1. MEDICAL TESTING Doctor requires information Patient sample collection
Laboratory Testing
Report generation
Computer system maintenance
Sample received & processed

2. ESSENTIAL SUPPORT Specimen collection (on-site or TAFE training)
Safe transportation of biological and possibly infectious material
Clerical skills including anatomy and medical terminology
Specimen handling skills and training in infection control and manual handling
Information technology

3. WHO ARE MEDICAL SCIENTISTS?
Medical Scientists perform medical laboratory tests on blood, other body tissues which assist clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Medical Scientists get results!

4. WHERE DO MEDICAL SCIENTISTS WORK?
Medical scientists work in:
Hospital laboratories
State Health Laboratories
Universities
Private pathology laboratories

5. What do you need to work in a laboratory ?
An interest in science
Be able to communicate well
Be able to use a computer
Must want to learn all the time
An interest in helping others.

6. DISCIPLINES
Medical Laboratory Science in Australia comprises many distinct professional disciplines. The main ones are:
Histopathology
Microbiology
Cytology
Blood Transfusion
Immunology
Haematology
Clinical biochemistry
Virology

7. MICROBIOLOGY
Identification of micro organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites which cause infection, and testing for effective antibiotics.
A bacterial culture

8. MICROBIOLOGY Growth and Identification of Bacteria
Samples from body sites
Inoculated onto growth promoting media
Antibiotic Sensitivity Determined

9. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION

10. PARASITOLOGY Single cell and complex organisms
Colonise human GI tract, Urinary tract and blood

11. HAEMATOLOGY Counting and viewing of blood cells Diagnose disease
Detect malignancies
Monitor treatment
Differentiate types of infection

12. There are different types of white cells, each with a different job.
Neutrophils Fight bacteria by releasing toxic substances
Lymphocytes Fight viruses by creating antibodies which stick to viruses and cause them to be eaten by Monocytes.

13. LEUKAEMIA Growth of abnormal cells Reduced normal maturation
Result of reduced RBC, Platelets and normal WCC

14. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS Blood tests Blood film Bone marrow Cell markers
Chromosomes

15. TRANSFUSION SEROLOGY
Blood products provided by Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service
Laboratory ensures products are compatible with recipients
Required for emergencies and elective procedures
Blood is not the only product used

16. BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Laboratory testing of recipient blood and donor blood to ensure compatible and safe transfusion.
Medical scientists in blood transfusion or immunohaematology, as it is sometimes known, are responsible for the testing of blood groups and compatibility of donor blood, prior to transfusion.

17. BLOOD GROUPING

18. HISTOPATHOLOGY Examination of Tissues for Disease Samples removed
Processed
Sectioned and Stained
Microscopic Examination
Diagnosis

19. Slides stained to make cells clearly visible

20. CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
Measurement of amounts of specific elements transported in the blood
Proteins
Sugars
Cellular breakdown products
Hormones
Toxins

21. CHEMISTRY Mostly automated Scientists need to understand:
Cellular metabolisms
Hormonal interactions
Immune responses
Anatomy

22. VIROLOGY Identification of virus Monitor course of infection
Common infections
Colds & Flu
Hepatitis
HIV/ AIDS
Glandular Fever

23. VIROLOGY
Study of the consequences of viral infections. A scientist in a virology laboratory performs assays to detect the virus in host tissues or in cells used to isolate the virus from a host. These assays might detect viral nucleic acid or may involve immunological assays to detect viral proteins.

24. Papanicolaou smear under the microscope
CYTOLOGY
Study of cells Medical scientists in cytology are interested in individual abnormal cells, that are shed from tissues. One of the more publicised areas of their work is the Papanicolaou smear test (Pap Screen), which is used in the early detection of cancer of the cervix. After the sample has been collected onto a microscope slide, they are responsible for staining it and screening for abnormal cells.
Papanicolaou smear under the microscope

25. IMMUNOLOGY
A study of host responses to infection, malignancy and tissue damage.
A medical scientist is able to identify and quantitate cells involved in immune responses. He/she is also able to identify and quantitate blood proteins produced in response to infection, malignancy or tissue damage or which play a role in protecting the body against these changes. As such an immunologist would diagnose, or assist in the diagnosis of, bacterial viral and fungal diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. asthma), cancer (e.g. leukaemia) or immunological deficiencies in the host.

26. TOXICOLOGY Detect and Monitor Toxic Substances Drugs of Abuse
Trace and Heavy Metals
Poisons

27. CHROMATOGRAPHY
Common technique
Seen in separating ink components

28. DNA TECHNOLOGY Complete composition of human DNA complete
Variations in DNA can indicate whether a disease is likely to occur
Techniques in DNA analysis common to other laboratory disciplines