PathAI Diagnostics is a leading laboratory services company based in Memphis, TN, serving a nationwide client base of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, oncologists, urologists and gynecologists through our GI Pathology, D-PATH Dermatopathology, Bostwick Laboratories and Women’s Health Laboratories brands. The company was founded in 1995 and was known as Poplar Healthcare until 2022.
In mid-2021, Poplar Healthcare joined with PathAI, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology for pathology. Combining the companies’ complementary expertise enables us to provide end-to-end capabilities to improve patient outcomes by merging AI-powered pathology and diagnostic products. Under the affiliation with PathAI, Poplar Healthcare is known as PathAI Diagnostics.
PathAI Diagnostics will continue to invest in digitizing the laboratory workflow and will leverage PathAI’s image analysis and algorithm development capabilities to support the creation and delivery of new and distinctive AI-driven products for drug development and patient care.
For more information on PathAI Diagnostics, call 901.526.1912 or visit pathaidx.com.
COVID-19 Testing
In March of 2020, the U.S. declared a state of emergency due to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases. There was an immediate need for more privately owned laboratories to assist the federal government in the fight against the virus. Fortunately, we already had the instruments and supplies needed to run the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is the most accurate test for the diagnosis of COVID-19. This allowed us to jump start our coronavirus testing program, and offer much needed testing to both local and national organizations. Through continued research and development, we now conduct a variety of COVID testing, including both individual swab testing, specimen pooling, and a POD testing program.
Want to learn more about how COVID-19 testing is performed at PathAI Diagnostics? Check out our behind-the-scenes look at the entire process: from collecting a nasal swab, to processing on our Roche Cobas 6800 platform. You’ll also meet some inspiring young people that have chosen to pursue science and play an integral part in the lab.
Poplar Healthcare in the News
- PathAI acquires Poplar Healthcare, highlighting AI’s role in medical diagnoses. Jul 26, 2021. The Boston Globe
- The Memphis Neighbors Who Swab Their Noses So They Don’t Swap Infections. Dec 16, 2020. NPR for the Mid-South • WKNOFM
- “As we continue to be very smart and cautious about our interactions, this gives us more peace of mind to be able to…safely play outside with neighbors,” she says. “If anyone were to get infected, you’d be able to stop it quickly before it spread throughout the group.”
- State wants ‘rapid’ COVID testing, but local officials prefer ‘assurance’. Nov 18, 2020. Daily Memphian
- “On Oct. 8, local Poplar Healthcare became the first medical lab in the nation to receive the FDA’s emergency use authorization for pod testing.”
- Two dozen restaurants sign up for regular COVID testing. Nov 6, 2020. Daily Memphian
- Shelby County launches employer COVID pool testing program. Nov 5, 2020. Memphis Business Journal
- “A new initiative, Test to Protect, lets Memphis-area offices, schools, restaurants — really, employers of any kind — provide their employees with regular tests to make sure they’re negative and to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.”
- How a Memphis medical lab mobilized to fight COVID-19. Oct 7, 2020. Daily Memphian
- “They built a testing program from scratch right when we needed it,” Strickland said. “And they were among the first labs in the country to get approval for pooling, which will be crucial in our efforts to reopen schools. We could not have done any of this without Poplar Healthcare.”
- Why Pooled Testing for the Coronavirus Isn’t Working in America. Aug 18, 2020. The New York Times
- “Poplar Healthcare…is pooling several thousand samples each week. By batching up to seven samples, Poplar is now funneling crucial intel back to schools, fire departments and more, Mr. Sweeney said.”
- City officials explain coronavirus pool testing pilot. Aug 13, 2020. Daily Memphian
- Health officer: Testing labs improve capacity and availability of reagents. Jul 29, 2020. Daily Memphian
- CBU details plans for hybrid return, with in-person class when possible. Jul 23, 2020. Daily Memphian
- Pool analysis could cut COVID-19 testing costs in half; Memphis among first to apply. Jul 7, 2020. Daily Memphian
- Memphis-based laboratory initiates multiple lines of COVID-19 testing. Apr 2, 2020. Memphis Business Journal
- Memphis-Based Poplar Healthcare Processing COVID-19 Tests. Mar 31, 2020. Business Insider
- “As coronavirus spreads across the nation at an alarming rate, Poplar Healthcare is well situated to help control the outbreak by providing patients and providers access to COVID-19 testing,” stated Poplar Healthcare Medical Director, Shawn Kinsey, MD. “Our proximity to FedEx allows our laboratory to not only service the city of Memphis and surrounding communities, but anywhere FedEx flies.”