Medical laboratory scientists work in hospital laboratories performing tests on blood, urine, and other bodily fluids to help diagnose and treat diseases. They arrive early to have test results ready for doctors' morning patient visits. Their responsibilities include confirming abnormal results, performing quality control, conducting analytical tests on fluids and substances, and maintaining laboratory equipment. Medical laboratories contain various instruments and reagents to examine samples from departments like hematology, blood banking, microbiology, chemistry, serology, and pathology. Medical laboratory services play an important role in health systems by aiding diagnosis and treatment, monitoring infectious diseases, and informing public health measures.

1. Medical Laboratory Science
The Hidden Profession
Instructor
Mr. Naeem Bukhari

2. Medical Lab Science
 is a health care profession with special expertise
in laboratory medicine. Members of this
challenging profession are responsible for
providing accurate, reliable laboratory tests for
monitoring health, diagnosing and treating
disease

3. A Day as a Medical Lab
Scientist
 MLS will arrive at work early in the
morning, especially in hospital settings.
Physicians like to have all laboratory results
completed when they are making their
morning visits with patients. Therefore,
your MLS is working hard behind the
scenes to ensure your lab tests are done
before the doctor arrives.

4. What does a Medical
Laboratory Scientist do?
•Confirm abnormal results
-All abnormal test
results must be
confirmed with a
highly trained MLS
before reporting.
•Execute quality control
procedures and interpret
quality control data.
• Perform analytical
tests of body fluids,
cells and other
substances.
 -Body fluids include
blood, urine,
serum/plasma, CSF,
and other various
body fluids.

5. Cont. what do Medical Lab
Scientists do.
• Execute preventive maintenance of equipment
and/or identify appropriate sources for repairs.

6.  Laboratory is a place that is equipped with different
instruments, equipment's and chemicals (reagents) etc.,
for performing experimental works, research activities
and investigative procedures.
 Medical laboratory is one part of the laboratory that is
equipped with various biomedical instruments,
equipment's, materials and reagents (chemicals) for
performing different laboratory investigative activities
by using biological specimens (whole blood, serum,
plasma, urine, stool, etc).
General overview of Lab

7. Departments in the Medical
Laboratory
 Hematology
 Blood Banking
 Microbiology
 Chemistry
 Serology
 Pathology

8. Hematology
 Is the study of cells in your blood. Your
blood is made up of red blood cells, white
blood cells and platelets.
 A Medical Laboratory Scientist
working in this department will count
how many of each type of cell you have
and evaluate the size, shape and color.

9. Blood Banking
 Is the practice of cross matching blood components
for healthy transfusions. A Medical Laboratory Scientist
working in the Blood Bank department will identify
blood types, perform accurate and safe cross matches
with various blood components, as well as identify
unsuspected antibodies.

10. Microbiology
It is the study of microorganisms. A
Medical Laboratory Scientist working
in the Microbiology department
identifies bacteria, fungus and parasites.
The Medical Laboratory Scientist
must also tell the physician which
antibiotics to use to kill the bacteria
found.

11. Chemistry
 The chemistry department quantitates hormone, enzyme,
electrolyte and drug levels in your blood stream, urine or
body fluid.
 A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Chemistry
department must be able to evaluate the results of these
levels to determine if they are pathological or not.

12. Serology
 Is the study of immunity and antibodies in your blood.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist working in the Serology
department identifies antibodies to pathological
syndromes such as measles, chicken pox,
mononucleosis, and Strep. throat.

13.  In a single medical laboratory at least there are two interlocking
components of organizations.
 These are laboratory head and other staff having their own duties
and responsibilities.
Laboratory organization

14. Role of medical
laboratory services
The medical laboratory services play a pivotal role in the promotion,
curative and preventive aspects of a nation’s health delivery system.
The service gives a scientific foundation by providing accurate
information to those with the responsibility for:
1. Treating patients and monitoring their response to treatment,
2. Monitoring the development and spread of infectious and
dangerous pathogens (disease causing organisms),
3. Deciding effective control measures against major Prevalent
disease,

15. 1. The source of a disease may not be identified correctly.
2. Patients are less likely to receive the best possible care.
3. Resistance to essential drugs may develop and continue to
spread.
4. Epidemic diseases may not be identified on time and with
confidence.
Without reliable laboratory
services

16. Role of medical laboratory
technologist
• Carry out routine and advanced laboratory tests using
standard laboratory methods;
• Apply problem-solving strategies to administrative, technical
and research problems;
• Conduct community – based researches in collaboration with
other categories of health professionals;
• Provide professional consultancy on matters related to the
establishment, renovation, upgrading and reorganization of
medical laboratories of intermediate levels.