Vitalant has announced the launch of expanded testing capabilities within its Coagulation Laboratory in Pittsburgh to support biotherapy development.
The lab has already been supporting research, diagnosis and treatment of blood coagulation disorders and with this expansion, now has access to next-generation sequencing (NGS) as part of a coordinated, hub-and-spoke approach to cell and gene therapy (CGT).
"This launch is an important step in a larger strategy to bring together advanced testing capabilities across our laboratories in Phoenix, San Francisco and Pittsburgh," said Becky Cap, senior vice president of biotherapies, Vitalant.
By aligning specialised services to support the development, validation and delivery of molecular and cell-based assays and investing in key sites like Pittsburgh, we are building a more connected and scalable platform to support patients, healthcare providers and therapy developers.
The expansion also reflects Vitalant’s ongoing efforts to consolidate and integrate laboratory services, building on existing capabilities across its network, including centralised analytics initiatives in Phoenix.
This approach enables greater standardisation, operational efficiency and access to advanced testing, while supporting consistent quality and regulatory alignment.
Through this integrated hub-and-spoke model, Vitalant said that it can now support a wide range of analytical needs, including donor and starting material testing, in-process monitoring and release testing.
The services are critical to transfusion medicine, transplantation and the development of cell and gene therapies.
"The Pittsburgh expansion shows more than just the advance of a single laboratory, but how we are leveraging a highly coordinated system to expand these capabilities everywhere, creating a comprehensive testing ecosystem," said Angela Verdoni, Scientific Director, Coagulation and MID Laboratories, Vitalant.
Our goal is to ensure that advanced diagnostics and analytics are accessible and responsive to the evolving needs of healthcare and research.
The introduction of NGS testing in Pittsburgh, Vitalant says, will enhance support for patients with inherited bleeding disorders and those in critical care.
Additionally, advanced genetic testing and immunophenotyping capabilities will offer deeper insights into cellular characteristics and functions. Together, these services will expand Vitalant’s ability to provide high-value, data-driven support across various therapeutic areas.
Vitalant added that it is also exploring future opportunities to demonstrate how these expanded capabilities can help patients with sickle cell disease. Currently, the focus is primarily on red blood cell exchange transfusions and related services.
