids

As a referral laboratory, under Accreditation Canada Diagnostics requirements, SickKids is responsible for: 

  • Reporting test results including critical/significant results to the referring health care institution. (Genetics results will be reported directly to the ordering physician). 
  • Providing documented or verbal interpretation of results. 
  • Complying with all applicable legal requirements to protect the privacy of all patient information. 
  • Notifying the referring health care institution immediately if we suspect non-proficient performance which may affect test results. 
  • Commitment to care that is centred on the needs of patients and their families. Learn more about Our Care Philosophy. 
  • Commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. Learn more about SickKids EDI Strategy. 

Department leadership

Headshot of Gino Somers

Chief, DPLM and Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (U of T)

Dr. Gino Somers

Headshot of Joseph Kuzma

Director, Laboratory Services

Joseph D. Kuzma


Research & education in DPLM

Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, a large tower in downtown Toronto.

Research activities

Each division within DPLM houses a number of basic and clinically-oriented research projects (supported by numerous grants from national and provincial granting foundations).

SickKids hospital atrium interior

Education & training

The pursuit of excellence in educational endeavours is one of the key missions of DPLM. Learn more about education and training opportunities available through our department.

A SickKids staff member wearing a lab coat and blue gloves is working at a lab bench. In the background, other lab personnel are engaged in their tasks.

Contact us

Interested in our lab and testing services, or have questions? Find all of our lab contacts, operation hours, shipping addresses and drop-off information, or browse our lab test catalogue.

View contacts and hours Browse lab test catalogue

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