Clinical lab plays important role in the detection of disease

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) --  The phlebotomist ties off your arm, swabs you with alcohol and pierces your skin with a needle. Slowly your blood fills the vial and soon you are free to go, but the sample you just gave has a longer journey ahead. 

As the vials of blood make their way back to the laboratory, the members of the 39th Medical Group clinical laboratory begin the testing process. 

“After our patients leave they are unaware of what goes on behind closed doors to get their samples processed,” said Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Sponholtz, 39th MDG clinical laboratory apprentice. “A normal test can take up to two hours.” 

Laboratory testing plays an essential role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. 

“Our job is to give the doctors here the information they need to counsel their patients on their health,” said Tech. Sgt. Jan Shain, 39th MDG clinical lab NCOIC. “The doctors can do their job without us in some cases but we provide a much bigger picture.” 

The clinical lab uses a variety of tests, which help them make sure patients receive the right analysis. The laboratory is divided into six sections: Specimen collection, hematology, chemistry, microbiology, transfusion services and urinalysis, and each provide a unique glimpse of the patient’s health. 

“We test blood, urine and all other body fluids, to include cerebral spinal,” said Maj. Kathy Taylor, 39th MDG diagnostic and therapeutics branch chief. “We also process throat and urine cultures. 

“Once we have the samples we perform both preventative and/or diagnostic tests. Preventive tests are used to monitor and promote healthy living choices, while diagnostic tests are used as an investigative tool by the provider to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient.” 

The clinical lab even uses biology to diagnose patients. 

“We use microbiology to look for organisms in urine and throat cultures,” said Tech. Sgt. Andres Aquino, 39th MDG assistant NCOIC of the clinical laboratory. “Once we identify the bacteria we then determine what medication the provider should prescribe for treatment.” 

The five-person shop may be small compared to the norm, and for this reason they don’t perform all testing in-house. 

“We send HIV, hormone and any other low-volume/high-cost tests to Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, for the results,” said Sergeant Shain. 

With the College of America Pathologist Inspection just around the corner, the lab here is all about hard work and no play. 

“Accredited laboratories are inspected every two years,” said Major Taylor. “The inspectors will evaluate us on over 500-checklist items. The real purpose is to ensure we provide accurate and precise laboratory results, valuable to the diagnosis and treatment of our Incirlik population.”