��Introduction to Medical lab �Technology

�Topics

• Definition and Meaning
• Departments of Medical Laboratory
• Role of medical laboratory technologist
• Need of Laboratory
• Lab Organization
• Ethics and Responsibility
• Safety measure
• First aid

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�What is Medical Laboratory Technology?�

• Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) is a branch of science that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases using clinical laboratory tests. This involves analysis of the body fluids, including tissues and blood.

Role Of Medical Laboratory Services

The medical laboratory services play a essential role in

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• Treating patients and monitoring their response to treatment.
• Monitoring the development and spread of infectious and dangerous pathogens (disease causing organisms),
• Deciding effective control measures against major prevalent disease,
• Deciding health priorities and allocating resources.

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Without Reliable Laboratory Services:

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• The source of a disease may not be identified correctly.
• Patients are less likely to receive the best possible care.
• Resistance to essential drugs may develop and continue to spread.
• Epidemic diseases may not be identified on time and with confidence.

What Is Medical Laboratory Science?

• Medical laboratory science is the use of clinical laboratory tests to detect, diagnose, monitor and treat disease.
• Blood, tissue and body fluids can be chemically analyzed and examined for foreign organisms and abnormalities.
• This information is then used by the medical team to make decisions regarding a patient's medical care. 85% of all medical decisions are based on the results of clinical laboratory testing.

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Laboratory Tests

What are lab tests?

Laboratory tests are medical procedures that involve testing samples of blood, urine, or other tissues or substances in the body.

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Why does your doctor use lab tests?

Your doctor uses laboratory tests to help:

• Identify changes in your health condition before any symptoms occur.
• Diagnose a disease or condition even before you have symptoms
• Plan your treatment for a disease or condition
• Evaluate your response to a treatment, or
• Monitor the course of a disease over time

Laboratory Tests

Many factors affect test results. These include:

• Your sex, age
• What you eat and drink
• Medicines you take
• How well you followed pre-test instructions

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What do lab tests show?

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• Lab tests show whether or not your results fall within normal ranges.

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• Normal test values are usually given as a range, rather than as a specific number, because normal values vary from person to person.

Classification of medical laboratories :-The world Health Organization (WHO) lists four kinds of levels of laboratories based on their bio safety.

• Basic laboratory level I:- Basic laboratory level I is the simplest kind and adequate for work with organisms which have low risk to the individual laboratory personnel as well as to the members of the community. Such organisms are categorized under Risk Group I by WHO. These organisms are unlikely to cause human diseases. Example, food spoilage bacteria, common molds and yeasts.

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• Basic laboratory level II:- Basic laboratory level II is suitable for work with organisms that predispose to moderate risk to the laboratory worker and a limited risk to the members of the community. Such organisms are categorized under Risk Group II by WHO. They can cause serious human diseases but not serious hazards due to the availability of effective preventive measures and treatment. Example, staphylococci, streptococci, entero bacteria except Salmonella typhi and others. Such laboratory should be clean, provide enough space, have adequate sanitary facilities and equipped with autoclave.

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• Containment laboratory (Level III) :-Containment laboratory is more advanced and it is used for work with infectious organisms that present a high risk to the laboratory personnel but a lower risk to the community. Such organisms are categorized under Risk Group III by WHO.

Example, Tubercle bacilli, Salmonella typhi, HIV, Yersina and others. The principle is to remove from the basic laboratory those organisms and activities which are particularly hazardous. They are easily transmitted through airborne, ingestion of contaminated food or water and paranterally. Such laboratory should be a separate room with controlled access by authorized staff. It should also be fitted with microbial safety cabinet.

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• Maximum containment laboratory :- Maximum containment laboratory is intended for work with viruses, which predispose to a high risk for both laboratory personnel and the community. Such organisms are categorized under Risk Group IV by WHO. Example, Small pox, Ebola, Lassa fever and others.

Most of these organisms cause serious disease and readily transmitted from on person to another. These laboratories are usually a separate building with strictly controlled access.

Types Of Laboratories

In many countries, there are two main types of labs

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• Hospital laboratory are attached to a hospital, and perform tests on patients.

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• Private (or community) laboratory receive samples from 

general physician, insurance companies, clinical research sites and other health clinics for analysis.

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• A lot of samples are sent between different labs for uncommon tests. It is more cost effective if a particular laboratory specializes in a rare test, receiving specimens (and money) from other labs, while sending away tests it cannot do.

