Defining the Practice of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science Profession

• Science:

  • Latin word "scientia" means "knowledge"
  • Study of the natural world and the interrelationship among the biological, psychological, and social world
• Concept of Science:

  • Systematic: organized body of knowledge derived from a sound methodology
  • Conceptual: abstract and logical
  • Integrative: interdisciplinary, offers a holistic approach using classical and modern concepts
  • Evolving: constantly changing
  • Novel: geared towards inventing new and original products
  • Contemporary: up-to-date
  • Exploratory: a never-ending process of discovery and fact-finding
• Technology:

  • Greek word "tekhnologia" means "systematic treatment"
  • Application of science
  • Defined in 3 ways: physical artefact, activity or means to accomplish a goal, knowledge
  • Design for instrumental action that reduces uncertainty in cause-effect relationships
• Medical Technology:

  • Uses technology to evaluate a person's health status
  • Involves laboratory procedures aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
  • Branch of medicine concerned with laboratory determinations and analyses for diagnosis and treatment
• Medical Technology Practice Defined (RA 5527):

  • Known as Medical Technology Act of 1969
  • Defines the practice of medical technology as rendering professional services to aid physicians in diagnosis, study, treatment of diseases, and promotion of health
• • Involve in health promotion programs to reach out to the community
• Roles and Responsibilities of Medical Technology Professionals:

  • Perform clinical laboratory testing including routine tests and advanced procedures
  • Ensure accuracy and precision of results for proper medication
  • Uphold honesty in practice and follow the Code of Ethics
  • Ensure timely delivery of results, especially in urgent cases
  • Demonstrate professionalism and adhere to laws and regulations
  • Uphold confidentiality of patient information
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals
  • Conduct research to update skills
• Defining the Practice of Other Laboratory Personnel:

  • Pathologist: a registered physician specially trained in laboratory medicine
• Pathologist:

  • A physician specially trained in laboratory medicine, gross and microscopic study of human body tissues, secretions, and excretions
  • Diagnose disease, follow disease course, determine treatment effectiveness, ascertain cause of death, advance medicine through research
  • Heads a clinical laboratory and monitors all laboratory results
  • Signature must be affixed in every result form released by the laboratory
• Medical Laboratory Technician:

  • Certified and registered to assist medical technologists and/or pathologists
  • Qualifications include passing the civil service examination for medical technicians, finishing a two-year college course, and having at least 1 year of experience as a medical laboratory technician
• Phlebotomist:

  • Trained to draw blood for laboratory tests or blood donations
  • In the Philippines, medical technologists are required to be skilled in phlebotomy
  • In other countries, individuals are trained on the job and may take an exam to be recognized as a certified phlebotomist by various organizations
• Cytotechnologist:

  • Examines human specimens to detect cancer cells or diseases
  • Primarily examines microscopic slides of body cells for abnormalities
  • Common staining techniques include the Papanicolaou (Pap) test and the H&E
• Histotechnologist:

  • Also known as histotechnician
  • Responsible for preparing, processing, and staining biopsies and tissue specimens for microscopic examination by a pathologist
  • In the US, there is a histotechnician program covering various courses
• Nuclear Medical Technologist:

  • Uses radiation detection devices to measure radionuclides in patients or specimens
• Toxicologist:

  • Studies the effects of toxic substances on human beings, animals, and plants for consumer protection and industrial safety programs
• • Microbiology: identifies disease-causing microorganisms
• Areas of Study in a Clinical Laboratory:

  • Clinical Chemistry: performs analytical procedures on body fluids, primarily serum or plasma
  • Clinical Microscopy: screens urine, stool, and other body fluids for metabolic diseases
  • Hematology: studies formed elements of blood for diagnosing anemia and leukemia
  • Hemostasis and Coagulation: assesses bleeding and clotting problems
  • Blood Bank and Transfusion Services: collects, types, and prepares blood components for transfusions
  • Immunology and Serology: examines the human immune system and its response to foreign bodies
• Ethics:

  • Moral code guiding individual behavior
  • Deals with moral principles and diverse universal concepts
  • Schools of Ethics include Ethical Relativism, Ethical Pragmatism, and Ethical Utilitarianism
• Moral Issues:

