Last year, Intermountain Health processed more than 15 million medical tests. That number is expected to rise by millions with a new, expanded laboratory.

The health organization’s Central Lab in Murray just doubled in size, which, according to a press release, was designed to help lower testing costs and enhance lab services for patients and hospitals throughout the Intermountain West.

“Medical testing is a vital part of every aspect of healthcare, and doing it efficiently is important for keeping costs low while getting results fast,” said Dr. Sterling Bennett, medical director of Intermountain Central Laboratory, in the press release. “With the technological advancements of medical equipment and the expanded space, our Central Lab can do even more for our patients.”

The new space went from 40,542 square feet to 85,728 square feet, which will allow for the addition of specialty testing previously unavailable at Intermountain facilities in Utah. This includes testing for organ donation compatibility, which previously was sent to other labs, including those out of state. Large, automated machinery allows the Central Lab to handle testing up to several hundred miles away and can provide results to be uploaded to patients and providers instantly.

In the past, health care providers would send over a sample for testing through a tube system, then a technician would have to take it out and load it into the machines. Now, in the hospital emergency departments, caregivers can load a vial directly into a new tubing system, which transfers the sample faster and goes into the machine to begin testing. Bennett said while saving a few minutes may not seem like a lot, when testing for a heart attack, that time can save a life.

“This lab has played a vital part in setting Intermountain Health apart in how it brings care to patients and this upgrade is going to allow us to adopt the latest technology as it comes,” said Karen Brownell, vice president of laboratory services at Intermountain Health.