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Recording-2025-01-24T14:42:55.227Z

Role of Medical Laboratory in Healthcare

  • Integral part of healthcare, supporting physicians with timely and accurate laboratory results.

  • Laboratory results are crucial for diagnosing and treating patients, making laboratory professionals vital in medical settings.

Types of Specimens Processed

  • Blood is the most common specimen analyzed.

  • Other specimens include:

    • Urine

    • Feces

    • Sputum

    • Body cavity fluids

    • Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)

    • Seminal fluid

  • Essentially, any human-producible substance can be analyzed in a clinical laboratory.

Laboratory Analysis Process

  • Specimens are processed, analyzed, and results interpreted to help in the detection, treatment, and prevention of diseases.

  • Importance of accuracy and precision in measurements for reliable results.

Types of Observations in Laboratory Testing

  • Macroscopic observations: Visible to the naked eye (e.g., urine color).

  • Microscopic observations: Require a microscope to visualize (e.g., cells and bacteria).

Methods of Testing

  • Manual Testing: Hands-on tests performed by technicians.

  • Instrumented Testing: Majority of tests (60-70%) conducted using specialized equipment.

  • Knowledge of manual testing is essential, as instruments can malfunction.

Understanding Pathology

  • Pathology: Study of the nature and cause of diseases.

  • Pathologists determine whether findings are pathogenic (disease-causing) or nonpathogenic.

    • Pathologists are licensed physicians specializing in pathology, often certified in anatomical or clinical lab medicine.

Organizational Structure of Medical Laboratory

  • Medical laboratory divided into two main areas:

    • Clinical Laboratory: Where Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) and Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs) work.

    • Anatomical Pathology: Focused on the examination of tissues and organs.

      • Involves the work of histology and cytology technicians who may have separate certifications.

Clinical Laboratory Areas

  1. Hematology: Study of blood.

    • Primarily uses the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test for:

      • Determining levels of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets.

      • Assessing hemoglobin and hematocrit.

      • Evaluating red blood cell indices to determine characteristics (size, maturity).

    • White Blood Cell Differential: Enumerates different types of white blood cells to assess infection or blood cancers like leukemia.

  2. Chemistry: Analysis of different analytes in the plasma (e.g., glucose, electrolytes).

  3. Microbiology: Study of infectious agents and their effects on health.

  4. Immunology/Immunohematology: Involves blood banking and understanding immune responses.

Importance of Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

  • Hemoglobin (Hgb): Protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport.

  • Hematocrit (Hct): Percentage of RBCs in whole blood; measures volume and can indicate anemia if low.

  • Both tests provide insights into oxygen delivery capacities and potential tissue damage risks.