What are laboratory tests? Also known as clinical tests, they involve examining various tissues or bodily fluids from a person. Once a sample is collected, the clinical laboratory analyzes it to determine whether the results fall within expected ranges or whether there’s a difference that could affect the person’s health.
What Are the Main Types of Clinical Laboratory Tests?There’s an enormous variety of clinical laboratory tests available, but some are commonly performed regardless of the specific condition being investigated.
Some of the main types of laboratory tests include:
- Biopsy: a small sample of tissue is taken from an area of the body where cancer cells may be present. This tissue is analyzed in the lab to reach a diagnosis.
- Cerebrospinal fluid: this fluid flows in and around the spinal cord and brain, helping diagnose abnormalities or diseases affecting these organs or the central nervous system.
- Synovial fluid: also known as joint fluid, this test helps identify joint-related problems.
- Urine: analyzed chemically, physically, and microscopically to determine the compounds present in this fluid.
- Blood: measures and analyzes blood cells, proteins, chemical substances, and other components.
- Other fluids, such as sweat, saliva, or gastric juices: help detect conditions related to various health issues, such as COVID-19, cystic fibrosis, or the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms.
What Are Laboratory Tests Used For?Laboratory tests generally serve two main purposes. First, they’re used as part of routine checkups, helping detect health changes or confirm that everything is normal.
They’re also used to diagnose a disease or health change, allowing the doctor to determine appropriate treatment and help manage the condition.
How and Where Are These Tests Performed?To have laboratory tests done, you need to visit a clinical laboratory, where trained specialists collect samples and run the appropriate tests, later providing results to the patient so their doctor can offer proper guidance.
Clinical laboratories can be found as independent branches throughout different areas of a city and are also commonly located within hospitals.
The clinical laboratory at ABC Medical Center offers an integrated service delivered by a multidisciplinary team that upholds the highest standards of quality, ethics, and professionalism, and complies with both national and international regulations to ensure reliable, accurate, and timely results.
The Clinical Laboratory, Surgical Pathology, and Blood Bank at ABC Medical Center meet the quality standards set by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for staff, equipment, facilities, analytical methodology, and information systems.
At ABC Medical Center’s Clinical Laboratory, we can provide you with specialized care for various laboratory tests. Contact us!
