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Definitions for Lab Services
Hematology – the study of blood and it’s disorders. Hematology tests can help diagnose anemia, hemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, and leukemia.
Clinical Chemistry – utilizes chemical processes to measure levels of chemical components in the blood. The most common specimens used for testing are blood and urine, but all fluids in the body can be tested. Many different tests exist for almost any type of chemical component found in blood and urine. Chemical components include: blood glucose, electrolytes, enzymes, hormones, lipids, metabolic substances, drugs, and proteins. These tests help diagnose disease processes in all areas of the body, including kidney, liver, heart, glands, pancreas, and tissue.
Transfusion Services (Blood Bank) – Blood Banking is the process that occurs to ensure that blood or blood product are safe to transfuse. Blood banking includes stringent monitoring of all aspects of the process. The testing portion of the process, called type and crossmatch, is performed on every unit of blood that is ordered for transfusion. That process “matches” the donated unit to the patient to ensure safety and a positive outcome.
Microbiology – Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, specifically disease-causing microorganisms. Microbiology is responsible for identifying infectious agents in blood, urine, sputum, feces, cerebrospinal fluid, and other body fluids. The infectious agents are then tested for sensitivity to certain antibiotics used to treat infections.
Pathology – Pathology is the study of disease. It is a medical science that deals with all aspects of disease. It provides special focus on essential nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions, as well as to the structural and functional changes that result from disease processes. Pathology is concerned with the examination of tissue samples, such as biopsies, and body fluids, to determine the nature of abnormality (benign versus malignant) and to classify the abnormality in a specific category in order to help determine the plan of treatment.
According to the American Association of Blood Banks, distribution of blood types in the US is the following:
O Positive – 38% of the population
A Positive– 34%
B Positive – 9 %
AB Positive – 3%
O Negative – 7%
A Negative – 6 %
B Negative – 2%
AB Negative – 1%
The universal donor is O Negative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are blood products tested for infectious diseases?
A. Yes, all blood products are tested and found negative for HIV, Hepatitis, and other infectious diseases prior to releasing the blood to the public for transfusion.
Q. Can I donate blood for my relative?
A. Yes, call the NFRH Blood Bank for more information (770-751-2523)
Q. Can we fax the test results to the physician’s office?
A. Yes, all laboratory results are automatically faxed to the physician’s office; however, lab reports cannot be sent to either a personal fax machine or a personal email address.
Q. Can I get a copy of my test results?
A. Yes, you may obtain a copy of your test results from Release of Information, located in the hospital. You will be asked to sign a release form. You may get copies of your reports, reports of your children or children of whom you are the guardian, if they are under the age of 18. You cannot get copies of your spouse or parents’ reports without their signed authorization. This is according to HIPAA guidelines.
Q. How long does it take to get my results back?
A. For tests that are performed in the hospital clinical laboratory, results will be available that day, unless it is a culture. Cultures usually take 2-3 days to be reported. For tests that are sent to a reference laboratory, results will take 3-5 days.
Q. What do I need to bring with me to have a lab test performed?
A. Please provide an NFH Outpatient Requisition or physician’s order which contains the following:
a) tests required
b) ICD – 9 code
c) Physician signature (physician signature by RN is not acceptable and signature stamps are no longer acceptable)
North Fulton Hospital’s lab is open 7 days/week to outpatients (7 am – 6 pm). Contact the front desk at 770-751-2520.