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A middle-aged man is admitted to the emergency room with excruciating chest pain that radiates down his left arm. He has a family history of heart disease. The ER physician must quickly determine if the patient has had a heart attack so that appropriate treatment can be initiated. She orders an EKG and cardiac profile. A blood specimen is drawn and sent to the Chemistry department.
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In the Chemistry department, the Medical Laboratory Technician will analyze the blood for the presence of certain proteins that are present in the blood following a heart attack. If these markers are present, the physician will be notified immediately and the patient will be admitted to the coronary care unit for treatment.
Other tests performed in the Chemistry department aid in the diagnosis of diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine disorders, and cancer. Cholesterol tests, therapeutic drug monitoring, and drug screens are also performed in this department. |
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Most chemistry tests are performed on computerized automated analyzers. The Medical Laboratory Technicians and Medical Technologists who work in Chemistry perform quality control to ensure that test results are accurate. When problems are detected, they must be able to determine the cause and make corrections before releasing patient results. This may require recalibration or repair of the analyzers.
Tests done in Clinical Chemistry aid in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. |
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