Analytical Services for Preclinical and Research Applications

Birdrock Laboratories, located in San Diego, is an accredited analytical laboratory certified by CLIA and COLA. With a wealth of experience in clinical diagnostics, we recognize the significance of analytical services for early-stage companies. We understand that the expenses associated with such services can be daunting, particularly for those with constrained budgets. Our primary objective is to deliver top-notch, hands-on laboratory solutions at affordable rates.

Our services are designed to cater to the specific requirements of the biotechnology and medical device sectors, with a particular focus on supporting preclinical and research endeavors.

Our Lab

Urine Drug Testing for the healthcare professional is more than just a useful tool in pain management. It provides additional valuable objective information to guide and assist in the diagnostic therapeutic decision-making process. Reports from the results of the urine drug tests provide confirmation of the agreed upon treatment plan. Testing can provide the patients proof of adherence and compliance. Testing can also diagnose a possible relapse or drug misuse, which would then warrant and set the stage for a firm conversation with your patient about their medications.

Birdrock Laboratory utilizes the most sophisticated platform for urine testing. We provide an industry standard immunoassay testing, which is fast and used as the preferred initial test. But we go further, running the urine through mass spectrometry as an additional confirmatory test to help eliminate the false-positives and negatives. These are common issues when using the immunoassay testing alone. Birdrock Labs services are designed to better improve patient care by providing the tools to assist the healthcare professional to advocate on the patients behalf.

Drug Results by Birdrock Laboratories

Meet Our Lab Directors

Nicholas (Nick) Bevins, M.D., Ph.D., and Amadeo J. Pesce, Ph.D., DABCC, serve as Lab Directors at Birdrock Laboratories, bringing their extensive expertise to the forefront of laboratory management.

Amadeo J. Pesce, Ph.D., DABCC

Amadeo J. Pesce, Ph.D., DABCC, is an accomplished clinical chemist with a rich professional history spanning several decades. He holds credentials from respected organizations, including the American Institute of Chemists and the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, where he is designated as DABCC. Furthermore, he is licensed and certified in clinical chemistry and toxicology, holding licenses in California and New York.

Throughout his career, Dr. Pesce has been Laboratory Director at several institutions, including Alliance Medical Laboratory, Adams County Hospital, Drake Center, Millennium Laboratories of California, Precision Diagnostics LLC, and Birdrock Laboratory. These roles involved managing laboratory operations, conducting clinical chemistry and toxicology testing, and employing a range of testing methodologies, from immunoassays to LC-MS/MS.

Nicholas (Nick) Bevins M.D., Ph.D.

Nicholas (Nick) James Bevins is a highly qualified medical professional with an impressive background in clinical pathology and research. He holds a California Medical License and is board-certified in Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology.

Dr. Bevins completed his Residency in Clinical Pathology at the University of California, San Diego, where he was actively involved in the UCSD Health Patient Safety Committee. He has a strong academic foundation, having earned his Medical Doctor degree from UCSD and a Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience from the same institution, with a focus on visual system development and mathematical modeling.

