Research Paper

The College of American Pathologists or CAP is the accrediting organization for laboratory and testing personnel. CAP’s “accreditation process is so thorough, the Joint Commission [and CMS] accepts …their standards” in place of conducting their own survey of the hospital’s laboratory and personnel (Gartee, 2011, p. 47). This is because of the guidelines they follow to maintain their integrity and to remain the industry standard. In recent years, the “CAP [has] developed new check list” for continued improvements. Additionally, they are continuing to vet the requirements for the new next-generation sequencing or NGC-based test that is speeding laboratory procedures. So much so that the recent adoption of the new technology for clinical testing” was done prior to the new standards being approved (Aziz, et.al. 2015, p. 481).

College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation helps laboratories meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulatory requirements and certifies compliance through the guidance a complete list of the most recent clinical and laboratory standards. By doing this it ensures accuracy of lab results and maintains correct patient diagnosis. This increases the value of the laboratory. The CAP accreditation program is based on peer based inspections that use working laboratory professionals who are qualified through a CAP training program. It is the responsibility of the laboratory supervisors, managers, and directors to attend this training and participate in the CAP accreditation process.

Consults with physicians, hospital personnel and independent and hospital laboratory personnel regarding common laboratory problems.

In the article Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium, by Sox, the author’s focus was on the three fundamentals and ten professional responsibilities that are bestowed on medical professionals today. These are principles and guidelines that we, as medical professionals, should consider and adhere to daily while performing our duties. Although all the points made in the article are important there are a few that can be incorporated into the Medical Laboratory Scientist’s everyday performance. In my opinion, these principles are improving quality care, patient confidentiality, scientific knowledge, professional competence, and professional responsibilities. In addition, I would incorporate always having the patient’s best interest at

Lab Tests: Urinalysis – Leukocytes 0, Nitrite 0, Protein 0, pH 5.0, Blood 0, Specific Gravity 1.000, Ketone 0, UA/Culture- pending, Special Test: Ultrasound

The preanalytical errors increases health care costs and decreases the patient satisfaction. The laboratory errors that happen at any stage of the total testing process have influence on quality of laboratory services. Any errors that happen during this total testing process will affect the patient care that also includes unnecessary recollection of samples, delay in reporting, misdiagnosis and treatment by the clinician. Although the errors can happen at any stage of the total testing process, preanalytical errors accounts for highest percentage (70%). The consequences associated with analytical errors are significantly reduced by the use of modern laboratory instruments. But pre analytical phase is still prone to more errors due to its complexity and different stages that involved within and outside laboratory. The inaccurate reporting of results due to preanalytical errors leads to unnecessary investigations and creating an additional burden to the healthcare system (Kaushik, & Green, 2014). According to Green (2013) the healthcare economist created a model to quantify the costs associated with laboratory errors and poor sample quality. It is based on operating costs, number of beds, test volume, number of rejected samples, instrument problems and the frequency of inaccurate results reported by laboratory and their impacts. As per this model

I am responsible for ensuring accurate laboratory results of fecal float, urinalysis, and ear cytology exams; this includes guaranteeing specimens are collected and analyzed appropriately and within a reasonable amount of time to produce accurate results. I also discard non-viable samples and collect new samples when

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) established a program to regulate any size and all “laboratories that test patient specimens to ensure the labs produce accurate and reliable test results”, CLIA was passed in 1988 to establish quality standards and regulations on all non-research laboratory test, and they must meet applicable Federal requirements and have a CLIA certificate to operate.

Professionals: The department is opened twenty-four hours a day and seven days away. The team members of this unit is comprised of an advanced nurse practitioner (ARNP), a nurse manager (NM), four charge nurses (CN), twenty-six registered nurses (RN), ten patient care technicians (PCT) and four unit clerks(UC). Each clinical staff member works in shifts consisting of twelve hours during the day 7a-7p or night 7p-7a. Since the main focus of this unit is monitoring and stabilizing of patient’s conditions within the specific timeframe of twenty-three hours, the staff members are cohesive and deliver team oriented care.

Performs complex chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic, and bacteriologic tests; looks for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; matches blood for transfusions; and tests for drug levels in the blood.

The fourth section, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, tests things related to lab work and diagnostic

Five years has passed since I graduated from GMU College of Science with Medical Technology bachelor degree, right after I graduated I was recruited by Quest Diagnostics to join their Flow Cytometry department as Medical Technologist II. My daily tasks were; preparing and analyzing samples to test lymphocyte subsets surface markers to monitor HIV+ Patients, HLA B27 antigen, leukemia/ lymphoma, and lime disease, I also ran miscellaneous surface markers using flow cytometry methodology. I routinely performed stem cell viability assays to assist in stem cells transplant procedure. Additionally, I maintained all reagents and test kits to comply with all quality assurance procedures as well as regulations such as CAP, CLIA, NAACLS, and FDA. I also conducted daily operation which includes, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of FACS Sample Prep Assistant (SPA III), FACS Lyse Wash Assistant, FACSCanto, and FACSCanto II by Becton Dickinson Biosciences.

The patient may then have a series of investigations, including blood tests and diagnostic imaging.” (Holdstock, Ruth,B.M., G.P. 2010)

Point of care testing (POCT) refers to laboratory testing that occurs close to the patient rather than in a central laboratory. POCT is usually performed by non-laboratory trained individuals such as nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, percussionist’s, anesthesia assistants, midwives and paramedics [1]. In recent years, these assays have been increasingly carried out at sites of patient care, such as doctor’s offices, emergency rooms, and even at home. This trend allows for rapid estimates of the state or progress of an illness [2]. POCT is mainly characterized by proximity to the patient, quantitative or semi-quantitative single measurements, short turnaround time, no sample preparation, no pipetting, use of pre-made reagents, user-friendly dedicated analytical instruments and instant, result deduced therapeutic action [3]. In recent years, POCT has gained ground worldwide. In advanced healthcare

Laboratory/Diagnostic Area: This area is within the main ICU/Hospital Area. There is a wall dedicated to Laboratory work. The wall is lined with posters of parasites, how to do a PCV, microscope, sink, dyes for staining slides, and fecal analysis directions.