Clinical Laboratory Overview

Nature of the Clinical Laboratory

• The clinical laboratory provides accurate and reliable information for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and management of diseases.
• 70% of doctors' decisions are based on lab tests.
• The lab is also involved in research, community outreach, surveillance, infection control (hospital and community), information dissemination, and evaluating new technologies.
• Specimens (blood, body fluids, tissues, feces, etc.) are processed, analyzed, preserved, and disposed properly.

Classifications of Clinical Laboratories

A. According to Function

• Clinical Pathology: focuses on clinical chemistry, immunohematology, blood banking, medical microbiology, immunology, serology, hematology, parasitology, clinical microscopy, toxicology, and therapeutic drug monitoring, among others. Diagnoses and treats diseases using blood and other body fluids.
• Anatomic Pathology: focuses on histopathology, immunohistopathology, cytology, autopsy, and forensic pathology. Diagnoses diseases through microscopic examination of tissues and organs.

B. According to Institutional Characteristics

• Institution-based: operates within an institution (hospital, clinic, etc.).
• Free-standing: not part of a larger institution (e.g., outpatient lab).

C. According to Ownership

• Government-owned: wholly or partially owned by the national or local government.
• Privately-owned: owned by an individual, corporation, institution, association, or organization.

Service Capability

• Primary: routine lab tests (urinalysis, stool exams, complete blood count, etc.).
• Secondary: primary tests plus clinical chemistry tests (blood glucose, BUN, BUA, creatinine), additional microscopy (Gram-stain).
• Tertiary: tests from secondary plus immunology/serology, microbiology/bacteriology/mycology, special clinical chemistry, special hematology, and immunohematology with blood banking.

National Reference Laboratory:

• Designated by the DOH for special diagnostic services for certain diseases.
• Includes referral services, confirmatory testing, and implementing external quality assurance programs.

Clinical Laboratory Classifications based on Service Capability

• Primary category laboratories are licensed for basic routine testing, such as routine urinalysis, stool examination, and a complete blood count (which includes hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC and RBC counts, WBC differential count, and qualitative platelet count), blood typing, and Gram staining.
• Secondary category laboratories are licensed to perform the tests done by the primary category laboratories, in addition to routine clinical chemistry, like blood glucose, BUN, BUA, blood creatinine, cholesterol determination, qualitative platelet count, and, if hospital-based, gram stain, KOH mount, and crossmatching tests.
• Tertiary category laboratories are licensed to perform all tests of the secondary category, in addition to immunology and serology, microbiology, etc.

Explore the critical role of clinical laboratories in healthcare, including their functions in diagnosis and treatment. Learn about the classifications of clinical laboratories and the essential tests they perform for accurate patient care. This quiz will enhance your understanding of lab operations and their significance in medical practice.