Overview
The Clinical Laboratory Department is part of the Co-medical (Paramedical) Division at St Luke’s International Hospital, and 67 clinical laboratory technologists are involved in performing laboratory tests on blood and other specimens, physiological function tests, and cross-matching tests on blood products for blood transfusion for St Luke’s International Hospital and its affiliated clinics like the Center for Preventive Medicine.
To make an accurate clinical diagnosis, it is necessary to perform tests involving various aspects. Specimens of blood, urine/feces, spinal fluid, sputum and other secretions that are collected from patients seen at the outpatient department or inpatients are brought to this department. These specimens are then properly processed, and the requested items are promptly measured. The results of the tests are then sent back to the different departments that made the requests.
Concerning such tests as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, vascular ultrasound, blood pressure plethysmography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, pulmonary function tests, apnea tests, EEGs, neuromuscular function tests, and hearing tests, the assigned technologists will discuss the appropriate tests with the patient. At the Center for Preventive Medicine, each patient undergoes a set of tests including an electrocardiogram, pulmonary function tests, ophthalmoscopy and intraocular pressure, a hearing test, mammary and abdominal echography, etc., and blood and other samples are collected for laboratory tests, all according to a smooth schedule.
To assure that the latest developments in the field of medical tests are promptly applied to our daily clinical practice, study sessions are regularly held within the department. In addition, we have joint study sessions involving various clinical departments, and participate in seminars and workshops hosted by the education and training center, as well as study sessions of other medical departments and academic conferences outside the hospital. Useful or essential information thus collected is then made available to all departments in the hospital using such media as the intranet and email.