2. Laboratory introduction
A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is
a laboratory where clinical pathology tests are carried
out on clinical specimens to obtain information about
the health of a patient to aid in diagnosis, treatment,
and prevention of disease.
4. Medical microbiology
• Is the study of microorganisms
• consist of numerous sub-disciplines
including virology, parasitology, mycology and
bacteriology
• includes culturing of clinical specimens such
as faeces, urine, blood, sputum, cerebrospinal
fluid and synovial fluid, as well as possible
infected tissue.
5. Clinical chemistry
• Clinical chemistry includes:
enzymology, toxicology and endocrinology
• biochemical tests are performed on any kind
of body fluid, but mostly on serum or plasma.
6. Hematology
• Includes automated and manual analysis of
blood cells
• It involves treating diseases that affect the
production of blood and its components
7. Immunohematology
determines blood groups and Rh factor.
Coagulation tests
determines various blood clotting times,
coagulation plasma factors, and platelet
function.
8. Immunology
uses the process of antigen-antibody
interaction as a diagnostic tool
urinalysis
tests urine for many parameters,
including microscopy
9. Cytopathology
examines smears of cells from all over the
body (such as from the cervix) for evidence of
inflammation, cancer, and other conditions.
10. Testing process
Three phases: pre-analytical, analytical and
post-analytical
• pre-analytical phase - laboratory has no direct
control on the process
include: sample type, sampling time, sample
handling, patient's preparation and the
nutritional status of the patient.
• analytical phase - involves the actual running
of the test
11. • post-analytical phase includes:
recording the results
interpreting the results
reporting the results to the ordering physician
filing the report
