RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The often unseen realm of professionals in lab coats and safety goggles - be they medical, pharmaceutical, forensic or others - can be crucial to an investigation or medical diagnosis. Those working behind the scenes here are no exception.
In their honor, April 24 through 30 is set aside as National Laboratory Professionals Week, to give the laboratory professionals recognition for the important services they provide.
"It's time to celebrate what we do," said Airman 1st Class William Montgomery, 359th Medical Support Squadron medical laboratory technician.
He and other lab technicians here performed about 25,000 blood chemistry tests in March, such as throat cultures, and urine and hematology samples, testing for pregnancy, renal function, proteins, cholesterol and other things, he added.
While their opportunity to interact with patients ultimately comes down to sticking needles in their arms, Airman Montgomery said, "we try to give patients as much information as possible" about fasting before certain tests and what to expect but
It is not the technician's role to interpret test results or provide patients with test result.
They're not trained as physicians and they may not always know why a test is good or bad, just when results show something isn't normal, the Airman said, adding, "If we have a critical result, we'll call the doctor right away."
Sometimes the job of a lab tech can have frustrations from both the patient side as well as the medical practitioner side.
Jill Craft, 359th MDSS medical laboratory technician, said, "It's interesting. It's hard to get patients to appreciate what we do. A lot of people don't understand - nurses and doctors - they don't understand what we do. We take samples and they see results."
Medical laboratory professionals are key members of the health care team who work behind the scenes to perform the medical tests doctors order for their patients, according to the American Society of Clinical Pathology, an organization that provides advocacy, education and certification for pathologists, laboratory professionals and their patients.
Laboratory professionals include the staffs of hospitals, free-standing laboratories and other healthcare providers who analyze fluids and tissue to diagnose disease; manage treatment and determine a person's risk for developing a medical condition; and draw blood.