Laboratory

Laboratory

In the era of modern technology, health care delivery system
involves so many different personnel and specialties that the
caregiver must have an understanding and working
knowledge of other professional endeavors, including the role
of diagnostic evaluation. Basically, laboratory and diagnostic
tests are tools by and of themselves, they are not therapeutic.
In conjunction with a pertinent history and physical
examination, these tests can confirm a diagnosis or provide
valuable information about a patient status and response to
therapy. In addition to these, laboratory findings are essential
for epidemiological surveillance and research purposes.
If the entire network of a laboratory service is to be effectively
utilized and contribute to health care and disease prevention,
every member of its work force need to:
• Understand the role of the laboratory and its contribution
to the nation’s health service;
• Appreciate the need to involve all members in the
provision of health service;
• Follow professional ethics and code of conduct;
• Experience job satisfaction and have professional loyalty.
Medical laboratory science is a complex field embracing a
number of different disciplines such as Microbiology,
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Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Urinalysis, Immunology,
Serology, Histopathology, Immunohematology and Molecular
biology and others.
Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology is a basic
course that equips the student with the most essential
knowledge and skill pertaining to medical laboratories such
as:
• Importance of laboratory services;
• Role of medical laboratory technologist;
• Use of laboratory wares, instruments and sterilization
techniques;
• Prevention and control of laboratory accidents and;
• Institution of quality control system.
Moreover, this course is extremely important for the student
as it paves the ways to easily understand various professional
courses such as Hematology, Bacteriology, Urinalysis,
Parasitology, and others. Hence, great emphasis should be
given to this subject matter so as to train qualified, competent
and task oriented medical laboratory technologists