Chapter 24 Medical Laboratory Health Care Science Technology Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Chapter 24Medical Laboratory

Health Care Science Technology

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Chapter 242 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Objectives

Summarize the roles and responsibilities of a phlebotomist, medical laboratory assistant, medical laboratory technician, and medical technologist.

List the various places where a medical laboratory worker can be employed.

Chapter 243 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Objectives (cont.)

Define phlebotomy and explain the various methods that can be used to draw blood.

Identify various methods used for a drawing blood.

Practice aseptic techniques during laboratory procedures.

Successfully complete 8 medical laboratory procedures.

Chapter 244 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Careers in Medical Laboratories 24-1

The Phlebotomy TechnicianMedical Laboratory AssistantMedical Laboratory TechnicianMedical Technologist/Clinical

Laboratory Scientist

Chapter 245 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The Phlebotomy Technician

Phlebotomy – an incision, or cut, made into a vein to draw blood.

The most common method used to obtain blood is called venipuncture, puncturing a vein using a specifically-designed needle with a holder for special tubes.

Chapter 246 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The Phlebotomy Technician (cont.)

Performs capillary punctures that are used to collect small blood samples.

May collect urine specimens and throat cultures.

Commonly works in hospitals or large clinics; also works in physician offices, laboratories, nursing homes, blood banks, and health departments.

Chapter 247 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The Phlebotomy Technician (cont.)

Job Responsibilities– Properly identify blood samples. This is the most

important part of the job.– Explain the procedure to the clients.– Accurately label all samples.– Treat all samples correctly.– Maintain confidentiality.– Obtain the correct specimen in the correct manner.– Transport the specimen in the right manner to the

designated location.

Chapter 248 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

Often starts as a phlebotomy technician.

May work in the lab under the control of a medical technologist.

May be directed by a nurse or physician in a physician’s office.

Chapter 249 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities– Performs many tests to diagnose

diseases. – Collects specimens, prepares them

for testing, analyzes samples, and reports results.

– Performs waived tests.

Chapter 2410 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– May perform electrocardiograms, calculate and give injections, and perform breathing tests.

– Can remove sutures and change wound dressings.

– May be trained to perform front office responsibilities and may assist the office manager.

Chapter 2411 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Collect throat specimens for culture of organisms.

– Prepare bacteriological smears.– Stain culture smears with Gram’s

stain for use in organism identification.

Chapter 2412 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Test urine with chemical reagent strips.

– Test urine for glucose using copper reduction.

– Collect capillary blood samples.– Perform blood glucose and

cholesterol tests.

Chapter 2413 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Identify the client.– Identify the proper procedure for

specimen collection.– Collect the specimen properly.– Accurately label the specimen.

Chapter 2414 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Assistant (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Properly transport the specimen.– Perform lab tests.– Transmit accurate and timely

reports to the physician.– Maintain confidentiality.

Chapter 2415 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

Involved in preparing specimens and running automatic analyzers rather than collecting samples.

May be the person in charge in a physician’s office lab.

Chapter 2416 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Technician (cont.)

Job Responsibilities– Perform routine clinical lab tests to help

in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

– Perform less complex tests and lab procedures than technologists.

– Usually work under the supervision of a medical laboratory technologist or laboratory manager.

Chapter 2417 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Laboratory Technician (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Operate automated instruments.– Troubleshoot problems that occur

with the equipment.– Prepare chemical solutions.– Maintain quality control for the tests

being performed.– Keep accurate records.

Chapter 2418 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Technologist (MT)/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)

Performs tests from the routine to the most complex.

Requires little or no supervision.

May be a teacher, supervisor, or researcher.

Chapter 2419 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)

Job Responsibilities– Analyze the chemical content of fluids.– Match blood for transfusions, test for drug

levels in the blood, prepare specimens for examination.

– Use automated equipment and instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously.

Chapter 2420 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Examine and analyze tissues, cells, blood, and other body fluids.

– Analyze the chemical content of body fluids.– Prepare blood for transfusion.– Perform drug tests.– Identify fungi, parasites, or bacteria.– Report the sensitivity to antibiotics of identified

microorganisms.

Chapter 2421 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist (cont.)

Job Responsibilities (cont.)

– Operate complex precision equipment.– Interpret results to assist physicians in the

diagnosis of diseases.– Evaluate test results.– Develop procedures, quality control, and

quality assurance.– Maintain the integrity of equipment.

Chapter 2422 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Section 24-1 Apply Your Knowledge

Which laboratory position requires the least amount of supervision?

Answer:

Medical Technologist/

Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

Chapter 2423 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Medical Office Procedures 24-2

Collecting Specimens Performing Tests on Urine Additional Career Skills

Chapter 2424 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Collecting Specimens

Practice aseptic technique. Obtain the specimen without causing

harm, discomfort, or embarrassment to the client.

Give clear, complete instructions to the client regarding the collection method.

Collect the specimen in the proper manner and at the correct time.

Chapter 2425 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Assemble the correct collection methods, containers, and transport systems.

Collect the proper quantity of the specimen to avoid repetition.

Ask the client about any allergies or current medications that might affect test results.

Label all specimens with required information including the client’s name and date of collection.

Establish the legality of a diagnostic test before performing.

Collecting Specimens (cont.)

Chapter 2426 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Urinalysis is the oldest screening tool for diseases.

The urinalysis provides information about:– Carbohydrate metabolism.– Liver and kidney function.– Acid-base balance.– The presence of infection.

Performing Tests on Urine

Chapter 2427 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Various additional tests are performed by the medical laboratory staff.

Blood collection is an invasive procedure and is regulated by state and federal guidelines.

When handling blood and other body fluids you should follow strict standard precautions at all times.

Additional Career Skills

Chapter 2428 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Section 24-2 Apply Your Knowledge

What might an elevated cholesterol reading indicate?

Answer: Liver malfunction, hypothyroidism, or atherosclerosis.

Chapter 2429 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Procedures in Student Text

24A Preparing Bacteriological Smears

24B Inoculating an Agar Plate

24C Staining Culture Smears with Gram’s Stain

24D Performing a Rapid Strep Test

Chapter 2430 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Procedures in Student Text (cont.)

24E1 Assessing Urine for Color and Turbidity

24E2 Measuring Specific Gravity Using a Urinometer

24E3 Testing Urine with Chemical Reagent Strips

24E4 Microscopic Urine Analysis

Chapter 2431 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Additional Procedures in Lab Activity Manual

LM24-1 Performing the Test for Infectious Mononucleosis

LM24-2A Testing Urine for Glucose Using Copper Reduction

LM24-2B Testing Urine for Protein

LM24-2C Performing a Pregnancy Test

LM24-3 Collecting a Capillary Blood Sample

LM24-4 Performing a Hematocrit

LM24-5 Performing a Hemoglobin Test

Chapter 2432 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Additional Procedures in Lab Activity Manual (cont.)

LM24-6 Making a Blood Smear

LM24-7 Manual Method for Counting Cells

LM24-8 Collecting a Venous Blood Sample

LM24-9 Performing a Butterfly Blood Collection

LM24-10 Performing an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test

LM24-11 Performing a Cholesterol Test

LM24-12 Determining ABO Group

LM24-13 Determining Rh Blood Factor