What Alverno Laboratories does

Alverno Laboratories is a regional clinical laboratory network and joint venture between Franciscan Alliance and Ascension Illinois, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Hammond, Indiana. The company operates 32 hospital laboratories and nearly 40 total sites across Illinois and Indiana, performing 6,092,166 laboratory tests in 2024 and serving hospital systems, physician offices, freestanding emergency departments, clinical trial sponsors, and individual patients. Core services span anatomic pathology, molecular diagnostics, microbiology, toxicology, and general laboratory testing, supported by a technology stack that includes Philips IntelliSite digital pathology, Ibex Galen AI-assisted cancer diagnostics for prostate, breast, and gastric biopsies, Copan WASP full microbiology automation, Bruker Maldi-TOF mass spectrometry, Abbott real-time PCR systems, comprehensive NGS panels covering 500+ genes, and an 84-analyte urine drug confirmation panel.

The company's technology differentiators include being the first US laboratory to implement full microbiology automation and one of the first to routinely report clinical microbiology identifications via Maldi-TOF, the first US site to install Philips digital pathology services, and the first Midwest laboratory to deploy Ibex AI cancer diagnostics, with reported AUCs of 0.990 for breast and 0.991 for prostate cancer detection and 25-32% reductions in major diagnostic discrepancy rates. ISO 15189 certification, HIPAA and 21 CFR Part 2 compliance, and the proprietary Alverno Business Systems (ABS) quality framework underpin the operational model.

Alverno generates revenue through four primary streams: transaction-based clinical laboratory testing billed to insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, and self-pay patients; managed-service fees across a three-tier partnership model (Reference Testing Partnership, Strategic Hospital Cooperative, Integrated Network) for hospital partners; professional services for clinical trial sponsors; and direct-to-consumer testing via the MyAlvernoDirect platform. Distribution is anchored by shared EHR integration with Franciscan Health and Ascension Illinois, MedSpeed courier logistics, and a patient service center and drive-through collection network across the Midwest.

Name

Alverno Laboratories

Legal name

Alverno Laboratories, LLC

Website

https://alvernolabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Regional clinical laboratory joint venture between Franciscan Alliance and Ascension Illinois, operating 32 hospital laboratories and nearly 40 sites across Illinois and Indiana and performing over 6 million tests annually, with advanced diagnostics including AI-powered cancer detection and digital pathology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Reference & Esoteric Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAD), Clinical Chemistry & Immunoassay Laboratories (HLAFAMAB), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Clinical laboratory services
• Anatomic pathology diagnostics
• Microbiology testing
• Molecular diagnostics NGS
• Toxicology screening services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hammond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Laboratory Testing Services: Alverno Laboratories operates as a full-service clinical laboratory performing over 6 million laboratory tests annually for hospital systems, physician offices, ERs, and freestanding collection sites across Indiana and Illinois. Revenue is generated through billable laboratory testing services billed to insurance companies, third-party payors, Medicare/Medicaid, and self-pay patients.
2. Strategic Partnership Fees: Three-tiered partnership model (Level 1 Reference Testing Partnership, Level 2 Strategic Hospital Cooperative, Level 3 Integrated Network) generates revenue through laboratory management fees, testing consolidation savings sharing, and potential ownership interests for integrated network members.
3. Clinical Research and Trial Services: Provides clinical trial laboratory services including project management, custom kit production, logistics with real-time tracking, pre-analytical services, and customized data management reports for sponsors conducting clinical research across Indiana and Illinois.
4. Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing (MyAlvernoDirect): Direct-to-consumer laboratory testing service allowing patients to self-order lab tests without a provider order, generating revenue from patients paying out-of-pocket or through insurance for ordered tests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alverno Laboratories operates a full-service clinical reference laboratory network providing diagnostic testing across anatomic pathology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, toxicology, and general laboratory disciplines. Services are delivered through 32 managed hospital laboratory sites plus a central laboratory in Hammond, Indiana, serving hospital systems, physician offices, and patients across Indiana and Illinois. The company also offers direct-to-consumer self-ordered testing through MyAlvernoDirect and clinical research trial support services.