Professional Citations
  1. Di Sabato, G., Pesce, A.J., and Kaplan, N.O.  The sulfhydryl-content of some lactic dehydro-genases.  Biochim. Biophys. Acta 77:135-138, 1963.
  2. Pesce, A.J., McKay, R.H., Stolzenbach, F., Cahn, R.D., and Kaplan, N.O.  The comparative enzymology of lactic dehydrogenases.  I.  Properties of the crystalline beef and chicken enzymes.  J. Biol. Chem. 239:1753-1761, 1964.
  3. Fondy, T.P., Pesce, A.J., Freedberg, I., Stolzenbach, F., and Kaplan, N.O.  The comparative enzymology of lactic dehydrogenases.  II.  Properties of the HM3 hybrid from chicken leg muscle and of H2M2 and H4 from chicken liver.  Biochemistry 3:522-530, 1964.
  4. Wilson, A.C., Kaplan, N.O., Levine, L., Pesce, A.J., Reichlin, M., and Allison, W.S.  Evolution of lactic dehydrogenases.  Fed.  Proc. 23:1258-1266, 1964.
  5. Fasman, G., Norland, K., and Pesce, A.J.  Conformational depen­dence of the fluorescence of copolymers of tyrosine and glutamic acid in aqueous solution.  Biopolymers Symposia No. 1, 325-331, 1964.
  6. Pesce, A.J., Bodenheimer, E., Norland, K., and Fasman, G.D.  Fluorescence studies on poly-?-amino acids:  models of protein conformation.  III.  Copolymers of tyrosine with glutamic acid or lysine.  J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 86:5669-5675, 1964.
  7. Fasman, G.D., Bodenheimer, E., and Pesce, A.J.  Fluorescence studies on poly-?-amino acis:  models of protein conformation.  IV.  Copolymers of tryptophan with glutamic acid or lysine.  J. Biol. Chem. 241:916-923, 1966.
  8. Pesce, A.J., Fondy, T.P., Stolzenbach, F., Castillo, F., and Kaplan, N.O.  The comparative enzymology of lactic dehydrogenases.  III.  Properties of the H4 and M4 enzymes from a number of vertebrates.  J. Biol. Chem. 242:2151-2167, 1967.
  9. Pesce, A.J., Gaizutis, M., and Pollak, V.E.  Selectivity of proteinuria:  an evaluation of the immunochemical and gel filtration techniques.  J. Lab. Clin. Med. 75:586-606, 1970.
  10. Pollak, V.E., Ooi, B.S., and Pesce, A.J.  The distribution of serum albumin in the diseased human nephron as demonstrated by immunofluorescence.  J. Lab. Clin. Med. 76:357-372, 1970.
  11. Modesto, R.R., and Pesce, A.J.  The reaction of the 4,4′-difluoro-3,3′-dinitro-diphenyl sulfone with y-globulin and horeseradish peroxidase.  Biochim. Biophys. Acta 299:384-395, 1971.
  12. Rosen, C.G., Pesce, A.J., and Gaizutis, M.  Fluorometric determination of serum albumin -potentials and limitations.  Microchem. J. 16:218-225, 1971.
  13. Dillard, M.G., Pesce, A.J., Pollak, V.E., and Boreisha, I.  Proteinuria and renal protein clearances in patients with renal tubular disorders.  J. Lab. Clin. Med. 78:203-215, 1971.
  14. Bush, C.A., Pesce, A.J., Gaizutis, M., and Nair, V.  Binding and circular dichroism studies on interactions of lysergic acid diethylamide with deoxyribonucleic acid.  J. Molec. Pharm. 8:104-109, 1972.
  15. Gaizutis, M., Pesce, A.J., and Lewy, J.E.  Determination of nanogram amounts of albumin by radioimmunoassay.  Microchem. J.  17:327-337, 1972.
  16. Exaire, E., Pollak, V.E., Pesce, A.J., and Ooi, B.S.  Albumin and y-globulin in the nephron of the normal rat and following the infection of aminonucleoside.  Nephron 9:42-54, 1972.
  17. Pesce, A.J., Boreisha, I., and Pollak, V.E.  Rapid differen­tiation of glomerular and tubular proteinuria by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.  Clin. Chim. Acta 40:27-34, 1972.
  18. Pollak, V.E., and Pesce, A.J.  Maintenance of body protein homeostasis.  In, Pathophysiology–Altered Regulatory Mechanisms in Disease, ed. E.D. Frolich (J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia 1972), pp. 195-214.
  19. Lewy, J.E., and Pesce, A.J.  Micropuncture study of albumin transfer in aminonucleoside nephrosis in the rat.  Pediatric Res. 7:553-559, 1973.
  20. Modesto, R.R., and Pesce, A.J.  Use of tolylene diisocynate for the preparation of a peroxidase-labelled antibody conjugate.  Quantitation of the amount of diisocyanate bound.  Biochim.  Biophys. Acta 295:283-295, 1973.
  21. Finkel, P.N., Kronenberg, K., Pesce, A.J., Pollak, V.E., and Pirani, C.L.  Adult Fanconi syndrome, amyloidosis and marked k-light chain proteinuria.  Nephron 10:l-24, 1973.