  • Abortion: illegal in the Philippines, protected by the Constitution
  • Euthanasia: intentional ending of life to relieve pain and suffering, categorized as voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary
  • Genetic Engineering: involves genetic manipulations perceived to be against moral standards
• Procedures in Genetic Engineering:

  • Genetic Engineering: screens, chooses, and selects genes for detecting genetic diseases
  • Genetic Interventions: techniques like genetic control, therapy, and surgery
  • Stem-Cell Therapy: uses stem cells to treat or prevent diseases
  • In Vitro Fertilization: laboratory fertilization
• Professional Ethics:

  • Covers morally accepted behavior in the workplace
  • Maintaining professionalism is essential for a healthy and productive work environment
• Science is defined as the study of the natural world and the interrelationship among the biological, psychological, and social worlds
• Science is an organized body of knowledge derived from a sound methodology that can be clearly explained and consistently applied
• Concept of science:

  • Abstract and logical
  • Interdisciplinary; offers a holistic approach that includes or uses both classical and modern concepts
  • Constantly changing
  • Geared towards inventing new and original products
  • Up-to-date
  • A never-ending process of discovery and fact-finding
• Technology is the application of science and can be defined in three ways:

  • Physical artefact, machine, instrument
  • An activity or a means to accomplish a goal
  • Knowledge
• Medical technology involves the use of technology to evaluate the status of a person's health
• Medical technology practice involves:

  • Examination of tissues, secretions, and excretions of the human body and body fluids
  • Blood banking procedures
  • Parasitologic, mycologic, and microbiologic procedures
  • Histopathologic and cytotechnology
  • Clinical research involving patients
  • Preparations and standardization of reagents
  • Clinical laboratory quality control
  • Collection and preservation of specimens
• The Medical Technology Act of 1969 defines the practice of medical technology, including various professional services for aiding physicians in diagnosis, study, and treatment of diseases
• Code of ethics for medical technologists includes responsibilities associated with duties, upholding professional ideas, ensuring reliability, honesty, and confidentiality in work
• Roles and responsibilities of medical technology professionals:

  • Perform clinical laboratory testing
  • Perform special procedures
  • Ensure accuracy and precision of results
  • Be honest in practice
  • Ensure timely delivery of results
  • Demonstrate professionalism
  • Uphold confidentiality
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals
  • Conduct research
  • Involve in health promotion programs
• Medical laboratory technician:

  • Certified and registered with the Board to assist medical technologists and/or pathologists
  • Can work in a clinical laboratory and monitor all laboratory results
  • Signature must be affixed to every result released by the laboratory
• Phlebotomist:

  • Trained to draw blood for laboratory tests or donations
  • Arterial collection can only be performed by a specially trained phlebotomist
  • In the Philippines, medical technologists are required to be skilled in phlebotomy
• Cytotechnologist:

  • Also known as a "cell processor"
  • Examines human specimens to detect cancer cells or diseases by examining microscopic slides of body cells
  • Uses staining techniques like the Papanicolaou (Pap) test and the H&E
• Histotechnologist:

  • Also known as a "tissue processor"
  • Responsible for preparing, processing, and staining biopsies and tissue specimens for microscopic examination by a pathologist
  • In the US, they undergo a histotechnician program covering various courses
• Nuclear medical technologist:

  • Uses radiation devices to measure the quantity and distribution of radionuclides in patients or specimens
• Toxicologist:

  • Studies the effects of toxic substances on human beings, animals, and plants for consumer protection and industrial safety programs
• Areas of study in a clinical laboratory:

  • Clinical chemistry: performs analytical procedures on body fluids like serum or plasma
  • Clinical microscopy: conducts urine screening tests and other body fluids analysis
  • Hematology: studies blood elements for diagnosing anemia and leukemia
• Blood bank and transfusion service:

  • Collects, types, and prepares blood for transfusions
  • Performs tests like blood typing, cross-matching, and direct antiglobulin tests
• Immunology and serology:

  • Examines the human immune system's response to foreign bodies
  • Conducts tests like the Syphilis test and Hepatitis test
• Microbiology:

  • Identifies microorganisms causing diseases
  • Conducts tests like antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture on agar plates