LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. 1 describe and characterize the purpose of the clinical laboratory

2. 2 describe Coulter's discovery

3. 3 define flow cytometry and describe why it is useful

4. 4 describe and define a fluorochrome and identify why it is useful

5. 5 describe potentiometry

6. 6 define an ion selective electrode and describe its applications

7. 7 define spectrophotometry and describe the application of this technique

8. 8 define osmolality and describe the application of this technique

9. 9 define an osmometer and identify its basic principle

10. 10 describe electrophoresis

11. 11 describe the principles of operation of a centrifuge

12. 12 identify and describe other types of laboratory equipment

13. 13 describe point-of-care testing

Introduction

The clinical laboratory is vital to a hospital's ability to treat patients. Bodily fluids from patients are analyzed for their chemical makeup and evidence of disease. Many therapeutic and treatment decisions are made based on the results of this important analysis. Almost all testing is automated and most devices perform many tasks. BMET support is vital to the clinical laboratory, as it is a very equipment-intensive department. The high level of complex equipment does require some hospitals to obtain service contracts for the support of clinical laboratory equipment.

Some of the fluids from patients that are commonly analyzed include blood, urine, and cerebral spinal fluid. A tremendous number of tests are performed. This chapter focuses on the principles that form the foundation for the complex equipment. Most devices use multiple reagents, bar codes, robotics, and computers to perform the sample preparation and multiple tests.