Home > Medical laboratory

1 Departments

The laboratory is often divided into a number of disciplines:

• Microbiology receive swabs, faeces, urine, blood, sputum, medical equipment, as well as possible infected tissue. They culture this to check for any abnormal bacteria.

• Haematology receive whole blood and citrated plasma. They do full blood counts, blood films and coagulation investigations.

• Biochemistry usually receive serum. They test the serum for different components.

• ImmunologyImmunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with, among other things, the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease; malfunct test for antibodiesantigen An antibody is a protein complex used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. Each antibody recognizes a specific antigen unique to its target. Antibody structure Antibodies are glycoproteins foun against the bodies own cells.

• SerologySerology is a medical blood test to detect the presence of antibodies against a microorganism. See also Medical laboratory Seroconversion External links MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Infectious diseases. receive serum samples to look for evidence of diseases such as hepatitisIn medicine ( gastroenterology), hepatitis is any disease featuring inflammation of the liver. The clinical signs and prognosis, as well as the therapy, depend on the cause. Signs and symptoms Hepatitis is characterised by abdominal pain, fever, hepatomeg or HIVThe Human immunodeficiency virus HIV is a frequently mutating retrovirus that attacks the human immune system and which has been shown to cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). History HIV was discovered and identified as the agent for AIDS by.

• HistologyHistology is the microscopic study of tissues—their formation, structure and function. Related biosciences include: cytology and cell biology, which are at a level below tissues, studying cells; anatomy, which is at a level above tissues, studying organs; process solid tissue removed from the body to make slides and examine cellular detail.

• CytologyCytology (also known as Cell biology) is the scientific study of cells. Cytologists/cell biologists study cell structure (e. the organelles they contain), life cycle, division and function ( physiology) and eventual death. The word Cytology comes from the examine smears of cells (such as from the cervix) for evidence of cancer and other conditions.

• Cytogenetics involves using blood and other cells to get a karyotype. This can be helpful in prenatal diagnosis (e.g. Down's syndrome) as well as in cancer (some cancers have abnormal chromosomes).

• Virology and DNA analysis are also done in large medical laboratories.