PMLS T11 - Current_Trend_in_Medical_Technology

Historical Evolution of Clinical Laboratory

I. Ancient Practices

II. 17th-19th Century Advances

III. 20th Century Developments

IV. 21st-Century Laboratory Practices

Ancient Practices

In this tme period, clinical diagnostics began with simple observational methods

400 BC

By this year, early practicioners linked disease with physical changes in urine

Uroscopy

The visual examination of urine in flasks where a physician visually inspected a patient's urine (checking its color, clarity, odor, and sediment) to diagnose diseases; in modern terms is referred to as ‘uteroscopy’

J.W. Tichy (1774)

Observations of sediments in the urine of febrile/diabetic patients

Matthew Dobson (1776)

Proved that sweetness of the urine and blood serum in diabetis is caused by sugar

Francis Home (1780)

Introduced the yeast fermentation test to detect glucose in diabetic urine

Karl Von Vierordt (1877)

Coagulation time as an index of blood coagulation

Paul Ehrlich (1879)

Developed methods of drying and fixing blood smears using heat

Paul Ehrlich (1879)

Discovered mast cells and classified white blood cells according to its granulation

1960s

Usage of dipsticks

Dipsticks

for urinalysis, quick diagnostic tool that uses a thin plastic strip embedded with chemical reaction pads

Characteristics of Cllinical Laboratories

• Automation

• Standardization

• Advanced Diagnostics

Automation

complete system automation enhancing speed and accuracy

Standardization

use of certified reference materials and procedures, ensuring consistency

Advanced Diagnostics

the use of cutting-edge technology, specialized equipment, and data-driven methods to detect, analyze, and monitor conditions with high precision and speed

Hippocrates (400 BC)

Advocated for the examination of urine for prognosis

Theophilus (700 BC)

Used uroscopy for diagnosis

Isaac Judaeus (AD 900)

Devised guidelines for the use of urine examination as diagnostic aid

1500s

Physicians began using urine color charts for urinalysis

John Hill (1770)

Introduced new method of obtaining specimens for microscopic study

Gerardus Mulder (1830)

Performed the first chemical analysis of proteins

Joseph Jackson Lister (1830)

Developed an achromatic microscope and introduced dark-filed micoscopy

P.S. Denis (1841)

Described the separation of blood proteins into albumins and globulins by salt precipitation

Karl von Vierordt (1852)

Developed hemocytometry

hemocytometry

laboratory technique used to manually count and determine the concentration of cells or biological particles in a liquid suspension using a specialized microscope slide

Jules Duboscq (1854)

Developed the first visual colorimeter based on Beer’s Law

Beer’s Law

states that the absorbance of light by a solution is directly proportional to its concentration and the path length of the light through the solution

Oscar Brefeld (1872)

Developed the use of agar medium for the isolation of fungi in pure culture

Max Jaffe (1886)

Developed alkaline picrate method for the determination of creatinine

Sir William Osler (1892)

Wrote the foundational medical textbook titled “The Principles and Practice of Medicine“

Franz Ziehl and Friendrich Neelsen (1895)

Produced their modification of the acid-fast stain for tuberculosis

Charles W. Purdy (1896)

Published “Practical Urinalysis and Urinary Diagnosis“

George Fernand Widal (1896)

Developed the agglutination test for the identification of the typhoid bacillus

Dr. Philip Noel Panton (1914)

Described new laboratory tests

Wassermann test

historical blood test developed in 1906 by August von Wassermann, Albert Neisser, and Carl Bruck to detect syphilis

Gmelin’s test

classical chemical test used to detect the presence of bile pigments (such as bilirubin and biliverdin) in urine

1920 (diagnostic tests)

serum phosphorus

1921 (diagnostic tests)

serum magnesium

1926 (diagnostic tests)

protein electrophoresis

1929 (diagnostic tests)

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

1930 (diagnostic tests)

alkaline phophatase

1932 (diagnostic tests)

lipase

1938 (diagnostic tests)

amylase and acid phophatase

1939 (diagnostic tests)

ammonia

1954 (diagnostic tests)

creatinine phosphokinase

1955 (diagnostic tests)

lactate dehydrogenase

1956 (diagnostic tests)

alanine aminotransferase

1950 (advanced technology)

radioimmunoassay

1952 (advanced technology)

immunoelectrophoresis

1957 (advanced technology)

