CAREERS IN LABORATORY MEDICINE

1. CAREERS IN LABORATORY MEDICINE Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant Cytologist/Histologist Pathologist Medical Technologist

2. Phlebotomist/Lab Assistant • Works directly with patients • Collects blood samples from patients • Delivers specimens to Lab personnel for testing • Education: High School Diploma • On the job training or • Completion of phlebotomy course at an accredited school

3. Phlebotomy • The obtaining of blood specimens by venipuncture or capillary puncture • Use of Vacutainers, syringes, needles, butterflies, finger lancets • What do all those different colored tubes mean?

4. Cytologist/Histologist • Histologist prepares very thin sections of body tissues for microscopic exam by pathologist • Cytologist examines cells under the microscope for early signs of cancer & other diseases • Education: • Bachelor of Science Degree • Completion of a clinical rotation in accredited Cytology Program • National Licensure by American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

5. Histology/Cytology • Pathologists examines tissue or specimen removed in surgery (gross exam) • Tissue is processed & embedded into wax blocks • Very thin shavings made from blocks • Mounted onto slide & stained • Examined microscopically by Pathologist

6. Pathologist • Medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis of disease • Medical Director of the laboratory • Performs autopsies • Examines tissues & blood smears for presence of disease • Education: • 4 year college • Medical school • 5 year Residency • MD licensure • Pass Pathology Clinical & Anatomical Boards

7. Medical Technologist • Perform a multitude of tests on all types of body fluids (blood, CSF, urine, feces, semen, sputum, synovial fluid, etc.) • Information they gather, helps doctors to diagnose disease • Education: • Bachelor of Science Degree • Completion of a clinical rotation in accredited Medical Technology Program • National Licensure by American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

8. Inside the Lab • Phlebotomy • Hematology/Coagulation • Blood Bank • Chemistry/Special Chemistry • Serology/Urinalysis • Microbiology • Histology/Pathology

9. Hematology/Coagulation • Hematology is the study of the cells that make up blood (White blood cells, Red blood cells, and Platelets) • Coagulation is the study of the process in which the blood clots or coagulates

11. Four types of Blood: A B Rh Factor AB -positive O -negative Compatibility testing What can be transfused at FAMC? Red Blood Cells Platelets Fresh Frozen Plasma An average adult’s body contains 8 to 10 units of blood Blood Bank

13. Chemistry/Special Chemistry • Most of the testing done in these 2 depts. are done on complex machines or instruments & involve chemical reactions • Tests performed on serum or plasma portion of the blood • We can test all the major organ systems: • Heart - Gallbladder • Liver - Bones • Kidney - Digestive system • Lungs - Prostate • Thyroid & Hormones • Cancer/Tumor Markers

15. New Beckman Coulter LXi 725

16. Serology & Urinalysis • Serology=antigen/antibody detection • Mono • Pregnancy • Urinalysis=chemical analysis of urine • Infections • Kidney stones

17. Microbiology • The study of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi • Normal flora vs. Pathogens • Organism identification and selection of antibiotics