Medical Laboratory Technology

Use this comprehensive resource to gain the theoretical and practical knowledge you need to be prepared for classroom tests and certification and licensure examinations.

Clinical laboratory tests play an integral role in helping physicians diagnose and treat patients. New developments in laboratory technology offer the prospect of improvements in diagnosis and care, but will place an increased burden on the payment system. Medicare, the federal program providing coverage of health-care services for the elderly and disabled, is the largest payer of clinical laboratory services. Originally designed in the early 1980s, Medicare's payment policy methodology for outpatient laboratory services has not evolved to take into account technology, market, and regulatory changes, and is now outdated. This report examines the current Medicare payment methodology for outpatient clinical laboratory services in the context of environmental and technological trends, evaluates payment policy alternatives, and makes recommendations to improve the system.

An Introduction to Medical Laboratory Technology, Second Edition provides information pertinent to medical laboratory technology. This book discusses the importance of laboratory technology in hospital practice. Organized into seven sections encompassing 33 chapters, this edition begins with an overview of the role of the medical technologist in the diagnosis of disease by the use of certain accepted laboratory methods. This text then explains the general types of glassware that is widely used in medical laboratories. Other chapters consider the main methods of estimating the sugar content of body fluids, methods in feces and gastric analysis, and microscopical and chemical examination of urine. This book discusses as well the microscopic examination of bacteria, which necessitates making smears and hanging-drop preparations on microscope slides. The final chapter deals with some aspects of elementary physiology. This book is a valuable resource for students and junior technicians, as well as for qualified technologists and medical students.