Technicon Corporation introduced the first automated medical laboratory instrument (AutoAnalyzer) in clinical chemistry

1969 (advanced technology)

high-performance liquid chromatography

1972 (advanced technology)

enzymatic immunoassay

1975 (advanced technology)

laser cell sorter

Auto-Analyzer

an automated laboratory instrument used to measure chemical components in biological fluids, such as blood serum, plasma, or urine—with minimal human intervention

Nanotechnology

uses materials sized 1-100 nanometers

Nanopores

Timy channels that analyze DNA or RNA wihout labels or amplification; Molecules pass through the pore via appllied voltage and changes in tonic current are measured to detect sequences in real time

Quantom dots (Qudots)

stable, bright semiconductor, fluorescent nanocrystals used in multicolor flow cytometry, allowing simultaneous analysis of multiple cell parameters with smaller sample volumes and faster results

Gold Nanoparticles

possess unique optical and molecular properties; commonly used to label tissue samples for traansmission electron microscopy due to their strong electron absorption

Nanoscale cantilevers

micropscopic beams coated with specific binding molecules to detect single DNA, protein, or cancer markers, and are integrated into diagnostic devices

Quantom Dotd (Qdots)

Multiparameter flow cytometry

Gold Nanoparticles

Biolabeling, imaging, diagnostics

Nanopores

Rapid genetic sequencing

Nanoscale Cantilvers

Real-time detection of biomarkers

Biochips

DNA/RNA/protein analysis

Consultation

Collaborates with healthcare teams by interpreting test results, recommending further tests, advising on proper timing and blood product use, and consolidating samplle collection

Antimicronial Review Technical Specialist

Works with clinicians to optimizee drug therapies using microbiological data

Blood Utilization Specialist

Oversees the effecient use and management of blood products

Oncology Technical Specialist

Analyzes cancer-specific laboratory data

Epidemiologist

Monitors hospital infections and contributes to outbreak investigations

Quality Assurance Specialist

Manages QA/QC systems using tools like flowcharts and root cause analysis

Laboratory Manager

Handles budgeting, space planning, and instrument selection

Edicator/Trainer

Mentors interns and provides continuing education

Professional Advocate

Promotes the MT profession and engages in policymaking

Researcher

Conducts clinical and laboratory-based medical research

Genetic Counselor

Applies genetic knowledge for diagnostics and patient guidance

Advanced Technical Practitioner

Performs complex specimen collection like bone marrow and CSF aspirations

Alternative Career Paths

Roles in insurance, public health, academia, industrym and water testing

IT and Data Manager

Oversees lab data management and informatics systems

Role in Medical Research

enhance our understanding of health, disease, and treatment. Conducting experiments, analyzing data, and preparing research findings for publication and clinical application

Key Characteristics of MT in Research

• Analytical Thinking

• Scientific Curiosity

• Perseverence

• Strong Command of Laboratory Techniques and Tools

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

laboratory technique used to detect genetic material (DNA or RNA) from a pathogen, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, influenza, or other infections, by copying and amplifying tiny amounts of it into billions of pieces

Gene Editing

type of genetic engineering that allows scientists to insert, delete, modify, or replace DNA in the genome of a living organism

CRISPR

molecular biology tool that allows scientists to add, remove, or alter genetic material at specific locations in the genome of a living organism

Bioprinting

emerging technology in the field of tissue engineering and is defined as the printing of cells, biomaterials, and signaling cues

ISO 15189

international standard specifying the requirements for quality and competence in medical (clinical) laboratories

Telehealth

the use of digital information and communication technologies to access health care services, manage well-being, and support medical education or administration from a distance

Internet of Things (IoT)

network of connected physical devices, sensors, and software systems that collect, transmit, and analyze health data in real time

Augmented Reality

technology that overlays digital content—such as 3D models, text, or images—onto the real-world physical environment in real time.