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MEDICAL TESTING Doctor requires information Patient sample collection Laboratory Testing Sample received & processed Computer system maintenance Report generation ESSENTIAL SUPPORT Specimen collection (on-site or TAFE training) Safe transportation of biological and possibly infectious material Clerical skills including anatomy and medical terminology Specimen handling skills and training in infection control and manual handling Information technology WHO ARE MEDICAL SCIENTISTS? Medical Scientists perform medical laboratory tests on blood, other body tissues which assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Medical Scientists get results! WHERE DO MEDICAL SCIENTISTS WORK? Medical scientists work in: Hospital laboratories State Health Laboratories Universities Private pathology laboratories What do you need to work in a laboratory ? An interest in science Be able to communicate well Be able to use a computer Must want to learn all the time An interest in helping others. DISCIPLINES Medical Laboratory Science in Australia comprises many distinct professional disciplines. The main ones are: Histopathology Microbiology Cytology Blood Transfusion Immunology Haematology Clinical biochemistry Virology MICROBIOLOGY Identification of micro organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites which cause infection, and testing for effective antibiotics. A bacterial culture MICROBIOLOGY Growth and Identification of Bacteria Samples from body sites Inoculated onto growth promoting media Antibiotic Sensitivity Determined MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION PARASITOLOGY Single cell and complex organisms Colonise human GI tract, Urinary tract and blood HAEMATOLOGY Counting and viewing of blood cells Diagnose disease Detect malignancies Monitor treatment Differentiate types of infection There are different types of white cells, each with a different job. Neutrophils Fight bacteria by releasing toxic substances Lymphocytes Fight viruses by creating antibodies which stick to viruses and cause them to be eaten by Monocytes. LEUKAEMIA Growth of abnormal cells Reduced normal maturation Result of reduced RBC, Platelets and normal WCC LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS Blood tests Blood film Bone marrow Cell markers Chromosomes TRANSFUSION SEROLOGY Blood products provided by Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Laboratory ensures products are compatible with recipients Required for emergencies and elective procedures Blood is not the only product used BLOOD TRANSFUSION Laboratory testing of recipient blood and donor blood to ensure compatible and safe transfusion. Medical scientists in blood transfusion or immunohaematology, as it is sometimes known, are responsible for the testing of blood groups and compatibility of donor blood, prior to transfusion. BLOOD GROUPING HISTOPATHOLOGY Examination of Tissues for Disease Samples removed Processed Sectioned and Stained Microscopic Examination Diagnosis Slides stained to make cells clearly visible CLINICAL CHEMISTRY Measurement of amounts of specific elements transported in the blood Proteins Sugars Cellular breakdown products Hormones Toxins CHEMISTRY Mostly automated Scientists need to understand: Cellular metabolisms Hormonal interactions Immune responses Anatomy VIROLOGY Identification of virus Monitor course of infection Common infections Colds & Flu Hepatitis HIV/ AIDS Glandular Fever VIROLOGY Study of the consequences of viral infections. A scientist in a virology laboratory performs assays to detect the virus in host tissues or in cells used to isolate the virus from a host. These assays might detect viral nucleic acid or may involve immunological assays to detect viral proteins. CYTOLOGY Study of cells Medical scientists in cytology are interested in individual abnormal cells, that are shed from tissues. One of the more publicised areas of their work is the Papanicolaou smear test (Pap Screen), which is used in the early detection of cancer of the cervix. After the sample has been collected onto a microscope slide, they are responsible for staining it and screening for abnormal cells. Papanicolaou smear under the microscope IMMUNOLOGY A study of host responses to infection, malignancy and tissue damage. A medical scientist is able to identify and quantitate cells involved in immune responses. He/she is also able to identify and quantitate blood proteins produced in response to infection, malignancy or tissue damage or which play a role in protecting the body against these changes. As such an immunologist would diagnose, or assist in the diagnosis of, bacterial viral and fungal diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. asthma), cancer (e.g. leukaemia) or immunological deficiencies in the host. TOXICOLOGY Detect and Monitor Toxic Substances Drugs of Abuse Trace and Heavy Metals Poisons CHROMATOGRAPHY Common technique Seen in separating ink components DNA TECHNOLOGY Complete composition of human DNA complete Variations in DNA can indicate whether a disease is likely to occur Techniques in DNA analysis common to other laboratory disciplines