CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

182
ESSENTIALS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
cells can be determined with these sophisticated cell counters, which evolved
from a simple particle counter used by industries to measure the purity of certain
chemicals. There is even a simple spectrophotometer in the cell counter
to measure the hemoglobin level. Larger laboratories may have an automated
urinalysis instrument, but to justify this instrument, the volume must be considerable
for the system to be economical. Both the blood cell counters and the
urinalysis instruments require manual testing of samples if certain parameters
are exceeded when evaluated by the instruments.
Automated systems, generally referred to as autoanalyzers, have greatly
improved the economics of producing test results, as well as the efficiency and
accuracy of the laboratory. Autoanalyzers are fast and use small volumes of
reagents and other expendable supplies, enabling the laboratory manager to procure
and maintain the cost factors to date for each department of the laboratory.
Decisions as to whether tests should be sent to a reference laboratory or
performed “in-house” are relatively easy to make when figures related to specific
test procedures are available at any time. These instruments perform many
types of tests in tremendous volumes, economically and accurately, and require
little operator action beyond properly setting up the instruments for beginning a
“run” of samples and controls.
Student Practice of Procedures
In Chapters 11 through 17 of this book, a select batch of manual test procedures
along with an explanation of the clinical significance of the test will be provided.
Student technicians and technologists will most likely receive an opportunity to
perform some of these basic tests as a valuable component of their education
and training. This should occur in the classroom laboratory if there is one in the
educational institute. Those who do not have the practice laboratory located
at the educational facility will normally have an arrangement with a medical
laboratory in a hospital or a large clinic. There a technologist known as a preceptor
will furnish an orientation to the student, along with supplies, equipment,
and instructions for setting up these procedures. The student’s performance will
be evaluated by the preceptor and sometimes by a clinical coordinator from
the educational institute to insure the basic knowledge and practice have been
obtained. There will be examples of a number of routine laboratory procedures
that are routinely performed in each of the major departments of the laboratory.
These procedures are provided for familiarization and are by no means all of the
laboratory examinations laboratory technicians and technologists perform.
Representative Procedures
Literally thousands of procedures are performed on a regular basis in the laboratory
or referred to a commercial reference laboratory. This book is not designed
to teach students to perform laboratory analyses, as this set of instructional components
will be covered thoroughly by classes in theory before the clinical skills
will be taught in depth, and then will be strengthened by clinical applications at
medical facilities. The latter chapters of basic procedures are presented mainly for
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