| Quick summary: Artesia General Hospital’s laboratory has added new Siemens chemistry, coagulation, and high-sensitivity troponin systems, plus a new hematology analyzer. Critical tests that once took a week at an outside lab now return in about an hour, 60% of send-out testing now runs in-house, and prices do not change. That means faster lab results in Artesia and Carlsbad. |
Reviewed by Peter Grimm, MLS (ASCP), Laboratory Services Director, Artesia General Hospital. Reviewed September 6, 2026.
Faster lab results change what a hospital can do for you. When your provider orders blood work, the time between the draw and the answer decides how soon you get treated, reassured, or referred. So our CAP-accredited laboratory at Artesia General Hospital (AGH) has invested in a new generation of analyzers. They shorten that wait for patients across Artesia, Carlsbad, Roswell, and the Pecos Valley.
What new lab equipment does Artesia General Hospital have?
AGH’s laboratory now runs three new Siemens Healthineers systems plus a new hematology analyzer, all at the main hospital lab, 702 N. 13th St. in Artesia:
- Atellica CI Analyzer: everyday blood chemistry and immunoassay tests, from metabolic panels to hormone and cardiac markers.
- CS-2500 System: clotting tests such as PT/INR, APTT, and D-dimer for patients on blood thinners, before surgery, or with a suspected clot.
- Atellica IM high-sensitivity troponin I assay: the blood test emergency physicians use to detect a heart attack. First result: about 10 minutes.
- Hematology analyzer: blood counts and automated body fluid analysis, replacing slow manual microscope counts with standardized digital processing.
These systems handle the bulk of the lab’s 90,000-plus results a year. So the upgrade touches almost every patient who has blood drawn here.
What does the Atellica CI Analyzer do?
The Atellica CI Analyzer is a combined chemistry and immunoassay analyzer. It runs the everyday blood tests your provider orders on one platform. Think metabolic panels, kidney and liver function, cholesterol, thyroid tests, and cardiac markers.
Siemens built it for labs our size, using the same reagents and software as the Atellica systems in large hospital laboratories. So a test run in Artesia uses the same method as at a major medical center. Your results travel well if you see a specialist elsewhere. According to Siemens, priority assays finish in about 10 minutes. The analyzer also streamlines maintenance, so our technologists spend their time on results rather than on hardware upkeep.
| Need routine blood work? Walk in to the AGH Laboratory at 702 N. 13th St., Artesia, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most routine tests need no appointment. Questions? Call 575-736-8256. |
Why does a high-sensitivity troponin test matter if you have chest pain?
A high-sensitivity troponin test detects very small amounts of troponin, a protein that leaks from injured heart muscle. It catches injury far earlier and at far lower levels than older tests. For someone in the emergency department with chest pain, that means a faster and more confident answer about a possible heart attack.
Older troponin tests needed a larger rise before they registered it, which meant longer waits and repeat draws. For exactly this reason, the 2021 AHA/ACC chest pain guideline names high-sensitivity cardiac troponin as the preferred biomarker.
AGH now runs the Atellica IM high-sensitivity troponin I assay. Its first result comes back in about 10 minutes, and it meets the international definition of a high-sensitivity assay for both men and women. It is also the first in the United States with an FDA-cleared claim to help estimate cardiac risk in the year after an emergency visit. That helps our physicians decide what is happening today and plan follow-up with our cardiology team.
For Eddy County, that speed has a practical edge. Our emergency department sees oilfield injuries, highway crashes on US-285 and US-82, and plenty of chest pain. A transfer for advanced cardiac procedures can mean hours on the road. So a fast, accurate answer helps our team decide sooner whether you need admission, transfer, or a safe trip home.
What does the CS-2500 coagulation analyzer test?
The CS-2500 System tests how well your blood clots. It runs PT/INR, APTT, fibrinogen, D-dimer, anti-Xa, factor assays, and lupus anticoagulant panels. Those are the tests that matter if you take a blood thinner, are preparing for surgery, or arrive with a suspected clot.
If you take warfarin, a regular PT/INR check keeps your dose in the safe range, and you can get it here. Before each test starts, the CS-2500 also checks the tube for problems. So a bad sample gets flagged before it produces a misleading number, and fewer patients need a second stick.
What does the new hematology analyzer do?
The new hematology analyzer runs blood counts and, for the first time at AGH, automates body fluid analysis. Cell counts on fluids such as spinal, joint, and chest fluid used to require a technologist at a microscope, counting by hand. Now the analyzer processes them with rapid, standardized digital methods. That matters most when a body fluid count is the deciding test in a suspected infection.
What changes for patients who get blood work at AGH?
