Vitalant expands Pittsburgh lab capabilities to support cell and gene therapy development
Expansion reflects broader effort to scale advanced testing capabilitie across Vitalant’s network
30 Jun 2026Industry news
Vitalant has launched expanded analytical and next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing capabilities at the Vitalant Coagulation Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as part of a national cell and gene therapy (CGT) strategy to scale advanced laboratory services across its network and better support patients, healthcare providers and therapy developers.
Expansion of Pittsburgh coagulation laboratory
The Vitalant Coagulation Laboratory in Pittsburgh has long supported the research, diagnosis and treatment of blood coagulation disorders. With this latest expansion, the laboratory now incorporates NGS into a coordinated, hub-and-spoke model for CGT, adding advanced testing capabilities that strengthen Vitalant’s national biotherapies infrastructure.
Through this enhanced role, the Pittsburgh lab contributes to a broader analytical framework that supports donor and starting material testing, in-process monitoring and release testing. These services are essential for transfusion medicine, transplantation and the development of cell and gene therapies.
Part of a national CGT and advanced testing strategy
The Pittsburgh expansion is a key milestone in Vitalant’s larger strategy to align and scale advanced testing capabilities across its laboratories in Phoenix, San Francisco and Pittsburgh. By coordinating specialized services to support the development, validation and delivery of molecular and cell-based assays, Vitalant is building a connected, scalable platform for biotherapy development.
Integrated hub-and-spoke model for laboratory services
The expansion reflects Vitalant’s ongoing efforts to consolidate and integrate laboratory services, building on existing capabilities across its national network, including centralized analytics initiatives in Phoenix. This integrated hub-and-spoke approach enables greater standardization, operational efficiency and access to advanced testing, while supporting consistent quality and regulatory alignment.
Through this coordinated model, Vitalant addresses a wide range of analytical needs, from donor and starting material testing to in-process monitoring and release testing. This comprehensive testing ecosystem is designed to support both routine clinical care and cutting-edge research in transfusion medicine, transplantation, and cell and gene therapy development.
Enhanced NGS and advanced analytics for bleeding disorders and critical care
The addition of NGS testing in Pittsburgh strengthens support for patients with inherited bleeding disorders and those in critical care settings. Advanced genetic testing and immunophenotyping capabilities provide deeper insights into cellular characteristics and function, enabling more precise characterization of disease and treatment response.
Together, these services expand Vitalant’s ability to deliver high-value, data-driven analytical support across multiple therapeutic areas. By integrating NGS, genetic testing and immunophenotyping into its coagulation and biotherapies portfolio, Vitalant is positioned to meet the evolving needs of clinicians, researchers and therapy developers.
Future opportunities in sickle cell disease
Vitalant is also evaluating future opportunities to highlight how these expanded capabilities may support patients with sickle cell disease. Current work in this area is primarily focused on red cell exchange transfusion and related services, with the potential for advanced analytics to further enhance care and research in this patient population.
“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.”
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Frequently asked questions
How does Vitalant’s Pittsburgh Coagulation Laboratory expansion support cell and gene therapy development?
The expanded Pittsburgh Coagulation Laboratory integrates next-generation sequencing (NGS) into a hub-and-spoke model for cell and gene therapy (CGT). It now supports donor and starting material testing, in-process monitoring and release testing, strengthening Vitalant’s national biotherapies infrastructure for transfusion medicine, transplantation and CGT development.
What role does Vitalant’s integrated hub-and-spoke laboratory model play in advanced testing and biotherapies?
Vitalant’s integrated hub-and-spoke model connects laboratories in Phoenix, San Francisco and Pittsburgh to align advanced testing capabilities. This coordinated system centralizes analytics, standardizes processes and improves access to molecular and cell-based assays, supporting routine clinical care and cutting-edge research in transfusion medicine, transplantation and cell and gene therapies.
How will Vitalant’s enhanced NGS and analytics capabilities benefit patients with bleeding disorders and sickle cell disease?
Vitalant’s addition of NGS, genetic testing and immunophenotyping in Pittsburgh improves characterization of inherited bleeding disorders and critical care cases. These advanced analytics provide deeper insight into cellular function and treatment response. Vitalant is also evaluating how these capabilities can support sickle cell disease care, complementing current work in red cell exchange transfusion and related services.