Transcript LABORATORY MEDICINE

MEDICAL TESTING
Doctor
requires
information
Patient
sample
collection
Laboratory
Testing
Sample
received &
processed
Computer
system
maintenance
Report
generation
ESSENTIAL SUPPORT
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Specimen collection (on-site or TAFE
training)
Safe transportation of biological and possibly
infectious material
Clerical skills including anatomy and medical
terminology
Specimen handling skills and training in
infection control and manual handling
Information technology
WHO ARE MEDICAL
SCIENTISTS?
Medical Scientists
perform medical
laboratory tests on
blood, other body
tissues which assist
clinicians in the
diagnosis, treatment
and prevention of
disease. Medical
Scientists get results!
WHERE DO MEDICAL
SCIENTISTS WORK?
Medical scientists work in:
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Hospital laboratories
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State Health Laboratories
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Universities
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Private pathology laboratories
What do you need to work in a
laboratory ?
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An interest in science
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Be able to communicate well
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Be able to use a computer
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Must want to learn all the time
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An interest in helping others.
DISCIPLINES
Medical Laboratory Science in
Australia comprises many
distinct professional disciplines.
The main ones are:
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Histopathology
Microbiology
Cytology
Blood Transfusion
Immunology
Haematology
Clinical biochemistry
Virology
MICROBIOLOGY
Identification of
micro organisms
such as bacteria,
fungi, viruses and
parasites which
cause infection,
and testing for
effective
antibiotics.
A bacterial culture
MICROBIOLOGY
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Growth and Identification of Bacteria
Samples from body sites
Inoculated onto growth promoting
media
Antibiotic Sensitivity Determined
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
PARASITOLOGY
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Single cell and complex organisms
Colonise human GI tract, Urinary
tract and blood
HAEMATOLOGY
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Counting and viewing of blood cells
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Diagnose disease
Detect malignancies
Monitor treatment
Differentiate types of infection
There are different types of
white cells, each with a different job.
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Neutrophils
Fight bacteria by
releasing toxic
substances
Lymphocytes
Fight viruses by creating
antibodies which stick to
viruses and cause them
to be eaten by
Monocytes.
LEUKAEMIA
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Growth of abnormal cells
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Reduced normal maturation
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Result of reduced RBC, Platelets and
normal WCC
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
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Blood tests
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Blood film
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Bone marrow
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Cell markers
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Chromosomes
TRANSFUSION SEROLOGY
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Blood products provided by Red
Cross Blood Transfusion Service
Laboratory ensures products are
compatible with recipients
Required for emergencies and
elective procedures
Blood is not the only product used
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Laboratory testing of
recipient blood and
donor blood to ensure
compatible and safe
transfusion.
Medical scientists in
blood transfusion or
immunohaematology, as
it is sometimes known,
are responsible for the
testing of blood groups
and compatibility of
donor blood, prior to
transfusion.
BLOOD GROUPING
HISTOPATHOLOGY
Examination of Tissues for Disease
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Samples removed
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Processed
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Sectioned and Stained
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Microscopic Examination
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Diagnosis
Slides stained to make cells clearly
visible
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
Measurement of amounts of specific
elements transported in the blood
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Proteins
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Sugars
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Cellular breakdown products
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Hormones
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Toxins
CHEMISTRY
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Mostly automated
Scientists need to understand:
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Cellular metabolisms
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Hormonal interactions
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Immune responses
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Anatomy
VIROLOGY
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Identification of virus
Monitor course of infection
Common infections
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Colds & Flu
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Hepatitis
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HIV/ AIDS
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Glandular Fever
VIROLOGY
Study of the
consequences of viral
infections. A scientist in a
virology laboratory
performs assays to detect
the virus in host tissues
or in cells used to isolate
the virus from a host.
These assays might
detect viral nucleic acid or
may involve
immunological assays to
detect viral proteins.
CYTOLOGY
Study of cells Medical
scientists in cytology are
interested in individual
abnormal cells, that are
shed from tissues. One of
the more publicised areas
of their work is the
Papanicolaou smear test
(Pap Screen), which is
used in the early detection
of cancer of the cervix.
After the sample has been
collected onto a
microscope slide, they are
responsible for staining it
and screening for
abnormal cells.
Papanicolaou smear under the
microscope
IMMUNOLOGY
A study of host responses to infection,
malignancy and tissue damage.
A medical scientist is able to identify and
quantitate cells involved in immune responses.
He/she is also able to identify and quantitate
blood proteins produced in response to infection,
malignancy or tissue damage or which play a role
in protecting the body against these changes. As
such an immunologist would diagnose, or assist
in the diagnosis of, bacterial viral and fungal
diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid
arthritis), hypersensitivity reactions (e.g.
asthma), cancer (e.g. leukaemia) or
immunological deficiencies in the host.
TOXICOLOGY
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Detect and Monitor Toxic Substances
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Drugs of Abuse
Trace and Heavy Metals
Poisons
CHROMATOGRAPHY
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Common technique
Seen in separating ink components
DNA TECHNOLOGY
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Complete composition of human DNA
complete
Variations in DNA can indicate
whether a disease is likely to occur
Techniques in DNA analysis common
to other laboratory disciplines