For most patients, the change is simple. Your provider gets results sooner and can start treatment sooner, you face fewer repeat draws, and more tests run here instead of at a reference lab out of town. And your price does not change.
“The tests that used to leave the building on a courier and came back a week later now come back in about an hour. That is the whole point of this investment. Our technologists spend less time tending instruments and more time on results. Physicians get an answer while the patient is still in front of them.”
Peter Grimm, Laboratory Services Director at AGH.
“The tests that used to leave the building on a courier and came back a week later now come back in about an hour,” said Peter Grimm, Laboratory Services Director at AGH. “That is the whole point of this investment. Our technologists spend less time tending instruments and more time on results. Physicians get an answer while the patient is still in front of them.”
- Hours instead of a week. Critical tests that previously went to an outside facility, with a week-long wait, now return in about one hour.
- Far fewer send-outs. The lab has brought 60% of its send-out testing in-house, so more of your testing stays in Artesia.
- Faster results in Carlsbad, too. Blood drawn at our Carlsbad clinics runs on the same analyzers, so those results come back quicker as well.
- Same pricing. Faster results do not cost you more. Lab pricing stays the same.
- Fewer redraws. The analyzers screen samples for problems before running them.
- Same access to results. Your results still post to the AGH Patient Portal once your provider releases them.
There is a financial side, too. Fewer send-outs mean money AGH no longer pays to outside labs, and as a nonprofit community hospital, AGH puts that money back into care for the community.
Why does local lab testing matter in southeast New Mexico?
In a region where the nearest large medical centers are hours away, a local hospital lab with current instruments means diagnosis and treatment can start the same day. Patients drive to Artesia from Carlsbad, Roswell, Hobbs, Hope, Lake Arthur, and Loving. Many work long shifts in the oilfield or on ranches. When a test has to leave Eddy County, every added day is a day a patient waits to start a medication, schedule a procedure, or get peace of mind. That is as true for a draw at our Carlsbad clinics as it is in Artesia.
“The investment in this advanced technology goes beyond the hardware; it directly impacts patient care, clinical outcomes, and our local community. By equipping our medical staff with real-time, sophisticated resources, we allow them to make highly accurate, rapid decisions that elevate the overall standard of care. Ultimately, this investment means fewer send-outs and faster answers for our patients. It also means money we no longer send to outside labs; and as a nonprofit, every dollar of that cost-savings goes right back into caring for Artesia, Carlsbad, and Eddy County.”
Jose Gurrola, Chief Operating Officer at AGH.
What is coming next to the AGH lab?
The next phase expands the lab’s molecular testing. AGH is preparing to add a BioFire analyzer, a PCR system that identifies the bacteria in a positive blood culture in about one hour. It also reports genetic markers for antibiotic resistance. Today that identification can take days, and until then physicians treat with a best-guess antibiotic. A one-hour answer lets them choose the right one almost immediately, which matters most in sepsis. Beyond that, the lab is exploring next-generation sequencing to identify pathogens directly from a swab or urine sample.
How do I get lab work done at Artesia General Hospital?
Bring your provider’s order to the AGH Laboratory at 702 N. 13th St., Artesia, NM 88210, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most routine outpatient tests need no appointment, and you can call the lab at 575-736-8256 with questions. If you pay out of pocket, you can purchase lab work through MDsave at an upfront price before you come in.
Chest pain is different: do not come to the lab. Call 911 or go straight to the emergency department, where the high-sensitivity troponin test is part of your evaluation.
| Ready for faster lab results close to home? Visit the AGH Laboratory at 702 N. 13th St., Artesia, weekdays 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., or call 575-736-8256. For everything else, call 575-748-3333. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment for lab work at AGH?
No. Most routine outpatient tests are walk-in Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some specialized collections, such as therapeutic phlebotomy, require an appointment.
How long does it take to get lab results at AGH?
It depends on the test. Many routine tests run on site come back the same day. Critical tests that previously went to an outside lab now return in about an hour. A few specialized tests still go to a reference laboratory and take longer.
Is a high-sensitivity troponin test different from a regular troponin test?
Yes. It detects much smaller amounts of troponin, so it identifies heart muscle injury earlier and with more precision than older tests. AGH uses the Atellica IM high-sensitivity troponin I assay in its emergency department.
Will the new equipment change what I pay for lab tests?
No. Lab pricing stays the same. You get faster results at the same price, and self-pay patients can still purchase tests at an upfront price through MDsave.
Can I get my INR checked at AGH?
Yes. The AGH Laboratory runs PT/INR testing on the CS-2500 System. Bring your provider’s standing order during outpatient hours; you do not need an appointment.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your healthcare provider should always interpret your lab results. If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.