Laboratories

A cross-sectional service at all stages of the care process and alongside each patient and their family.

Fundació Puigvert has its own Laboratory Service whose mission is to support comprehensive, effective, and humane assistance in Urology, Andrology, Nephrology, and Reproductive Medicine, as well as to promote the development of scientific knowledge and teaching.

The Pathological Anatomy section develops its diagnostic activity through morphological interpretation (macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular expression through immunohistochemistry) of the submitted samples, both from biopsies and surgical excision pieces, with the aim of supporting therapeutic decisions.

The integration of these diagnoses into clinical histories is reinforced by participation in uro-oncological committees, as well as in nephrology and rheumatology sessions, where details of clinicopathological correlation are highlighted for clinical and surgical decision-making.

Due to the nature of the center, extensive experience in nephropathology and urogenital oncological pathology has been achieved, allowing participation in international forums responsible for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines from the WHO, ISUP, GUPS, SEAP, and EAU.

The Semen Bank of Fundació Puigvert, created in 1985 as the first public semen bank in the State, is a national and international reference center in male fertility preservation and cryopreservation in oncological patients.

Led by a highly specialized multidisciplinary team in andrology, gynecology, and assisted reproduction laboratory, the semen bank ensures safe, personalized, and excellent care for both patients and donors.

The donation program is based on a very thorough medical, genetic, and psychological selection, ensuring maximum safety for recipients and offspring and offering donors specialized follow-up within the framework of an ethical, regulated, and high social impact project.

Our laboratory performs a wide range of tests covering different areas of clinical biochemistry, including general biochemistry tests, hormonal tests, tumor markers, serological tests, and monitoring of key immunosuppressive drugs in transplant patients.

The laboratory of Fundació Puigvert is highly specialized in the evaluation of renal function and has been a pioneer in the implementation of equations for estimating glomerular filtration both in adults and in pediatric populations, as well as in the study of renal function using reference methods such as the plasma clearance of iohexol. We participate in external quality control programs, both national and international, that guarantee the reliability and reproducibility of the results obtained.

We are a reference center for genetic diagnosis of hereditary kidney diseases and male infertility, with over two decades of clinical and research experience in these fields.

We have accumulated experience from more than 15,000 genetic studies of hereditary kidney diseases and over 2,000 studies of male infertility.

Our diagnostic approach is based on the use of massive sequencing techniques (NGS) applied to a broad panel of custom-designed genes, the diagnostic yield of which has been scientifically validated (ref. PMID: 33532864; PMID: 29801666).

For the analysis of results, we have an extensive clinical and genomic database that facilitates precise and personalized interpretation.

Molecular diagnosis allows us to identify the genetic cause of the disease, guide clinical management, and provide appropriate counseling to patients and families, and constitutes an essential tool of personalized and precision medicine.

Through this service, we provide diagnostic and care support in the field of hematology and hemostasis, with a primary focus on nephrology and urology patients. Our activity centers on the study of benign hemopathy (anemia) and the performance of primary hemostasis studies, platelet dysfunction, and monitoring of anticoagulant therapy. Additionally, we follow up on thrombotic pathology and thrombophilia.

We participate in internal and external quality control programs that ensure the reliability of results.

In this area of the laboratory, we focus on the diagnosis and monitoring of autoimmune diseases affecting the kidneys, through protocols agreed upon with clinical services, following the recommendations of national and international scientific societies, to ensure the highest quality of care.

We use immunofluorescence methods, enzyme immunoassays, and immunoblotting, and participate in national and international external quality control programs that ensure the reliability and reproducibility of results.

At the Lithiasis Laboratory, we focus on the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with urinary lithiasis, aiming to determine the causes that have led to the formation of urinary stones, assist in selecting the most appropriate medical treatment, and prevent, as much as possible, the occurrence of recurrences.

We have an accumulated experience of over 50,000 analyzed stones. This laboratory, unique in our environment, requires a high level of specialization and participates in both internal and international external quality control programs.

The combination of experience, specialization, and multidisciplinary collaboration allows us to offer a reference service in the field of urinary lithiasis, contributing to etiological diagnosis, close follow-up, and optimization of therapeutic strategies.

Our processes are specialized in the diagnosis of urological disorders, renal pathologies, kidney transplantation, patients on hemodialysis, sexually transmitted infections, genital infections, prosthetic infections, and post-surgical patients.

The morphological and microbiological analysis of urine is performed according to the highest quality standards required for patients with genitourinary diseases. We carry out the diagnosis of infections using conventional bacteriology techniques, mycology, parasitology, virology, serology, and genomic sequence amplification (PCR). We work closely with other specialists in the center to provide the best possible treatment.

From the infection control area, we are responsible for ensuring the detection and control of multidrug-resistant microorganisms and the resolution of possible outbreaks, including the annual epidemics of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and other microorganisms that can particularly affect immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant recipients.

Our Assisted Reproduction Laboratory is equipped with the most advanced technology for the optimal execution of assisted reproduction techniques:

• Next-generation time-lapse incubators (EmbryoScope and Geri), which represent a significant advance in embryonic development in the laboratory.

• Witness System: a radiofrequency identification tool that ensures traceability and control of all biological material from each patient (oocytes, sperm, and embryos), increasing the safety of the techniques and providing confidence to users.

• ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).

We also apply advanced sperm selection techniques that increase the chances of successful fertilization, such as immunomagnetic cell selection (MACS), the Zymot chip, or PICSI.

In the clinical seminology section, we specialize in the comprehensive diagnosis of male infertility. We analyze the macroscopic and microscopic parameters of semen, as well as the biochemical markers of seminal plasma. We assess the functional capacity of sperm through capacitation, vitality, and DNA integrity tests, including fragmentation analysis and advanced genetic studies such as FISH.

We offer all available therapeutic options, including surgical recovery of sperm in patients with azoospermia and fertility preservation in oncological patients and transgender individuals, in collaboration with the sperm bank.

From this section of Fundació Puigvert, we maintain a strong commitment to research and the development of new tests and therapies that contribute to effectively addressing male infertility issues.