AUGUSTA – After opening for business in the Life Sciences Innovation Center less than two years ago, success and rapid growth is forcing ClariPath Laboratories to find a new home.

The young company, which provides anatomic pathology services among other services, has experienced so much growth that it no longer fits in the LSIC business incubator. The company will soon relocate to the Augusta Bio-Business Center, part of the Georgia Medical Center Authority.

According to Director of Laboratory Services Mark Repko, ClariPath’s success is owed to its quick and efficient system of processing and report delivery. ClariPath developed a unique workflow that eliminates potential specimen mismatches by utilizing a chain of custody for each step of the processing. A key component is a proprietary kit called the ClariKit which makes the specimen collection process easier for physicians and support staff. The ClariKit contains specimen containers separately identified by a human readable accession number and a two-dimensional bar code.

The bulk of ClariPath’s business is processing prostate biopsies and rendering a diagnostic report for Urologists around the country. Currently, the company handles approximately 2,160 specimens per month and is growing at a rate of about five percent per month. Results are guaranteed within 48 hours, compared to some national laboratories that take up to a week.

“We opened the lab with three technologists and a Pathologist and now we’re up to 19 people,” Repko said. “That includes two new sales representatives that we’ve added. The new facility will allow us more room to operate now and have room for growth as well.”

ClariPath will move from a building that houses a 1,500 square foot laboratory to a 5,000 square foot facility and from 2,400 square feet of total space to 7,200.

“This will allow us to expand our services and will give us room to grow into other areas of specimen processing like gastrointestinal and dermatology,” Repko said. “We wanted to start with urology and we’ve been successful there. We target the Southeast but we receive samples from as far away as Washington State.”

Repko said his company has received great support from the Life Science Innovation Center and enjoyed it’s time in the associated business incubator. LSIC is designed to help biotech companies in Georgia grow; the incubator option is available to qualified companies, typically start-ups. Equipped with office space and a custom lab, the incubator provides a physical space at a lower cost than companies could secure on their own. Incubator clients also have access to the services of LSIC, including access to MCG, access to matching research grant funds, network contacts and business advice. For more information about the LSIC, go to lifesciences.georgiainnovation.org.