Product overview

Alverno Laboratories operates as a regional reference laboratory network with a central laboratory in Hammond, Indiana and 32 laboratory locations across Illinois and Indiana. The core product portfolio centers on diagnostic laboratory services spanning anatomic pathology (including digital pathology with Philips scanners and AI-assisted diagnosis via Ibex Galen), general laboratory testing, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, and toxicology. The company offers precision medicine testing including next-generation sequencing panels, and provides patients direct access through MyAlvernoDirect for self-ordered testing. Adjacent services include clinical research trial support and tiered partnership programs for hospitals. In 2024, the organization performed 6,092,166 laboratory tests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anatomic Pathology Services Complete histology solutions including tissue sample processing, embedding, slide preparation with conventional and advanced staining methods, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and in situ hybridization (ISH) for hospital systems and referring physicians.
• Digital Pathology Philips IntelliSite Digital Image Management System with digital scanners for digitizing glass slides, enabling pathologists to review cases on computer screens with digital image tools for measurements and area marking.
• AI-Powered Cancer Diagnostics (Ibex Galen) AI-assisted cancer diagnosis platform deployed across 32 laboratory locations for prostate, breast, and gastric cancer detection, supporting pathologists with image analysis and yielding 25-32% reduction in major diagnostic discrepancy rates.
• General Laboratory Services Full-spectrum clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, serology, infectious disease diagnostics, urinalysis, allergy testing (ImmunoCAP), and blood bank operations for hospitals and physician offices.
• Microbiology Services State-of-the-art Copan WASP automation for specimen processing, Bruker Maldi-TOF for rapid pathogen identification, BACTEC blood culture system, mycobacterium culture, fungal culture, and ova and parasite examination for hospital partners.
• Molecular Diagnostics Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and real-time PCR for solid tumors, myeloid disorders, and infectious diseases. Includes precision medicine panels with 500+ genes, flow cytometry, FISH testing, and molecular microbiology.
• Toxicology Services Mass spectrometry-based comprehensive toxicology testing including an 84-analyte urine drug confirmation panel covering commonly prescribed medications and drugs of abuse, immunosuppressant monitoring, vitamin D testing, and lead testing for pain management and behavioral health providers.
• Precision Medicine Oncology testing with comprehensive solid tumor gene panel (500+ genes via NGS), myeloid panel, and partnership with Genomics Testing Cooperative (GTC) for advanced offerings including GTC-Solid Tumor Profile Plus (434 DNA, 1408 RNA genes), Hematology Profile Plus, and Liquid Trace liquid biopsy technology for oncology patients with complex cases.
• MyAlvernoDirect (Direct-to-Consumer Lab Testing) Patient-direct online ordering platform allowing individuals to select and order laboratory tests without a provider order, with specimen collection available at home or at Alverno Patient Service Centers, and payment via self-pay or insurance billing.
• Clinical Research and Trial Services Full-service clinical trial laboratory support including project management, custom kit production, logistics with real-time specimen tracking and temperature monitoring, pre-analytical services, and customized data management reports for pharmaceutical, biotech, and research sponsors across Indiana and Illinois.
• Hospital Partnership Programs Three-tier structured partnership offering for hospital systems: Level 1 Reference Testing Partnership, Level 2 Strategic Hospital Cooperative, and Level 3 Integrated Network with potential ownership interest and Board membership, integrating Alverno's laboratory operations with partner hospital systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,092,166 laboratory tests performed in 2024
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ibex Medical AnalyticscoreTechnology or Integration · 5 May 2025Ibex Medical Analytics partnered with Alverno Laboratories to deploy its AI-powered cancer diagnosis platform, Galen, across Alverno's 32 laboratories in the U.S. The platform aids pathologists in diagnosing breast and prostate cancers (and gastric biopsies in upcoming expansion), improving diagnostic accuracy. Alverno is the first laboratory in the Midwest and one of the first ten labs in the country to offer the Ibext platform. Implementation yields a 29% reduction in major discrepancy rate for breast cases and 32% for prostate cases.
• Philips (Philips IntelliSite Digital Pathology)coreTechnology or IntegrationPhilips IntelliSite Digital Image Management System and digital scanners are deployed for digitizing pathology glass slides, enabling computer-based case review with digital image tools. Alverno was the first in the country to install Philips digital pathology services and is among the largest digital pathology providers globally.
• Genomics Testing Cooperative (GTC)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Genomics Testing Cooperative provides access to GTC's advanced NGS offerings including Solid Tumor Profile Plus (434 DNA genes, 1408 RNA genes), Hematology Profile Plus (179 DNA genes, 1408 RNA genes), and Liquid Trace pan-cancer liquid biopsy technology (284 cfDNA genes, 1501 cfRNA). Enables oncology patients with complex cases to access advanced molecular diagnostics through Alverno.
• Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIPM serves as Alverno's proven project management partner to execute Level 2 and Level 3 partnership integrations, supporting seamless transitions and outstanding results for hospital laboratory integrations. IPM has extensive laboratory, hospital, and health system integration experience.
• MedSpeedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedSpeed provides courier service for Alverno's reference testing partnership (Level 1), picking up specimens from hospital partners and delivering them to Alverno's central laboratory in Hammond, Indiana.
• Franciscan HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Health is a co-founder and key hospital system partner of Alverno Laboratories. The two organizations share an EHR system (electronic health record) for combined patient health records. Alverno manages laboratory operations at Franciscan Health hospital sites across Indiana (Munster, Dyer, Crown Point, Michigan City, Lafayette, Indianapolis, Mooresville, Olympia Fields, Rensselaer, Carmel, Crawfordsville, Chesterton, Woodland, Hammond). Alverno was originally formed through integration of Franciscan Alliance hospital laboratories.
• Ascension IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAscension Illinois hospital system partners with Alverno Laboratories for laboratory management services at Ascension Illinois laboratory sites (Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago, Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village, Saint Alexius Medical Center Hoffman Estates). Alverno shares an EHR system with Ascension Illinois for combined patient health records.
• Mount Sinai Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital (Chicago)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMount Sinai Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago operate their laboratory operations under Alverno Laboratories management, integrating into the Alverno network of clinical laboratory services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Quest Diagnostics: Largest US clinical reference laboratory network with national reach, full-service test menu, and direct payor contracts. Directly comparable as a full-service clinical/ esoteric reference lab competing for the same physician office send-out business, though at vastly greater geographic scale.
• Laboratory Corporation of America (Labcorp): Second major national reference lab offering routine and esoteric testing plus clinical trial central lab services through Labcorp Drug Development. Closest direct competitor for Alverno's clinical research trial business and physician send-out volume.
• Sonic Healthcare USA: Global reference lab operator with US presence including BioReference Laboratories; offers full clinical and esoteric testing with hospital partnerships. Comparable as a competing hospital-affiliated reference lab platform targeting IDN partnerships at scale.

