CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

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ESSENTIALS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
laboratories, and only the larger microbiology departments perform other than
routine growing of and identification of bacteria on a nutritive medium from
specimens obtained from the patient. Most bacteria can be grown on selective
and differential media that are developed to provide materials needed for specific
bacteria to grow and reproduce. Not all strains of bacteria have the same nutritive
requirements, so a number of types of media are required to grow a wide
variety of organisms. Some bacteria, in particular Treponema pallidum, which
causes syphilis, cannot be cultured on commercial media, so other methods of
identification are required.
Detection of and identification of viruses require cell cultures, since these
microorganisms can only grow and reproduce in cells (intracellularly), which
provide the DNA and in some cases RNA (for a group called retroviruses)
needed for their growth. The herpes virus and hepatitis viruses are the most
prevalent organisms causing diseases, and they are detected directly by sophisticated
methods or indirectly by the presence of specific antibodies found in the
serum of the blood. Some bacterial organisms, such as the tuberculosis-causing
organism, grow extremely slowly on special media, and this process can take
weeks to months. Most fungal (mycological) infections are caused by organisms
that also grow slowly, but many of the parasites and their eggs are identifiable
almost immediately by use of the microscope.
Clinical microbiologists additionally perform an important role in determining
the appropriate antibiotic for the physician’s use in treating diseases. Injudicious
use of antibiotics for viral infections such as colds leads to a greater variety
of organisms not susceptible to the medication, and hospitals are often the source
of infections in patients who are treated in the facility. Many infectious bacterial
organisms are now being identified with new and emerging technology, where
the sequence of DNA is specific for identifying various species of microorganisms.
But microbiology relies mostly on the skills and intuitive knowledge of the
technologist or microbiologist. Many microbiologists earn a master’s or doctoral
degree, enabling them to perform at a higher level of expertise. Higher levels of
certification under the professional certification agencies are available for those
who pursue graduate degrees in microbiology.
Committee Functions
Committee functions within the hospital play a vital role in maintaining the quality
of services. Many employees, including those from the laboratory, are often
called on to serve on a committee where their expertise would be needed. Most
accreditation requirements and related issues of health care delivery are handled
by committee members who are chosen because of their particular expertise.
Some committees are multidisciplinary and have members from several departments
within the hospital. Some committees also retain members from outside
the facility to gain input from the community. Many committees require multidisciplinary
groups that act as experts in some of the areas addressed by the
committees. Often these committees are required by accreditation bodies for
certain functions, and during a site visit from licensure or accreditation organizations,
the site visitors from the professional groups may ask to meet with the
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