MEDICAL TESTING

1. MEDICAL TESTING Doctor requires information Patient sample collection Laboratory Testing Report generation Computer system maintenance Sample received & processed

2. ESSENTIAL SUPPORT • Specimen collection (on-site or TAFE training) • Safe transportation of biological and possibly infectious material • Clerical skills including anatomy and medical terminology • Specimen handling skills and training in infection control and manual handling • Information technology

3. WHO ARE MEDICAL SCIENTISTS? Medical Scientists perform medical laboratory tests on blood, other body tissues which assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Medical Scientists get results!

4. WHERE DO MEDICAL SCIENTISTS WORK? Medical scientists work in: • Hospital laboratories • State Health Laboratories • Universities • Private pathology laboratories

5. What do you need to work in a laboratory ? • An interest in science • Be able to communicate well • Be able to use a computer • Must want to learn all the time • An interest in helping others.

6. DISCIPLINES Medical Laboratory Science in Australia comprises many distinct professional disciplines. The main ones are: • Histopathology • Microbiology • Cytology • Blood Transfusion • Immunology • Haematology • Clinical biochemistry • Virology

7. A bacterial culture MICROBIOLOGY Identification of micro organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites which cause infection, and testing for effective antibiotics.

8. MICROBIOLOGY • Growth and Identification of Bacteria • Samples from body sites • Inoculated onto growth promoting media • Antibiotic Sensitivity Determined

9. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION

10. PARASITOLOGY • Single cell and complex organisms • Colonise human GI tract, Urinary tract and blood

11. HAEMATOLOGY • Counting and viewing of blood cells • Diagnose disease • Detect malignancies • Monitor treatment • Differentiate types of infection

12. There are different types of white cells, each with a different job. • NeutrophilsFight bacteria by releasing toxic substances • LymphocytesFight viruses by creating antibodies which stick to viruses and cause them to be eaten by Monocytes.

13. LEUKAEMIA • Growth of abnormal cells • Reduced normal maturation • Result of reduced RBC, Platelets and normal WCC

14. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS • Blood tests • Blood film • Bone marrow • Cell markers • Chromosomes

15. TRANSFUSION SEROLOGY • Blood products provided by Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service • Laboratory ensures products are compatible with recipients • Required for emergencies and elective procedures • Blood is not the only product used

16. BLOOD TRANSFUSION Laboratory testing of recipient blood and donor blood to ensure compatible and safe transfusion. Medical scientists in blood transfusion or immunohaematology, as it is sometimes known, are responsible for the testing of blood groups and compatibility of donor blood, prior to transfusion.

17. BLOOD GROUPING

18. HISTOPATHOLOGY Examination of Tissues for Disease • Samples removed • Processed • Sectioned and Stained • Microscopic Examination • Diagnosis

19. Slides stained to make cells clearly visible

20. CLINICAL CHEMISTRY Measurement of amounts of specific elements transported in the blood • Proteins • Sugars • Cellular breakdown products • Hormones • Toxins

21. CHEMISTRY • Mostly automated • Scientists need to understand: • Cellular metabolisms • Hormonal interactions • Immune responses • Anatomy

22. VIROLOGY • Identification of virus • Monitor course of infection • Common infections • Colds & Flu • Hepatitis • HIV/ AIDS • Glandular Fever

23. VIROLOGY Study of the consequences of viral infections. A scientist in a virology laboratory performs assays to detect the virus in host tissues or in cells used to isolate the virus from a host. These assays might detect viral nucleic acid or may involve immunological assays to detect viral proteins.

24. Papanicolaou smear under the microscope CYTOLOGY Study of cells Medical scientists in cytology are interested in individual abnormal cells, that are shed from tissues. One of the more publicised areas of their work is the Papanicolaou smear test (Pap Screen), which is used in the early detection of cancer of the cervix. After the sample has been collected onto a microscope slide, they are responsible for staining it and screening for abnormal cells.

25. IMMUNOLOGY A study of host responses to infection, malignancy and tissue damage. A medical scientist is able to identify and quantitate cells involved in immune responses. He/she is also able to identify and quantitate blood proteins produced in response to infection, malignancy or tissue damage or which play a role in protecting the body against these changes. As such an immunologist would diagnose, or assist in the diagnosis of, bacterial viral and fungal diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. asthma), cancer (e.g. leukaemia) or immunological deficiencies in the host.

26. TOXICOLOGY • Detect and Monitor Toxic Substances • Drugs of Abuse • Trace and Heavy Metals • Poisons

27. CHROMATOGRAPHY • Common technique • Seen in separating ink components

28. DNA TECHNOLOGY • Complete composition of human DNA complete • Variations in DNA can indicate whether a disease is likely to occur • Techniques in DNA analysis common to other laboratory disciplines