The Malignant Hyperthermia Testing Cener is part of the Department of Anesthesiolgy's research laboratory and is Clia Approved. We are one of 11 sites and the only one in the northeast to provide this important service to patients. The lab is fully accredited by CLIA and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The muscle biopsy is taken from the vastus lateralis muscle and brought to the laboratory in Krebs solution. Several pieces are also sent to Pathology for histology studies. Fiber bundles are separated from the muscle sample and suspended in tissue baths. Once equilibrated, the specimens are expose to caffeine, 3% Halothane and Ryanodine. A positive response for caffeine is a contracture of 0.3g at a concentration of 2mM, for halothane a response of 0.7g within 10min of the administration of the halothane. A positive contracture test for Ryanodine is a 0.2g response within 13min of administration.