Types of Laboratories

Disease prevention is utilizing screening tests in order to improve or maintain health. Some examples of this may be a pap test, PSA, lipid panel, or glucose levels. Performance of these tests assists patient’s in better maintaining their health. For example, if a cholesterol or glucose level is elevated, the patient can improve diet and increase activity levels, in order to lower the levels. If these methods are not successful, the patient is able to choose a pharmaceutical option to assist in keeping levels within a normal range.

Environmental laboratories are responsible for testing samples such as water, air, fish, hazardous waste, and soil. This may be accomplished in the form of chemical, bacteriological, or radiological testing. Often times, environmental laboratories are government-run. This testing is important in assuring the public is not exposed to sub-par drinking water, fish with high levels of mercury, air pollution, or contaminated soils.

Forensic laboratories utilize evidence gathered from a crime scene to be analyzed in order to aid in solving criminal cases. Various specimens are analyzed, such as, tissue, hair, blood, and body fluids. Oftentimes, toxicology and forensics go hand in hand to determine if there has been an overdose or poisoning. Many different methodologies are used to perform analysis of specimens. DNA or molecular testing may be able to assist in identifying the perpetrator. Immunoassay may help determine if a victim was poisoned. Forensic laboratorians may find themselves testifying in a court case on behalf of the prosecution.

Hematology laboratories are responsible for testing disorders of the blood and bone marrow. Some of the diseases the hematology laboratory has the responsibility for diagnosing consist of leukemia, clotting disorders, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and polycythemia vera. The diagnosis of these diseases is completed utilizing various methodologies ranging from biopsies, molecular, and immunochemical testing. Blood and bone marrow disease states are most often diagnosed under close supervision of a pathologist.

HLA Immunogenetics laboratories work closely with patients awaiting transplants, those in need of HLA compatible blood or bone marrow, and those with auto-immune diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Testing methodologies used most often within this setting, include flow cytometry, solid phase assays, and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC).

Hospital Laboratories offer a wide array of testing options and are able to diagnose a diverse number of medical conditions. Depending on the size of the organization, hospitals are able to run basic testing services all the way up to very complicated testing, in order to best serve the client population.

Microbiology laboratories are responsible for preparation, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment of bacterial, viral, parasitic, and mycologic infections. A few of the disease states that are diagnosed include urinary tract, wound, blood, and yeast infections. Microbiology testing is completed using a vast array of different methodologies which range all the way from setting up and isolating cultures to very complicated DNA isolation.

Molecular/Genomics laboratories utilize gene sequencing to diagnose, screen, and monitor disease states. This form of testing involves utilizing DNA and RNA from chromosomes to perform genetic sequencing. The arrangement of an individual’s chromosomes can aid in determining gene mutations, hereditary patterns of inconsistency, and genetic variations. Molecular testing is utilized in determining risk of hereditary cancers, Down’s syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and multiple other disease states. This is a rapidly growing field within the laboratory testing realm, with new tests being developed often.

Pathology laboratories diagnose a multitude of disease states through the utilization of body fluid, tissue, and cell samples. Various methodologies are used by pathology labs, including, molecular testing, microscopy, and immunoassay. Essentially, pathology encompasses all areas of any laboratory. Most often the pathology lab becomes involved when there are abnormalities in a sample. For example, if a client has a low iron level, pathology may aid in diagnosing anemia. Pathology often diagnoses blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. The pathology lab is responsible for looking at all biopsy specimens to determine whether a disease state exists.

Pain management laboratories are responsible for aiding physicians treating individual’s with chronic pain. These laboratories have the ability to quantitate drug levels within the urine or blood. Most often the testing is performed via enzyme immunoassays or mass spectrophotometry. The business of pain management is often difficult and complicated. Utilizing quantitative methodologies to determine drug levels are extremely helpful in monitoring the necessary dosage for optimal pain control.

Reference Laboratories receive testing from multiple clients such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other laboratories. Often, a specimen is sent to a reference lab due to the referring client not having the means to perform the test themselves. Generally, reference labs run testing that may be more unique and specialized in nature than that which may be performed within a physician’s office or hospital. Some of the testing a reference lab may perform include genetic testing, specific cancer diagnoses, and rare disorders that are not easily diagnosed within a clinic or hospital.

Research laboratories are vital to the development and improvement of pharmaceuticals, laboratory testing, and other scientific endeavors in order to improve the quality and longevity of life. Various methodologies, experiments, and techniques are utilized in a controlled setting to assist in creating new therapies to assist in the treatment and cure of disease states. Some examples include improved diabetes treatments, cancer therapies, and Alzheimer’s drugs.

Stem cell research focuses on determining how these cells develop from undifferentiated into functioning cells within the body. Study of stem cells is helpful in determining how an essentially blank cell has the ability to turn into a differentiated cell, with functioning capabilities within the body. Some of the areas of stem cell research include use in repairing damaged tissues or organs, genetic defects in cells, and how normal cells turn into cancer cells. There are several different types of stem cells, including: embryonic, cord blood, adult, amniotic, and induced pluripotent. Cord blood stem cells are able to be frozen following birth and saved for future use in treatment of blood cancers and other genetic blood disorders.

Toxicology labs study the effects of chemical substances on the body. This is critical in determining dosages for pharmaceuticals and toxicity in overexposure to a chemical. Toxicology labs utilize various methodologies in determining the proper dosages of pharmaceuticals based on age and body mass. Most often, immunoassays, mass spectrophotometry, and gas chromatography are used for quantitative and qualitative testing. Qualitative and quantitative determination of alcohol, opioid, mercury, and nicotine are a few examples of testing done within the toxicology lab.

Transplant laboratories assist in assuring that an individual receiving a transplant has a minimal chance of rejecting an organ once it is placed, as well as post-transplant monitoring to detect any early signs of rejection. HLA testing is one of the major indicators of whether a transplant will be successful. HLA testing is done on both the recipient and the potential donor prior to transplant. Although, HLA detection is not the only analysis performed in transplant labs, it is a major component in determining successful transplant. Methodologies used withing the transplant lab include flow antibody screen, complement-fixing antibodies, and flow cytometric crossmatch.