Clinical laboratory studies and pathology therapy

Clinical laboratories: study body fluids and other tissues through specialized processes. These tests can help determine the chemical composition of the sample or whether or not microorganisms are present in it. Although a laboratory clinical medical technologist cannot diagnose independently, by analyzing what is present in the sample, they provide the treating physician with the necessary information to guide the diagnosis and treatment. 

Because body fluids must be processed “fresh” and can be damaged, these laboratories do not retain custody of the samples they study. They also provide faster results, due to the type of tests they perform. The automation of laboratory processes in particular can also shorten response times. 

Pathology laboratories: perform disease tests by studying different types of tissue samples obtained through biopsies or surgeries, obtaining valuable information, such as whether it is a benign or malignant (cancerous) condition, the type of tumor, its grade, the stage at which the disease is at the moment, among other details that provide diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment information that the physician can rely on to assist their patients. 

Unlike samples processed in clinical laboratories, most samples received in pathology laboratories have preservatives added. This allows for more tests to be conducted from a single sample. Therefore, pathology laboratories have custody of the samples they receive, as well as elements that cannot always be analyzed, such as prostheses and amputated limbs. In certain cases, parts of the same sample may be sent to both a clinical laboratory and a pathology laboratory for a more comprehensive analysis. 

Clinical and pathology laboratories can operate independently as separate entities, or they may belong to the same main laboratory and be overseen by pathologists.