Topic 1 PMLS
1. Medical Technology: Also known as laboratory medicine, clinical laboratory science, and
medical laboratory science.
Definitions of Medical Technology:
2. Fagelson (1961): Defines it as the branch of medicine concerned with laboratory
determinations and analyses used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the
maintenance of health.
3. Walters (1966): Describes it as the health profession concerned with performing
laboratory analyses to obtain information necessary for diagnosing and treating diseases
and maintaining good health.
4. Heinemann (1963): Defines it as the application of principles from natural, physical, and
biological sciences in laboratory procedures to aid in diagnosing and treating diseases.
5. R.A. 5527 (The Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969): Defines it as an auxiliary
branch of medicine that deals with examinations using various medical laboratory
procedures or techniques to aid in the diagnosis, study, and treatment of disease and the
promotion of health.
The Medical Technologists and Other Allied Health Professionals:
6. Medical Technologist (as defined in R.A. 5527): A person who engages in medical
technology work under the supervision of a pathologist, having passed specific educational
and board examination requirements.
7. Pathologist (as defined in R.A. 5527): A duly registered physician specially trained in
laboratory medicine and the study and interpretation of tissues and bodily fluids for
diagnosing disease.
8. Medical Laboratory Technician (as defined in R.A. 5527): A certified and registered
individual qualified to assist a medical technologist and/or pathologist in medical
technology practice.
9. Phlebotomist: An individual trained to draw blood for laboratory tests or donations, with a
requirement for medical technologists in the Philippines to be skilled in phlebotomy.
10. Blood Bank Technologists: Medical technologists specialized in the testing and preparation
of blood for transfusion.
11. Cytotechnologist: Laboratory practitioners specialized in preparing cell slides for
microscopic study and detecting cellular abnormalities.
12. Histotechnologists: Medical technologists specialized in preparing solid tissue samples for
examination under a microscope.
HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PROFESSION:
Early Beginnings:
13. Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC): The oldest preserved Egyptian medical text with records of
intestinal parasitic infections.
14. Sushruta (600 BC): A Hindu physician who described diabetes and its characteristics.
15. Hippocrates (300 BC): A Greek physician known as the "father of medicine" and his
description of the four humors and their relation to diseases.
16. Galen (180 AD): Described diabetes and its effects on urine.
Onset of Modern Medical Technology:
17. Marcello Malphigi: A renowned early microscopist and founding father of modern
anatomic pathology.
18. Rudolf Virchow: Recognized as the father of microscopic pathology, established the first
pathology laboratory.
19. Von Ziemssen (1886): Established the first hospital-attached clinical laboratory in Munich,
Germany.
Medical Technology in its Modern Onset in the United States:
20. Massachusetts General Hospital: Established the position of "Chemist-Microscopist" and
conducted autopsies.
21. Dr. William Welch: Opened a teaching laboratory at Bellevue Medical College, offering the
first laboratory course in pathology in an American medical school.
22. William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical Medicine (1895): Established by the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania, considered the first legitimate clinical science laboratory in the
United States.
23. University of Michigan Hospital: Opened the first well-equipped chemical laboratory
related to medicine.
24. Johns Hopkins Hospital: Opened its clinical laboratory in 1896 and established ward
laboratories.
25. Rockefeller Institute (1903): Established its own clinical laboratory headed by Dr. Simon
Flexner.
26. James Campbell Todd (1908): Authored a book on clinical diagnosis and laboratory
methods.
27. John Kolmer (1918): Called for a method to certify medical technologists on a national
scale and published The Demand for and Training of Laboratory Technicians.
28. R.B.H Gradwohl (1920): Proposed the establishment of schools for proper training of
laboratory technicians.
29. American Society for Clinical Pathology: Founded in 1922 to encourage the status of
clinical pathologists and establish a code of ethics for technicians and technologists.
Medical Technology in the Philippines:
30. 1944: During World War II, U.S. bases were set up in Leyte, and the 26th Medical
Laboratory of the 6th Infantry of the US Army established the first clinical laboratory in the
Philippines.
31. Dr. Pio de Roda: A Filipino doctor who re-established the laboratory in Manila Public
Health Laboratory in 1945 and offered training programs to high school graduates.
32. Formal Medical Technology Education in the Philippines: Various universities in the
Philippines started offering Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology programs, including
Philippine Union College, University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University, Far Eastern
University, and Saint Louis University.
THE MODERN FILIPINO MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST:
33. Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Technology Professionals: Describes various
responsibilities, including clinical testing, special procedures, accuracy, honesty,
professionalism, and more.
34. Medical Technology Code of Ethics: Outlines ethical principles and conduct for medical
technologists in the Philippines.