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Clinical Chemistry
The Clinical Chemistry section
of clinical laboratories deals with the biochemical
basis of diseases and biochemical tests for the purpose
of diagnosis and management. It relates to all the
medical specialties bringing together science and medicine.
It is a large section of Clinical Laboratories having two consultants, one Assistant Manager and 32 well trained and qualified technologists.
Doctors in the specialty
have dual responsibilities. First, there is the provision
of a reliable analytical service; secondly, they have
an important clinical role, advising on the management
of patients with metabolic disturbances.
Clinical Chemistry comprises of following sub sections:
a. Receiving and Processing Section
b. Routine Chemistry Section
c. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring/Blood Gases Section
d. Endocrinology/RIA Section
e. Manual Chemistry Section
f. Special Chemistry Section
a. Receiving and Processing Section:
At receiving/processing bench, different types
of blood and urine samples are received
from Phlebotomy area of the main lab, wards, CHC, CC,
Emergency and all the collection units inside and outside
Karachi. These samples are processed prior to distribution
to each sub sections for biochemical analysis.
b. Routine Chemistry Section:
Most of the routine clinical chemistry tests are performed on the Beckman's fully automated 32 channel auto analyser, Synchron Cx-7. There are two synchrons working together. These equipments functions on principal of Ion-selective electrode, turbidimetry, enzymatic rate reaction, end point and EIA.
c. Therapeutic Drugs Monitoring / Blood Gases Section:
Different drugs, antibiotics, Blood gases, Stat Cardiac markers tests (CK-MB and Trop-I), Osmolality, BHT, Sweat chloride tests are performed in this section using following instruments: TDX, IMX, Easylite, Osmometer, Immulite and Stat Blood gas analyser.
d. Endocrinology/RIA
Section:
Various hormonal assays are performed on automated
analysers like Immulite, Axsym, Gamma Counter and IMX.
In addition, tumour markers and prenatal testing for
neural tube defects and Down Syndrome is also conducted
in this section.
e. Manual Chemistry Section:
This section deals with analysis on blood, urine
and stones by manual, semiautomated and automated methods
using Microlab-200 and Selectra 2 analysers. Various
special tests like lipid profile, aldolase, acid phosphatase,
angiotensin converting enzyme, oxalates, etc. are performed
here. In addition, paper chromatography for sugars
and amino acids is also performed in this section.
f. Special Chemistry Section:
Densitometer, Turbitimer, Dynatec (Elisa Reader), Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer analysers are used in this section for different special urine and blood chemistries like; Immunoglobulins, c-ANCA, p-ANCA, ENA Profile, Electrophoresis, protein S, Trace Elements (Zn and Cu), Micro-albumin, Iron and TIBC and HIV (Westernblot).
The section has an effective internal and external quality control programme to ensure that consistently precise and accurate biochemical data is provided for both short and long term medical decision making. Currently the section participates in external quality assurance programme from Bio-rad, UK and College of American Pathologist.
Clinical Procedures:
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