Intro to Health Sciences
Chapter 20
Laboratory Science in Health Care
Lab Science
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Many forensic investigators who work in
CSI start their careers in medical
laboratories.
Approximately 70-80% of all physician
decisions are based on laboratory test
results produced by medical laboratory
professionals.
Laboratory Personnel
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Do not usually have
contact with patients
Most of work is done
while sitting
Requires excellent vision
and manual dexterity
Environment
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Clean
Well lit
Regular hours
Frequent use of
microscope
Areas of Study
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Clinical labs
Blood banking
Research and
Development
Epidemiology
Careers
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Pathologist
Laboratory
Technologist
Medical Laboratory
Technician
Medical Laboratory
Assistant
Phlebotomist
Careers
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Life Scientist
Animal Scientist
Food Scientist
Dental Laboratory
Technician
Environmental Health
Technician
$15,000-75,000 per year
4 year undergraduate school
Careers
Pathologist
4 years of medical school
4 years of residency
2 - 4 years of specialty internship
Medical Doctor
Examines specimens of body
tissue, fluids and secretions
to:
 Diagnosis disease
 Determine effectiveness of
treatment
 Determine cause of death
Careers
4 year undergraduate school
1 year internship
State Exam for licensure
Laboratory
Technologist
Performs clinical lab testing
Analyzes results
Cross matches blood for
transfusions
Calibrates equipment
Works under the supervision of
the Pathologist
Careers
Laboratory
Technologist
Areas of specialization:
Microbiology
Identifying microorganisms that cause disease
Cytotechnologist Analyzing cells for diagnosis
Hematology
Study of blood
Immunology
Study of body’s resistance to pathogens
Histology
Study of tissue
Careers
Medical Laboratory
Technician (MLT)
Works under the supervision
of the Lab technologist or
pathologist
Prepares tissue slides
Performs simple blood tests
2- 4 years undergraduate
school
Some states require
certification exams for
licensure
Careers
Medical Laboratory
Assistant
Perform routine tests
under the supervision of
the technologist
Urinalysis, hematology,
serology and
bacteriology
1 year of education in a
hospital
or
2 years in a community
college or vocational
program
Certification is possible
with examination
OJT
Careers
Phlebotomist
Obtain and
process blood
specimens,
throat cultures
or wound
swabs.
or
1 year vocational or
community college
program
Blood Banking Careers
Donor recruitment
Phlebotomist
Blood Bank Lab Supervisor
Specialist in Blood Bank Technology
(SBB)
Blood Banking Career Opportunities
Donor Recruitment
Organize and plan blood
drives
Publicity
Incentive Programs
Donated blood is good for
35 days.
Frozen can be kept up to 3 years
Blood Banking Career Opportunities
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy –
venipuncture
Tourniquet – used
to obstruct blood
flow
Blood Banking Career Opportunities
Lab
Supervisor
Medical
Technologist
Blood Banking Career Opportunities
Specialist in Blood
Bank Technology
(SBB)
Select donors
Draw blood
Type blood
Run perfusion tests
Act as resource in solving
problems
4 year undergraduate
degree
Certification as a MLT
Blood Banking Terms
Donor – one who
gives
Recipient – One
who receives
Career Opportunities
Life Scientists
Researchers
Study living
organisms and life
processes
Many areas of
specialization
4 year undergraduate
degree
2 year Masters Degree
2 year Doctoral program
Career Opportunities
Life Scientists
Developing new drugs
Methods of treatment
Developing new plants
Environmental protection
¼ work for the federal
government
1/3 work for private
industry
The Rest are in
Universities
Career Opportunities
Life Scientists
Areas of specialty:
Biology
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Genetics
Physics
Physiology
Microbiology
Career Opportunities
Life Scientists
Microbiologist
Virologists
Immunologists
Biochemists
Study bacteria, algae, viruses, and other
MO that cause disease. Develop vaccines
and new drugs
Specialize in viruses
Genetics, use of antibodies
Reproduction, growth and metabolism
Career Opportunities
Animal
Scientists
Study animals to
improve feeding,
housing, and
breeding.
Zoologists
4 year undergraduate
degree
2 year Masters Degree
2 year Doctoral program
Develop new techniques in farming, drugs,
pest control
Career Opportunities
Food Scientists
Evaluates safety of
food processing
Develops new
methods of
producing foods
4 year undergraduate
degree
Other Laboratory Personnel
Dental Lab
Technician
Environmental
Health
Technician
Other Laboratory Personnel
Dental Lab
Technician
Do not work directly with
patients
Make prostheses:
Bridges, crowns, inlays,
orthodontics.
Requires excellent manual
dexterity
2 year undergraduate
degree
Certification is available
Other Laboratory Personnel
Environmental
Health
Technician
Collect and analyze air
and water samples
2-4 year undergraduate
degree
Laboratory Terms
Microbiology Study of
microorganisms
(microbes)
Requires use of
microscope
Uses microscope to
view microscopic
organisms?
