SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES MT 50 - CLINICAL INTERNSHIP MIDYEAR IMMUNOLOGY AND SEROLOGY (AM SHIFT) June 17, 2024 - June 28, 2024 A NARRATIVE REPORT SUBMITTED TO: MA’AM MIR OLIVET CANTILA SIR ROBI RONADO CONCEPCION MA’AM ERICA MEI N. SYSING SUBMITTED BY: SAMMY F. MANICAP NARRATIVE REPORT A new beginning. This marks my first rotation for the internship. I would like to start my reflection by thanking God first because I could not have made it this far without his help and presence. I would also like to thank my family for being there when I was at my lowest—motivating me to push further daily. I would also like to thank my friends and batchmates for their eagerness to help one another. I am filled with gratitude and accomplishment as I write this reflection on my journey. "Making it to this day" has not been an easy path. Still, it is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the support of countless individuals who have stood by me. I am assigned to ACE DOCTOR'S DUMAGUTE as my Summer Internship. On July 18, 2024, I woke up at 5 am because I was excited on my first day even though the orientation would start at 8 am. I prepared myself thoroughly to make sure I remembered every single thing. The orientation was on the 8th floor of the Hospital. Sir Cede, the Chief Medtech in Ace, Sir Robi, one of our Clinical Instructors in the Summer Semester, and other RMT and CI oriented us on Basic rules and regulations in the Hospital. After a while, we were instructed to go down to the Laboratory. The first day of duty is a significant milestone, marking the transition from preparation, which is from Class and LabClass, to professional engagement. It is a day filled with anticipation, excitement, and a fair share of anxiety. My first day was no different; I could describe it as a blend of emotions. I was assigned to IMMUNOLOGY and SEROLOGY, and Ma'am Katrina L. Teves, RMT, was my Section Head. She gave me an overview and briefed me on my responsibilities. My first day was an overload of information. I was introduced to the machines and how to operate them. It was overwhelming but also exhilarating. The learning curve was steep, but I welcomed the challenge. I had been preparing for this, and now it was time to apply my knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. I was introduced to three significant IS machines: (1) ADAMS A1c Lite Arkray, whose principle is HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography). (2) Finecare - FIA (Fluorescence immunoassay) and (3) Abbott Architect Plus I 1000SR - CMIA (Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). (1) In Arkray, it measures mainly HbA1c - a measurement for Diabetes. In (2) Finecare its a POCT machine that measures: AFP - Its clinical significance is the detection of primary hepatic carcinoma diagnosis, CKMB - Diagnosis for AMI, PCT - Bacterial infectious diseases, HbA1c - Diagnosis for Diabetes mellitus, CRP - Future CVD, D-dimer -Thrombosis/thrombotic Diseases, Nt-proBNP - Suspected Congestive Heart Failure, Beta-HCG -early detection for pregnancy, and lastly CEA - detection of Carcinoma like colorectal cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, breast cancer, mucinous ovarian cancer, etc.. Lastly, (3) Abbott Architect Plus I 1000SR measures many tests like a Hepatitis Panel, Thyroid Panel, CA markers, TTIs, and Other tests. My 1st week in duty was Hectic. There were a lot of samples to process, and mostly, it was HbA1c. It was not shocking to me since, as Filipinos, we are carbohydrate lovers. We ate a lot of carbs in our meals, and 3x at that! The Next standard test was the Hepatitis Panel. There were a lot of patients who checked their Hepatitis Panel. The most uncommon was the Pregnancy and C3 test. I took my pretest and did my Performance notebook during my shift. In my second week on duty, I coped quickly. I am able to process samples without supervision and am independent most of the time. However, there are tests for which I still need guidance from my RMT. So far, it has been fun and exciting. Time ran fast, and I took the ERT and Post-test to end my rotation. Reflecting on that day, I realize how pivotal it was in shaping my professional identity and setting the tone for my future endeavors. My main challenges during these first two weeks was waking up early. At 6 a.m., it was raining and cold. My body was stiff and unresponsive at that time. It took all my mental power to move, change, and eat breakfast. Reflecting on my journey, I realize how much I have learned beyond academic knowledge. I knew the importance of perseverance, the value of hard work, and the strength of support systems. This accomplishment has given me the confidence to pursue my dreams and set new, higher goals for the future. With this milestone behind me, I am excited to embark on the next chapter of my life, armed with the lessons and experiences that have shaped me into who I am today.