  22. Clyne, D.H., Norris, S.H., Modesto, R.R., Pesce, A.J., and Pollak, V.E.  Antibody enzyme conjugates.  Preparation of intermolecular conjugates of horseradish peroxidase and antibody and their use in immunohistology of renal cortex.  J. Histochem.  Cytochem. 21:233-240, 1973.
  23. Pollak, V.E., and Pesce, A.J.  Theoretical and practical considerations in the interpretation of renal protein clearances.  In, Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of Nephrology, Vol. 3, Mexico l972, ed. H. Villarreal (Karger, Basel, 1974), 17-21.
  24. Pesce, A.J., Mendoza, N., Boreisha, I., Gaizutis, M., and Pollak, V.E.  Use of enzyme-linked antibodies to measure serum anti-DNA antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus.  Clin. Chem. 20:353-359, 1974.
  25. Ooi, B.S., Orlina, A.R., Pesce, A.J., Mendoza, N., Masaitis, L., and Pollak, V.E.  Lympho-cytotoxic antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.  Clin. Exptl. Immunol. 17:237-243, 1974.
  26. Clyne, D.H., Brendstrup, L., First, M.R., Pesce, A.J., Finkel, P.N., Pollak, V.E.  Lympho-cytotoxic antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.  Clin. Exptl. Immunol. 17:237-243, 1974.
  27. Pollak, V.E., First, M.R., and Pesce, A.J.  Value of the sieving coefficient in the interpretation of renal protein clearances.  Nephron 3:82-92, 1974.
  28. Pesce, A.J.  Methods used for the analysis of proteins in the urine.  Nephron 13:93-04, 974.
  29. Ooi, B.S., First, M.R., Pesce, A.J., Pollak, V.E., Bernstein, I.L., and Jao, W.  IgE levels in interstitial nephritis.  Lancet i:254-256, 1974.
  30. Warshaw, M.M. and Pesce, A.J.  Electrophoretic and immunologic analysis of amniotic fluid proteins.  In, Amniotic Fluids, Vol. l, eds. S. Natelson, A. Scommegna, and M.B. Epstein (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1974), 25-44.
  31. Gaizutis, M., Pesce, A.J., and Pollak, V.E.  Renal clearance of human and rat albumins in the rat.  Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med.  48:947-952, 1975.
  32. Pesce, A.J., Modesto, R.R., Ford, D.J., Sethi, K., Clyne, D.H., and Pollak, V.E.  Preparation and analysis of peroxidase antibody and alkaline phosphatase antibody conjugates.  In, First International Symposium on Immunoenzymatic Techniques INSERM Symposium No. 2, eds. G. Feldmann, P. Druet, J. Bignon, and S.  Avrameas (North Holland Publishing, Amsterdam 976), pp. 7-23.
  33. Pesce, A.J., Huse, A., Kornhauser, C., Sethi, K., Ooi, B.S., and Pollak, V.E.  Method for measuring the concentration of urinary proteins according to their molecular size category.  Clin. Chem.  22:667-672, 1976.
  34. Pollak, V.E., and Pesce, A.J.  Maintenance of body protein homeostasis.  In, Pathophysiology-Altered Regulatory Mechanisms in Disease, 2nd edition, ed. E.D. Frolich (J.B. Lippincott, Philadelphia 1976), 221-240.
  35. Pollak, V.E., and Pesce, A.J.  Proteinuria:  a review of glomerular permeability in the normal and in various disease states.  In, Seminars in Nephrology, ed. E.L. Becker (John Wiley & Sons, New York 1977), pp. 155-174.
  36. First, M.R., Sloan, D.E., Pesce, A.J. and Pollak, V.E.  Albumin excretion by the kidney; the effects of volume expansion.  J.  Lab Clin. Med. 89:25-29, 1977.
  37. Sethi, K., First, M.R., Pesce, A.J., Fidler, J.P., and Pollak, V.E.  Proteinuria following renal transplantation.  Nephron 18:49-59, 1977.
  38. Pesce, A.J., Ford, D.J., Gaizutis, M., and Pollak, V.E.  Binding of protein to polystyrene in solid-phase immunoassays.  Biochim.  Biophys. Acta. 492 (1977) 399-407.
  39. Pesce, A.J., Bubel, H.C., DiPersio, L., nd Michael, J.G.  Human lactic dehydrogenase as a marker for human tumor cells grown in athymic mice.  Cancer Research 37:1998-2003, 1977.
  40. Ooi, B.S., Rubin, S.C., Pesce, A.J. and Pollak, V.E.  Immunofluorescent localization of B2-microglobulin in the human kidney.  Transplantation 24:1-3, 1977.
  41. Banks, R.O., Pesce, A.J., Ooi, B.S., and Pollak, V.E.  Effect of aminonucleoside on Tm PAH and intrarenal blood flow distribution in rats.  J. Lab. Clin. Med. 90:314-346, 1977.