Leeuwenhoek
Best Environment for MO
Warmth
Moisture
Food supply
Darkness
Aerobic - require oxygen
Anaerobic - do not require
oxygen
Terms in Microbiology
Non-pathogens
Pathogens
Carrier
Not harmful
harmful
When an animal carries a MO w/o
injury to self. Can still spread the
disease
Normal Flora
Usually live in certain parts of the
body w/o causing harm
Terms in Microbiology
Resident MO that are always present
Transient MO that are found temporarily
Parasites
MO that damage host where
they live
Terms in Microbiology
Infection
Incubation
Invasion of MO, causing disease
Period of time when an infection
shows its effects
Communicable
Able to be transmitted to
others
Chain of infection
The infectious
process
Chain of Infection
Causative agent
Microorganism
Reservoir
Where the agent lives (animal, human, couch, etc)
Mode of transmission
Mode of entry
Susceptible host
Direct contact, body secretions, air
born, food, water, mosquitoes
Break in skin, mucous membrane,
any tract
When you are sick, malnourished,
very old, very young
Chain of Infection
Susceptible
host
Causative
agent
Reservoir
Mode of
entry
Mode of
Transmission
Means of
escape
Body’s First Line of Defense
The skin
Other defense
mechanisms:
Immune system
Vaccinations
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Bacteria
Fungi
Protozoans
Metazoans
Viruses
Rickettsiae
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Bacteria
Most common
Single celled organisms
Neither plants or animals
Classified according to their shape
Rod
Round
Spiral
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Bacteria
Anthrax
Boils
Bronchitis
Botulism
Gonorrhea
Leprosy
Pinkeye
Pneumonia
Tetanus
Tonsillitis
TB
UTI
Anthrax
Leprosy
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Fungi
Yeasts and Molds
Grow on other
organisms: parasitic
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Fungi
Athlete’s foot
Histoplasmosis
Ringworm
Thrush
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Protozoans
Animal like
One-celled
commonly show
characteristics usually
associated with animals most
notably mobility and
heterotrophy (consumes
food)
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Protozoans
African Sleeping
Sickness
Malaria
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Metazoans
Multi-cellular
Worms
They can perform
apoptosis (type of
beneficial cell
death)
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Metazoans
Hookworm
Pinworm
Tapeworm
Trichinosis
(eating
undercooked
pork)
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Viruses
Not really cells
Contains bits of
genetic information
Reproduce and
cause illness inside
cell body
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Viruses
AIDS (HIV)
Chickenpox
Cold Sores
Genital herpes
Hepatitis (HBV)
Flu
Measles
Mumps
Polio
Rabies
Warts
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Rickettsiae
Very small
Bacteria-like
organisms
Cannot live
outside living
tissue
MO that Cause
Disease in Humans
Rickettsiae
Rocky Mountain
Spotted fever
Epidemiology
Study of disease in
humans
Uses demographic
data
Helps control and
prevent
CDC
Epidemic –
outbreak of
disease that
effects large
number of
people in a
certain area
Terms
Agar -
usually from algae or
seaweed. The word means jelly. Used as
a growth medium for microorganisms
Petri Dish -
a flat dish made of
plastic or glass with a cover that is
primarily used to grow bacteria.
Must be sterilized after use before
discarding.
Terms
Culture and sensitivity –
C&S
Culture is done to find out what
kind of organism is causing an
illness or infection.
A sensitivity test checks to see
what kind of medicine, such as an
antibiotic, will work best to treat
the illness or infection.
Terms
Erythrocyte RBC, caries Oxygen
Leukocyte WBC, fights infection
Type of WBC
Phagocyte
Thrombocyte Platelet, helps blood to clot
Centrifuge
Sterile
Machine used to separate components of blood
No MO
Skills
Testing Urine for
Sugar and Acetone
S&A
Reagent strip – reacts to
chemicals
Sugar - glucose
Acetone – Ketone,
protein byproduct
Skills
Throat Culture
Tongue depressor
Culture swab
Skills
Finger Stick
Blood Sugar
Autolet - holds lancet
Lancet - small needle
Glucometer – used to
measure blood sugar from
a capillary puncture
Capillary puncture finger stick
Normal: 70-120
Skills
Using a
Microscope
The field of
vision
becomes
smaller as the
magnification
is increased.
Review
Lab employee who is a medical
doctor specializing in body tissue
and fluid analysis?
Pathologist
Review
A laboratory technician
requires __________ years
of education ?
4 years plus 1 year
internship
Review
Educational training for a
MLT ?
2-4 years
Review
Draws blood, can be educated
with OJT?
Phlebotomist
Review
4 year degree?
Bachelors degree
Review
Study of body tissues?
Histology
Review
Study of blood?
hematology
Review
One who receives a donation
form another?
recipient
Review
Who invented the compound
microscope?
A. Janassen
B. Fleming
C. Leeuwenhook
D. Lannec
Review
MO prefer an environment that is ?
A. warm
B. dark
C. dry
Review
Harmful MO ?
pathogens
Review
Bacteria that is not harmful when it
is found in a certain location ?
Normal flora.
Review
Washing your hands breaks what
chain in the chain of infection ?
Causative agent
Review
Wearing gloves breaks what chain
in the chain of infection ?
Portal of entry
Review
Getting 8 hours of sleep each
night and eating healthy each day
breaks what chain in the chain of
infection ?
Susceptible host
Review
An invasion of MO, resulting in
disease ?
infection
Review
Vaccinations are the body’s first
line of defense.
True
False
Review
Natural acquired immunity occurs
as a result of having the disease.
True
or
False
Review
bacteria
Review
protozoan
Review
TB, UTI, Pinkeye ?
bacteria
Review
Hepatitis, Aids, flu ?
Virus
Review
Tapeworm, pinworm?
Metazoan
Review
Athlete’s foot, ringworm?
fungus
Review
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
Rickettsiae
Review
Outbreak of disease in a certain
location ?
epidemic
Review
HCT ?
Hematocrit
H&H ?
Hemoglobin and Hematocrit
Review
HIV ?
Human
immunodeficiency virus
HBV ?
Hepatitis B
Review
CDC ?
Center for
Disease
Control
Review
glucometer
Review
lancets
Review
What is the most important way
to prevent the spread of
microorganisms?
Hand washing
Questions??