Introduction to the Principles of Laboratory Medicine

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Introduction to the Principles of Laboratory
Medicine
Photos by Theresa Kristopaitis, MD
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Are the labs back yet?
The lab is calling with a critical value
Was the lab drawn?
We need the labs before the patient can____
Bring the fluid down to the lab STAT
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The Clinical Laboratory Plays a Key Role in
Patient Care

• The goals of the Introduction to the Principles
  of Laboratory Medicine modules are for
  healthcare professionals to
• Recognize the important role that laboratory
  medicine professionals have within the healthcare
  team
• Gain basic understanding of the laboratory
  testing process
• Improve patient care

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Objectives

• The learner will
• Define laboratory medicine and clinical
  pathology.
• Describe the diagnostic testing process
• Define the three phases of the laboratory testing
  process preanalytical, analytical and post
  analytical
• Give examples of variables in each phase of the
  laboratory testing process
• Define the term critical value
• Define point of care testing
• Define reference lab
• Define reference range and describe in
  general terms how references ranges are
  determined.
• Apply the principles of laboratory medicine to
  provide better patient care

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Contents

• Module 1
• What is clinical laboratory medicine?
• Module 2
• The diagnostic testing process
• Module 3
• Preanalytic Phase of Laboratory Testing
• Module 4
• Analaytic Phase of Laboratory Testing
• Module 5
• Postanalytic Phase of Laboratory Testing
• Module 6
• Establishing Reference Ranges