  42. Muckerheide, A, Pesce, A.J., and Michael, J.G.  Immunosuppressive properties of a peptic fragment of bovine serum albumin.  J. of Immunology 119:1340-1345, 1977.
  43. Pesce, A.J., Hanenson, I.B., and Sethi, K.  B2 microglobulinuria in a patient with nephrotoxicity secondary to mercuric chloride ingestion.  Clin. Toxicology 11:309-315, 1977.
  44. Ooi, B.S., Ooi, Y.M., Pesce, A.J. and Pollak, V.E.  Antibodies to B2  microglobulin in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.  Immunology 33:535-541, 1977.
  45. Ooi, B.S., Kant, K.S., Hanenson, I.B., Pesce, A.J., and Pollak, V.E.  Lymphocytotoxins in epileptic patients receiving phenytoin.  Clin. Exp. Immunol. 30:56-6l, 1977.
  46. Pesce, A.J., Pollak, V.E., Mendoza, N., Kant, K.S., and Ford, D.J.  Solid phase enzyme-linked immunoassay for DNA antibodies in humans.  In:  Enzyme-Immunoassay, Ed. B.K. Van Weemen, Organon International, Oss, The Netherlands, 1977, pp 41-60.
  47. First, M.R., Patel, V.B., Pesce, A.J., Bramlage, R.J. and Pollak, V.E.  Albumin excretion by the kidney:  the effects of osmotic diuresis.  Nephron 20:171-175, 1978.
  48. Ford, D.J., Radin, R., and Pesce, A.J.  Characterization of glu­taraldehyde coupled alkaline phosphatase-antibody and lacto-peroxidase-antibody conjugates.  Immunochemistry 15:237-243, 1978
    .
  49. First, M.R., Bramlage, R.J., Pesce, A.J., and Pollak, V.E.  Albumin excretion by the kidney:  The effects of furosemide diuresis.  Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 158:550-553, 1978
    .
  50. Kyriazis, A.P., DiPersio, L., Michael, J.G., Pesce, A.J., and Stinnett, J.D.  Growth patterns and metastatic behavior of human tumors growing in athymic mice.  Cancer Research 38:3186-3190, 1978.
  51. Pesce, A.J., Kant, K.S., Ooi, B.S., and Pollak, V.E.  The application of enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.  Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Supplement 7, 8:91-96, 1978.
  52. Pesce, A.J., Ford, D.J., and Gaizutis, M.A.  Qualitative and quantitative aspects of immuno-assays.  Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Supplement 7, 8:1-6, 1978.
  53. Pesce, A.J. and Pollak, V.E.  Proteinuria – measurement and interpretation of the excretion of serum proteins in urine.  In Clinical Immunochemistry, Eds. S. Natelson, A.J. Pesce and A.  Dietz, A.A.C.C., Washington, D.C., 1978., pp 367-374.
  54. Pesce, A.J., Ooi, B.S., Kant, K.S., Hanenson, I.B. and Pollak, V.E.  Autoimmunity and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.  In Clinical Immunochemistry.  Eds. S. Natelson, A.J. Pesce and A. Dietz, A.A.C.C., Washington, D.C., 1978., pp 200-207.
  55. DiPersio, L., Kyriazis.A.P., Michael, J.G. and Pesce, A.J. Monitoring the therapy of human tumor xenografts in nude mice by the use of lactate dehydrogenase.  J.  Natl. Cancer Inst. 62:375-379, 1979.
  56. Kyriazis, A.P., DiPersio, L., Michael, J.G. and Pesce, A.J.  Influence of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infection on the growth of human tumors in the athymic mouse.  Int. J. Cancer 23:402-409, 1979.
  57. Purtell, J.N., Pesce, A.J., Clyne, D.H., Miller, W.C. and Pollak, V.E.  Isoelectric point of albumin:  Effect on renal handling of albumin.  Kidney International 16:366-376, 1979.
  58. Clyne, D.H., Pesce, A.J., Thompson. R.E.  Nephrotoxicity of Bence-Jones Proteins in the rat:  Importance of protein isoelectric point.  Kidney International 16:345-362, 1979.
  59. Clyne, D.H., Kant, K.S., Pesce, A.J., and Pollak, V.E.  Nephrotoxicity of low molecular weight serum proteins:  Physicochemical interactions between myoglobin, hemoglobin, Bence-Jones proteins and Tamm-Horsfall mucoprotein.  In, Diagnostic Significance of Enzymes and Proteins in Urine.  Eds. Dubach, U.C. and Schmidt, U. (l979), Hans Huber Publishers, Bern, Switzerland, pp. 299-308.
  60. Tse, C.S. Ted and Pesce A.J.  Chemical characterization of isocyanate-protein conjugates.  Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 51:39-46, 1979.
  61. Dosa, S., Pesce, A.J., Ford, D.J., Muckerheide, Annette and Michael, J.G.  Immunological properties of peptic fragments of bovine serum albumin.  Immunology 38:509-517, 1979.