Laboratory
Laboratory
Description
A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory works to diagnose disease evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and to research the causes and cures of disease. Our Laboratory services are available at 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
Clinical Chemistry is the chemical and biochemical mechanisms in the body for the prevention, diagnosis and management of disease. Diseases such as diabetes, thyroid problems, infertility, heart attacks, meningitis and cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed by the analysis of body fluids such as blood, urine
Clinical chemistry refers to the biochemical analysis of body fluids. It uses chemical reactions to determine the levels of various chemical compounds in bodily fluids. Several simple chemical tests are used to detect and quantify different compounds in blood and urine, the most commonly tested specimens in clinical chemistry.
Techniques such as spectrophotometry, immunoassays, and electrophoresis are also used in clinical chemistry to measure the concentration of substances such as glucose, lipids, enzymes, electrolytes, hormones, proteins, and other metabolic products present in human blood and urine.
Medical Service
- Chemistry
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Allergy Testing
- Bacteriology
- Virology and mycology
- Immunology
- Blood Bank/Transfusion Services
- Electrolytes
About Department
Lead Doctor
Dr. Bashiir Gocoso
Facilities
Office Hour
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Saturday 08:00 - 16:00
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Sunday 08:00 - 16:00
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Monday 08:00 - 16:00
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Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
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Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
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Thursday 08:00 - 16:00
- Chemistry
Routine Chemistry, Electrolytes Determination including Ionized Calcium and Magnesium, 24 hours Urinary Protein, Creatinine Clearance and Potassium. Chemistry performs a wide variety of tests using the most current technology. It is defined as the scientific study of matter and the various compounds of the elements as it relates to the human body. Common tests analyzed in the chemistry laboratory are glucose, cholesterol, BUN, creatinine, potassium, liver and heart enzymes, thyroid tests and hormone tests, and PSA.
- Hematology
Hematology is the study of blood, blood morphology and blood diseases. Hematologists count and classify blood cells into different categories. Coagulation is the study of the clotting activity of blood. Complete Blood Count, Platelet count, Malarial smear, Peripheral smear, Reticulocyte Count, and Coagulation Tests (PT,PTT) Bleeding Time, Clotting Time, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Microbiology
This department is involved with the culturing, isolation and identification of microorganisms. It is subdivided into many sub benches or sub departments such as Virology, Parasitology, Mycology and bacteriology.
- Parasitology
is the study of parasites. Patient specimens are examined for parasites in parasitology, which is normally part of the microbiology department. Intestinal parasites such as intestinal ameba, tapeworms, and hookworms are studied microscopically in feces samples. In order to detect parasite antigens in feces samples, immunological tests are used. Blood parasite tests, such as those for the malarial parasite, are normally done in the hematology department.
- Bacteriology
is the study of bacteria. Bacteriology procedures account for the vast majority of microbiology practice. Bacteria may be isolated from a variety of specimens, including sputum, wounds, blood, urine, and other body fluid, by inoculating them to culture media. Susceptibility tests are used to assess the most suitable antibiotic therapy for the organisms that develop in the culture. This is accomplished by subjecting a bacterial culture to various antibiotics and observing how they affect the organism’s growth. In bacteriology, automated systems that can detect an organism’s growth, classify it, and evaluate its antibiotic susceptibility are commonly used.
- Allergy Testing
Allergy testing identifies allergens, like mold, pet dander, bee stings and peanuts that can cause allergies. During a skin prick test, a healthcare provider introduces allergens into your skin to check for a wheal (raised mark), rash or other reactions. Blood tests can check for IGE antibodies. The results can help you take steps to manage allergies.
- Virology and mycology
are two fields of research. In the microbiology department, procedures involving virology (the study of viruses) and mycology (the study of fungi) are normally performed. Virology and mycology specimens are often sent to a reference laboratory for culture and identification. Since pathogenic fungi and mycobacteria cultures need special handling, specimens suspected of possessing these species are usually inoculated to media and sent to a reference laboratory for identification.
- Immunology
Immunology is the study of immune products such as antibodies produced by the body in response to foreign material. Immunology was formerly called Serology because of the type of specimen often used. That is Serum. Immunology can be a separate bench or part of another department in smaller laboratories. It is commonly associated with department such as microbiology or blood bank. The most common principle of tests performed in this department are based on antigen-antibody agglutination. Some of these common tests are pregnancy test, Hepatitis, HIV infection, arthritis, antistreptolysin– O and other sexually transmitted diseases such as Syphilis, Chlamydia etc.
- Electrolytes
The levels of various electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, phosphorus, and magnesium in the body can help diagnose some kidney and metabolic disorders.
- Blood Bank/Transfusion Services
This department is often referred to as transfusion services or immunohematology. This department is critical to patient wellbeing as it deals with transfusion of blood or blood component. If a transfusion is required, the patient’s ABO group and Rh type are determined by blood bank technologists. Before blood is transfused, stored components of donor blood are tested for compatibility with patient blood. The blood bank department might also have the capability to collect special blood donations or process donated blood into specialized components. The blood bank is the only area of the clinical laboratory for which there are no waived tests.
The blood bank keeps an inventory of red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate available for routine blood transfusions, surgeries, and traumas. When a patient needs blood, the blood bank is responsible for determining the patient’s blood type, testing for and identifying any antibodies present, and then providing crossmatch compatible blood components.
What are the types of allergy tests?
There are different ways to test for allergies. Your healthcare provider will select the best method based on your symptoms and the suspected allergens. These tests include:
- Skin prick (scratch) test:
Your provider uses a thin needle to prick the skin on your forearm or back with 10 to 50 different potential allergens. Or your provider may place droplets of potential allergens onto your skin and use a device to scratch and lightlypuncture the area, causing the liquid to enter your skin. Reactions such as redness typically occur within 15 minutes of exposure. Your reaction might be a rash or raised, round spots called wheals. This test checks for airborne allergies, food allergies and penicillin allergies.
- Intradermal skin test:
You may get an intradermal skin test if skin prick test results are negative or inconclusive. Your provider injects small amounts of the allergen into the outer layer of your skin (epidermis). This test checks for allergies to airborne irritants, medications and insect stings.
- Patch test:
This test determines the cause of contact dermatitis. Your provider places drops of an allergen onto the skin on your arm and covers the area with a bandage. Or your provider may apply a patch (bandage) that has the allergen on it. You leave the bandage on and return to the provider’s office within 48 to 96 hours. Then, your provider removes the bandage to check your skin for a rash or other reaction.
- Blood (IgE) test:
Your provider sends a sample of your blood to a lab. The lab adds allergens to the blood sample and measures the levels of IgE antibodies in it. Blood tests can have a higher rate of false-positive results.
- Challenge tests:
This test occurs only under a provider’s direct, in-person supervision. People with suspected food or drug allergies ingest (swallow) a small amount of an allergen. An allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergies, typically performs this test. Medical supervision is a must. If you develop anaphylaxis, the provider quickly gives an epinephrine injection to stop the reaction.