Regional players

• PathGroup: Privately-held physician-led pathology and clinical lab serving hospitals and physicians across the Southeast US. Closely comparable to Alverno as a regional reference lab with deep anatomic pathology and molecular diagnostics focus, competing for similar hospital and outreach volume though in a different geography.
• Northwestern Medicine Pathology: Academic-based clinical laboratory and anatomic pathology group serving Northwestern Memorial and affiliated hospitals in the Chicagoland market. Overlaps directly with Alverno's Illinois/Indiana territory in the same geography and competes for esoteric send-outs from regional hospitals and physician offices.

Others

• Franciscan Health: Indiana-based Catholic health system and co-founder/parent of Alverno Laboratories; Alverno manages all Franciscan hospital lab sites. Related party customer/owner that defines Alverno's anchor hospital volume and JV governance.
• Ascension Laboratory Services (ACL Labs): Laboratory division of Ascension (one of Alverno's JV parents) operating across Ascension's footprint including Wisconsin and Michigan. Provides direct overlap with Alverno's hospital lab management operations and represents both a partner/affiliate relationship and a potential conflict-of-interest for JV economics.

Direct peers

• Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Reference laboratory arm of Mayo Clinic providing esoteric and routine testing globally with a strong hospital partnership model (MCHS@MCL). Directly comparable as a high-acuity reference lab with AI/digital pathology investments, oncology testing, and a similar tiered outreach offering to community hospitals.
• ARUP Laboratories: Nonprofit academic reference laboratory affiliated with University of Utah operating as a regional/esoteric referral lab for hospitals across the western US. Same business model as Alverno (central reference lab serving hospital systems) with comparable esoteric testing portfolio, ISO accreditation, and hospital partnership structure.

Emerging players

• Strata Pathology Services: Independent digital pathology and molecular diagnostics platform serving community hospitals and specialty practices. Comparable as a tech-forward pathology and oncology testing provider competing for the same hospital outreach and specialty referral volume that Alverno's anatomic pathology business targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alverno-laboratories

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alverno Laboratories