Christopher Polage, M.D.
Clinical Interests
Combining a background in Microbiology and Pathology, Dr. Polage seeks to advance the
diagnosis of infectious diseases through optimal application of traditional histologic, microbiologic,
nucleic acid amplification and point-of-care methods. Dr. Polage brings with him prior experience
at a national referral laboratory and working overseas in Africa and Peru. His areas of interest are
utilization of laboratory testing for diagnosis of infectious diseases, diagnosis of viral CNS and
respiratory syndromes, application of non-culture based methods (broad-range PCR, microarray,
POC testing), identification of markers of pathogenicity, virulence and clinical prognosis, and
access to laboratory testing and diagnosis in resource-limited settings (e.g., Africa).
Dr. Polage has been involved in multiple projects related to the diagnosis of viral syndromes via
traditional and nucleic acid amplification methods including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
(HPS), viral meningitis, and viral respiratory infection. He has worked with and continues to
investigate targeted molecular methods, 16s rDNA PCR and mass spectrometry as non-culture
methods for characterizing and detecting microorganisms and serves as a consultant on an NIBIB
funded project to develop point-of-care testing devices based on these techniques.
Title
Specialty
Department
Division
Address/Phone
Assistant Professor
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pathology - Clinical, Pathology - Microbiology
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Pathology
Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Specialty Testing Center, 3740 Business Drive Suite
1712 Sacramento, CA 95820
Phone: 916-734-2525
Additional Phone
Education
Phone: 916-734-3655
M.D., University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, 2000
Internships
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, 2001
Residency
University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 2005
Fellowships
Christopher Polage, M.D.
ARUP Laboratories/University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 2007
Board Certifications
American Board of Pathology, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, 2005
American Board of Pathology, Medical Microbiology, 2007
Professional Memberships
American Society for Microbiology
College of American Pathologists
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Select Recent Publications
Li J, Feiz V, Vieira AC, Davis-Boozer D, Polage C. The Safety and Efficacy of Linezolid and
Daptomycin as an Additive in Optisol-GS Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Cornea. 2012 May;31(5):551-8.
Tran NK, Wisner DH, Albertson TE, Cohen S, Greenhalgh D, Palmieri TL, Polage C, Kost GJ.
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction pathogen detection in patients with suspected septicemia after
trauma, emergency, and burn surgery. Surgery. 2012 Mar;151(3):456-63. Epub 2011 Oct 5.
Polage CR, Stoddard GJ, Rolfs RT, Petti CA. Physician use of parasite tests in the United States from
1997 to 2006 and in a Utah Cryptosporidium outbreak in 2007. J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Feb;49(2):
591-6. Epub 2010 Nov 24.
Antkowiak TT, Polage CR, Wiedeman JA, Meehan JP, Jamali AA. Chondrolysis of the tibial plateau
caused by articular aspergillosis after ACL autograft reconstruction: management with a fresh
osteochondral allograft: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011 Nov 2;93(21):e1241-6.
She RC, Polage CR, Caram LB, Taggart EW, Hymas WC, Woods CW, Schmader K, Petti CA.
Performance of diagnostic tests to detect respiratory viruses in older adults. Diagn Microbiol Infect
Dis. 2010 Jul;67(3):246-50.
Moritz TJ, Polage CR, Taylor DS, Krol DM, Lane SM, Chan JW. Evaluation of Escherichia coli cell
response to antibiotic treatment by use of Raman spectroscopy with laser tweezers. J Clin
Microbiol. 2010 Nov;48(11):4287-90. Epub 2010 Sep 22.
Moritz TJ, Taylor DS, Polage CR, Krol DM, Lane SM, Chan JW. Effect of cefazolin treatment on the
nonresonant Raman signatures of the metabolic state of individual Escherichia coli cells. Anal
Chem. 2010 Apr 1;82(7):2703-10.
Caram LB, Chen J, Taggart EW, Hillyard DR, She R, Polage CR, Twersky J, Schmader K, Petti CA,
Woods CW. Respiratory syncytial virus outbreak in a long-term care facility detected using reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction: an argument for real-time detection methods. J Am Geriatr
Soc. 2009 Mar;57(3):482-5. Epub 2009 Jan 23.
Petti CA, Polage CR, Hillyard DR. Screening laboratory requests. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Nov;12
(11 ):1792-3.
Christopher Polage, M.D.
Petti CA, Polage CR, Quinn TC, Ronald AR, Sande MA. Laboratory medicine in Africa: a barrier to
effective health care. Clin Infect Dis 2006 Feb 1;42(3):377-82.
Polage CR, Bedu-Addo G, Owusu-Ofori A, Frimpong E, Lloyd W, Zurcher E, Hale D, Petti CA.
Laboratory utilization in Ghana: physician perception and practice. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2006 Sept;
75(3):526-31.
Polage CR, Petti CA. Assessment of the Utility of Viral Culture of Cerebrospinal Fluid. Clin Infect
Dis 2006 Dec 15;43(12):1578-9.
Petti CA, Polage CR, Schreckenberger P. The role of 16S rRNA gene sequencing in identification of
microorganisms misidentified by conventional methods. J Clin Microbiol 2005 Dec;43(12):6123-5.
Polage CR, Little RR, Rohlfing CL, Cole TG, Roberts WL. Effects of beta thalassemia minor on
results of six glycohemoglobin methods. Clin Chim Acta 2004 Dec;350(1-2):123-8.
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