General Overview of Clinical Biochemistry

Laboratory Medicine is a discipline of medicine that functions to provide diagnostic tests which are utilized by physicians to assess the health of an individual. The roles and functions of a clinical chemistry laboratory include providing diagnostic tests, consultation, education, and research support. The driving force is Patient Care, and this must be done effectively and economically.

The Role of Clinical Laboratory Services

Laboratory Medicine functions through a dynamic interaction with all hospital departments, including Emergency (ER), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), as well as physicians outside of the hospital to maximize health care. This is achieved through:

• Consultation regarding tests to be requested
• Education of medical students, residents, medical technologists, and medical staff
• Development, evaluation and implementation of new diagnostic assays
• Supporting clinical and basic research
• Interaction with all departments to maintain and/or improve the flow and accuracy of information

Steps in the Investigation of a Patient

The process of medical assessment follows a specific sequence of actions:

1. Patient History
2. Physical Examination
3. Laboratory Tests
4. Imaging Techniques
5. Diagnosis
6. Therapy
7. Evaluation

Laboratory Operations and the HRLMP

The Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program (HRLMP) process started in 1998 to combine all Hamilton Hospital laboratories in an effort to maximize resources and improve laboratory service. The Laboratory Medicine Program must operate as a non-profit business and has a fixed yearly budget to cover staff, equipment and reagents. The following table provides an overview of the program's scope:

Furthermore, it operates the Laboratory Reference Centre (LRC) to provide access to specialize testing to other institutes in Central Ontario and the rest of Canada, serving over 125 LRC clients.

Testing Procedures and Sources of Variation

It is important to consider sources of variation that can affect laboratory test results, such as pre-analytical factors related to specimen collection, transport, and processing, and analytical and post-analytical errors. Regarding academic assessment, the CA and final exam will be based on material from the lecture notes as well as anything covered in class. The bottom line for studying is to use the hand outs, lecture slides, and any notes you make while attending class.