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Lab Department

In many countries there are mainly three types of Medical Laboratories as per the types of investigations carried out.

1. Clinical Pathology: Hematology, Histopathology, Cytology, Routine Pathology
2. Clinical Microbiology: Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology, Immunology, Serology.
3. Clinical Biochemistry: Biochemical analysis, Hormonal assays etc.

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Blood Banks:-

Blood bank is a separate body. Its laboratory need Microbiological analysis for infectious diseases that may be found in blood. Pathology to observe Blood grouping, Hematology & cross matching reactions.. Molecular diagnostic lab or cytogenetic and molecular biology lab is the latest addition to the three types of medical laboratories listed above in many countries.

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Lab Organization

Organization

• is a system, an orderly structure, putting things together into a working order, and making arrangements for undertakings that involve cooperation. The emphasis is on arrangements that enable peoples working together and accomplishing common objectives in an efficient, planned and economic manner.
• 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 policies

Laboratory policies are those decisions, which are taken in consultation with other medical staff to enable a laboratory to operate reliably and effectively in harmony with other departments.

These polices usually cover:

• Laboratory hour and emergency work
• Collection of laboratory specimen
• Range of tests to be performed which depend on:
• The number of staff available;
• The availability of material resources;
• The types of health institutions (hospital or health center).
• Workload capacity of a laboratory which depends on
• The number of staff and their level of training.
• The size of the laboratory
• The availability of laboratory facilities.

�MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES CAREER OPTIONS�

• Cytogenetics:-This specialty area of the laboratory performs testing to investigate to presence of genetic diseases. Their samples can come from babies before they are born, newborns, infants, children and adults. This area of the laboratory can also test for paternity and maternity confirmation.

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• Forensic (Crime):- Practically everyone is familiar with the crime Tv shows where Forensic labs look at �materials from a crime scene to help identify �victims and criminals.�

• Government sector:-These laboratories may perform testing for environmental impact factors. They may test water quality and for soil and air contamination.

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• Hospital:-In the hospital laboratory, MLS personnel analyze patient samples to determine their state of health or to diagnose disease. These laboratories typically offer a full array of diagnostic testing services 24 hours/day and 7days/week.

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• Molecular Diagnostics:- Molecular Diagnostic techniques use RNA or DNA analysis to identify cells, organs, tissues, and microorganisms. The technique is used to help identify cell abnormalities and also organisms that cause diseases.�

• Public Health:-A public health laboratory receives samples from other laboratories and from the environment that may contain organisms or toxins that are important to the health of the general public. They may examine possible infection outbreaks, food poisoning, and exposure to toxins.

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• Research:-There are hundreds of research laboratories that are performing testing and subjects from soil, water, plants to farm or companion animals, human tissues and cells, and individuals. Research is essential to the world of discovery and the advancement of science. Expert testing skills and complex interpretations are part of your MLS degree.�

• Tissue Typing:-When individuals need an organ transplant the individual and possible donor must be matched based on their cellular tissue markers. This laboratory performs this testing to prepare for transplantation.

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Lab ethics

• Ethics is a system of moral principles.(Discipline)
• The principles of doing "good" and not doing "harm" are the essence of every code of medical ethics.
• It is the duty of the medical doctors to their patients to exercise their professional skills in an ethical manner.
• Ethics are kind of rule and regulation which should be followed by a lab technician.
• The essential purpose is to ensure that patients' trust in the med ical profession is deserved.

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�Lab technician should follow � certain ethics.�

• Lab technician should follow certain ethics.

1) Punctuality

2) Promptness

3)Accuracy

4)Confidentiality

5) Courtesy

6) Honest and Obedient

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7) Harmony

8) Generosity

9) Sincerity

10) Acquaintance With safety procedure

11) Continuing education

12) Standards

Responsibility of lab tachnician

• Place the well being and service of the sick above your own interest.
• Be loyal to your medical laboratory profession by maintaining high standards of work and strive to improve your knowledge.
• Do not misuse your professional skills or knowledge for personnel gain.
• Work scientifically and with honesty.
• Do not disclose to a patient or unauthorized person the result of your investigation.

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• Promote Health Care and prevention and the control of disease.
• Follow safety procedures and know about the first aid.
• Do not drink alcohol during working periods.
• Work according to SOP.

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