An important characteristic of a Medical Technologist or Clinical Laboratory Scientist is the ability to solve problems. An MT in Chemistry may find that a result is unexpected or inconsistent with other parameters that were measured. Expert technologists and a doctoral staff are available on site for consultation and assistance in the decision making.

 

The Chemistry Department can be divided into three specialty areas: Automated Chemistry, pH/Blood Gases, and Special Chemistry/Proteins.

 

 

 

 
General chemistry uses the most up-to-date instruments to measure analytes in serum or plasma.

 

 

Some analyzers currently in use include the Roche Elecsys and the INTEGRA. These analyzers make use of chemical reactions to obtain test results.

 

Tests in general chemistry include, but are not limited to: electrolytes, therapeutic drug monitoring, cholesterol and triglycerides, liver function tests, and hormone levels.

 

 

 

The pH/Blood Gas portion of chemistry also requires the use of analyzers but the testing is more limited.

 

At Hartford Hospital, the lab uses the Chiron to measure the pH of the blood and the amount of gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, present in the blood.

 

 

 
Special chemistry/proteins is the section of the lab where body fluid protein levels are measured as well as anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), used to diagnose certain autoimmune diseases.

 

Protein levels are analyzed using electrophoresis to separate the different proteins present. The MT determines whether or not these levels are normal. The presence of anti-nuclear antibodies is also detected using fluorescent microscopy.

 

A positive ANA can be associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome and SLE (Lupus).