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The Exception Handling team celebrates the winter holidays and keeps their glitter beard tradition alive.
Across ARUP Laboratories, many teams work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure accurate testing, strong client support, and the best possible patient outcomes. Here’s a closer look at three labs—Mass Spectrometry 1 (Mass Spec 1), Exception Handling, and Immunohistochemistry—in the words of the laboratorians who do exceptional work.
Mass Spectrometry 1
Which lab do you work in and what does that lab do?
I work in the Mass Spec 1 (HiVo) laboratory, which is a high-volume, high-impact laboratory, processing an average of 115,000 patient samples each month, with an overall volume growth of 13.5%.
What makes your lab unique?
Our lab maintains a strong culture of employee appreciation and engagement. We have regular rounding with all staff and make sure to have meaningful follow-up on any employee feedback we receive.
This investment in our people has fostered exceptionally high morale, and the results speak for themselves. Despite rapid growth and increasing workload, our laboratory proudly reports 0% staff turnover over the past two years, a testament to the strength of our team and culture!
How does your team go above and beyond for patients?
Mass Spec 1 is firmly committed to quality over quantity. While our sample volume continues to grow—by as much as 40% on some assays, we prioritize accuracy, consistency, and reliability, ensuring that increased demand never comes at the expense of patient care.
Why do you love working in your lab?
Just as important as our technical performance is our focus on employee well-being. We actively work to support a healthy mental state for our staff, recognizing that sustainable success depends on preventing burnout and promoting a work-life balance. Leadership places strong emphasis on employee needs, open communication, and continuous feedback, ensuring every team member feels heard, valued, and supported.
Exception Handling—Lab Client Support Technicians
Which lab do you work in and what does that lab do?
We’re lab client support technicians, but the lab is known as Exception Handling.
We handle everything from mislabeled specimens to broken tubes. We are problem-solvers, researchers, and look under every rock and behind every tree to try and make sure that patient testing is done to the best of our abilities.
What makes your lab unique?
Our people. The employees and technicians who work in Exception Handling are some of the best people to be around. Everyone is full of stories and laughter and we share many similar interests. In Exception Handling, we have the capability to make our new hires feel like they belong and have been part of the team for years.
The leaders in our lab are dedicated and transparent. They take care of their employees and ensure that employees feel heard and understood.
How does your team go above and beyond for patients?
Our technicians work 24/7 to provide fast, sensible, and comprehensive solutions when issues arise with specimens or testing. They spend hours on the phone, coordinate with dozens of technical sections, stay late, and go above and beyond to better serve client needs. By investigating and resolving complex, time‑sensitive issues, maintaining clear communication, addressing concerns quickly, and advocating for patients, we bolster client relationships while ensuring patients receive the care and answers they need.
Why do you love working in your lab?
Exception Handling is full of like-minded, friendly, and open‑minded people who work toward the same goals. The team is consistently helpful, always willing to answer questions from technicians and clients, and works to make people feel comfortable. ARUP’s culture is unique, and our department requires handling multiple positions, investigating problems, and offering the best care to clients during stressful moments. We make things fun through strong morale, shared chats, and traditions like glitter beards for the holiday party.
Immunohistochemistry
Which lab do you work in and what does that lab do?
The Immunohistochemistry lab performs immunohistochemical stains on formalin‑fixed tissue blocks, primarily for patients with cancer. Our testing helps determine cancer type and informs treatment.
What makes your lab unique?
We test many unique specimens, and that helps us provide meaningful feedback to teams working on new projects.
How does your team go above and beyond for patients?
Our lab is always the first to make significant changes and test new workflows to improve the quality of care we provide for our patients. We have consulted on quality improvement projects, helped test new systems like LabVantage LIMS and digital pathology workflows. We work through changes by being amenable to testing new things if it means improving the quality of our tests for patients.
Why do you love working in your lab?
It is incredibly inspiring to see my colleagues care so much about the work that they do and the patients they help without expecting any recognition. The people who work here are amazing, and they all really love the work that they do. This team is continually improving workflows and consistently supporting each other, especially when our lab is short-staffed or dealing with high volumes. We also like to make things fun through strong morale, shared chats, and traditions like glitter beards for the holiday party.
From Specialized Labs to Shared Purpose
While the work performed across these labs differs, a shared commitment unites them: dedication to quality, collaboration, innovation, and patient care. These teams exemplify how ARUP’s people and culture drive excellence every day, often behind the scenes, but always with impact.
Lindsay Mabry, lindsay.mabry@aruplab.com
