Core Lab Services

CTRC Core Laboratory Services support IRB-approved protocols with a wide range of analytical testing including chemical, hormone, metabolite, and immunological assays. CTRC Core Laboratories are CAP- and CLIA-accredited and provide trained personnel, reagents, equipment, and QC capabilities to conduct assays for research studies.

CAP Certification
CLIA Accreditation

All services are provided as fee-for-service resources.

Adult CTRC Core Lab

Chemical and immunological assays, including peptide/hormone measures by HPLC, RIA, ELISA, Chemiluminescence, and spectrophotometry;  Processing of blood, urine and saliva.

Request access to obtain your Adult CTRC assay results.

Adult CTRC Lab Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Children’s Hospital Colorado CTRC Core Lab

Chemical and immunological assays including cytokine and fat soluble vitamin assays, UPLC, HPLC, ELISA, Luminex, RIA, Nephelometry, chemiluminescence, and spectrophotometry.

Processing of sputum, tracheal aspirates, and BAL fluids

Request access to obtain your Adult CTRC assay results.

CHCO CTRC Lab Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

National Jewish Health CTRC Inflammation & Immunology Core Lab

• Analysis of human inflammatory and immunologic response
• Core Lab assays and pricing

Nutrition Services

Providing nutrition research expertise and assistance for clinical research protocols.

Only CTRC-approved protocols can request Nutrition Services. All services are provided as fee-for-service resources.

Services

• Metabolic meal planning and design, individualized for participant energy needs, food preferences, and study macro- and/or micro-nutrient targets
  
• Metabolic meal preparation measurement, and dispensation
  
• Dietary intake assessment – habitual and during protocol interventions
  
• Hunger and satiety assessment 
  
• Ad libitum feeding
  
• Growth, body composition, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurements in children
  
• Consultation on study design, American dietary norms, and ways to achieve specific dietary intervention targets
  
• Protocol-specific dietary counseling and instruction
• Design of palatable and acceptable foods/diets containing novel ingredients, combinations, or to mimic foreign specifications (eg. agrarian rural diet from a specific part of the world)

For additional information, please contact Nutrition Services.

Cardiovascular BioImaging

The Cardiovascular BioImaging Core offers imaging techniques in vascular and cardiac ultrasound to provide a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular health in children and adults:

• Brachial artery endothelial function testing
• Arterial stiffness
• Intimal-medial thickness
• Real-time three-dimensional (3D/4D) echo technology
• Speckle tracking imaging that enables accurate measures regional and global cardiac function

Pricing

Exam Types and Services

Echocardiogram (echo) - Comprehensive ultrasound imaging used to assess cardiac structure and function.

• Complete Echocardiogram - Utilizes 2D imaging, color Doppler, pulse wave Doppler and continuous wave Doppler to assess cardiac structure and function.
  

• Limited Echocardiogram - Utilizes only 2D imaging to assess the heart.
  

• Stress Echocardiogram - Utilizes ultrasound to assess cardiac structure and function pre and post exercise
  

• Specialized echo protocol - The core can follow study specific imaging manuals upon request. Including:
  

FibroScan - Utilizes elastography to assess liver stiffness and fatty changes.

Carotid Intima-media thickness (cIMT) imaging: Utilizes 2D ultrasound to image the intimal layer of the common carotid artery.

Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD): Utilizes 2D ultrasound and pulsed wave Doppler to image the brachial artery pre and post occlusion. FMD with nitroglycerin is available upon request.

Definity - Ultrasound image enhancer that is administered via IV to better visualize the left ventricle.

* Please reach out directly to cctsibioimaging@cuanschutz.edu if you have any ultrasound-based study needs that are not listed here. *

Energy Balance and Assessment Core

We provide expertise for obesity- and nutrition-related research, including the measurement of components of energy balance (e.g., energy expenditure and intake) and for assessing consequences of alterations in energy balance (e.g., body composition, substrate oxidation), and bone structure (HRpQT).

NEW!!! High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) is now available to obtain non-invasive 3D images at the distal tibia and distal radius of humans for clinical in vivo assessments of volumetric bone mineral density and parameters of bone quality (e.g., microarchitecture, geometry, porosity, and biomechanics). XtremeCT II HR-pQCT scanner images have a very small isotropic voxel size (60.7 μm) and very low radiation dose (≤5 μSv per scan/anatomical site) so the device can be used for studies performed in adult, adolescent, and pediatric populations.

HR-pQCT

Scheduling with CTRC Scheduler

Scheduler will allow you to schedule across all CTRC services. Please see our Scheduler page for various topics such as:

• How to access and use CTRC Scheduler
• Accessing your protocols in CTRC Scheduler
• CTRC Scheduler for Cancer Center inpatient visits
• Requesting an MRN or appointment hold