LABORATORY SERVICES IN HOSPITALS
Laboratory services in hospitals play a critical role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Samples of body fluids, tissue, and cells are collected and examination and analysis are carried out.
It is either centralized or decentralized within a hospital, but always beneficial to it. The main services provided by the laboratories are to:
• perform diagnostic tests
• identify organisms, like E-coli bacteria
• count and classify blood cells to identify infection or disease
• operate complex diagnostic equipment
• perform immunological tests to check for antibodies
• type and cross-match blood samples for transfusions
• analyse DNA
The laboratory in a hospital runs tests on patients that pertain to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases. Although the laboratory is within the hospital, it generally does other testing aside from tests conducted for the hospital. Other clinics, private practice doctors, and medical facilities will send their clinical specimens to hospitals for analysis. providing several services like General Haematology, Special Haematology (Coagulative hematology, Haemoglobin studies, Iron Studies, Transfusion Medicine, and Enzymatic studies), Clinical Microbiology which includes -Bacteriology, Parasitology, Virology and Mycology-, Immunology, Histopathology, Chemical Pathology (General Clinical Chemistry), Special Chemical Pathology (Endocrinological Studies). Blood tests are also carried out before a transfusion to determine the patient’s blood type.
The tests and crunch data performed on blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids are carried out by clinical laboratory scientists, or medical technologists as well as several people with varying skill sets in hematology, microbiology, or immunohematology to run the lab well, detecting, diagnosing and treating diseases.
Qualities of a good hospital laboratory
- The lab is committed to good laboratory practices, excellence in testing/examination, and compliance with Quality Management System.
- Our quality and standardization programs fulfill the healthcare needs and quality expectations of our patients and clinical consultants.
- Constant up-gradation and introduction of new tests and methods to meet the demands of clinicians have been our continuous goals.
- We strive for continuous quality improvement in all processes and services that support patient care. These are monitored by various quality indicators that are reviewed regularly by the management and accreditation agencies.
- We combine the efficiency of automation and Lean principles to simplify and streamline processes.
Major departments in hospital laboratories
Biochemistry Department
This department plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of diabetes, liver diseases, heart diseases, kidney disorders, hormone disorders, and osteoporosis. It has the facilities to run fully-automated chemistry and immunoassay analyzers. The department should have the latest state-of-the-art technology to perform a wide variety of super-specialized investigations such as cardiac profile, renal profile, tumor markers, fertility markers, thyroid profile, therapeutic drug monitoring, arthritis profile, and many more. All procedures should be controlled adequately to ensure that results are precise.
Genetic Screening Department
This is a Platform for early diagnosis of fetal abnormalities, chromosomal abnormalities, and a heritable class of disorders with the best technology and quality. Technologies like DELFIA should be available to screen prenatal abnormalities and Newborn congenital and metabolic disorders.
Haematology Department
The hematology department in a lab provides morphologic consultations for peripheral blood and bone marrow disorders, as well as a variety of other diagnostic assays. Also, the diagnosis of disorders that affect erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets such as hemoglobinopathies, leukemia, and morphological abnormalities of blood cells are provided by this department.
Microbiology Department
The Department of Clinical Microbiology has Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, and Serology sections. Samples are processed by qualified and well-experienced technical staff.
Benefits of having a laboratory in hospitals
1. Location- proximity
The lab is within the confines of the hospital and so it is preferable because patients will not have to have to move to another location for their tests. The hospital laboratory should be planned on the ground floor and so located that it is easily accessible to the wards. If the hospital has a high number of outpatients coming to their laboratory services, there may be a need to be obviated the possibility of keeping inpatients unattended by opening a sample collection counter in the outpatient service area.
2. Outpatient investigations
The provision of a laboratory sample collection facility in the outpatient department may assist in OPD investigations should the patient be referred to see a doctor or other specialized health care personnel.
3. Ease of Expansion:
In a hospital, since there is usually a large space, expansion and developments taking place in diagnostic laboratory methods are much easier. At any point, if the proposed functions of the department increase, expand, or diversify, a working room for all activities carried out in the laboratory will be easily created.
The only thing more important than having a laboratory in a hospital is having a high-quality laboratory where vital services and test results are accurate and provided at the appropriate time and at a reasonable cost. Intentional efforts must be made daily to assure quality in the laboratory environment, its staff competence and management, communications, record keeping, good-quality reagents and equipment, and constant evaluation by the main management body.
