PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIECE PRACTICE 1

INTRODUCTION
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
 Is a complex field embracing a number of different disciplines such as: microbio, hema, CC, UA, immunosero,
histopath, immunohema, molecular bio, etc.
 Is a basic course that equips the student with the most essential knowledge and skill pertaining to medical
laboratories such as:
o Importance of lab services
o Role of med lab tech
o Use of lab wares, instruments and sterilization techniques
o Prevention and control of lab accidents
o Institution of quality control system

HISTORY OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

 The first medical diagnoses made by humans were based on what ancient physicians could observe with
their eyes and ears, which sometimes also include the examination of human specimens.
 Ancient Greeks attributed all disease to disorders of bodily fluids called humors, and during the late
medieval period, doctors routinely performed uroscopy.
 Thermometer and stethoscope were not in widespread use until the end of 19 th century
 Clinical laboratory would not become a standard fixture of medicine until the beginning of 20 th century
 ANTONY VAN LEEUWENHOCK – German scientist who discovered microscope
 other less than scientific methods of diagnosed used in treating the middle and lower classes included
divination through ritual sacrifice to predict the outcome of illness
 sheep would be killed before the statue of god. Its liver was examined for malformations or peculiarities; the
shape of the lobes and the orientation of the common duct were then used to predict the fate of the patient
 the oldest test on body fluids was done on URINE in ancient times (before 400 BC). Urine was poured on the
ground and observed to see whether it attracted insects. If did, patients were diagnosed with boils.
 300 BC HIPPOCRATES (FATHER OF MEDICINE)

ROLE OF MEDICAL/CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

 Has the best of both worlds with the challenges and reward of medicine and science
 Performs full range of lab tests – from simple pre-marital test, to more complex to uncover diseases such as
AIDS, diabetes and cancer
 Responsible for confirming the accuracy of test results and reporting lab findings to the pathologist and
other doctors
 Work quickly and carefully. They hold life and death in their hands, because the information they give to
the doctor influences the medical treatment a patient receives
 They work in 5 major areas of the lab: BB, Chem, Hema, Immunology and microbio

ROLE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

 Carry out routine and advanced laboratory tests using standard laboratory methods
 Apply problem-solving strategies to administrative, technical and research problem
 Conduct community-based researches in collaboration with other categories of health professional
 Provide professional consultancy on matters related to the establishment, renovation, upgrading and
recognition of medical labs of intermediate levels

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DEFINITION OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
 RUTH HEINEMANN
o The supplication of principles of natural, physical and biological sciences to the performance of
laboratory procedures which aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
 ANNE FAGELSON (1961)
o the branch of medicine concerned with the performance of laboratory determinations and analysis
used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and maintenance of health
 PHILIPPINE MEDICAL TEACHNOLOGY ACT
o An auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals with the examination of various chemical,
microscopic, bacteriologic, and other medical procedures, technique which will aid the physician in
the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease and in the promotion of health in general

HISTORY OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

 460 B.C. GREEK PHYSICIAN HIPPOCRATES (FATHER OF MEDICINE) formulated the famous Hippocratic Oath,
the code of ethics for practicing physicians. He also describes for “humors’ or body fluids in man
 Namely – the blood, phlegm, yellow and black bile
 The 4 body fluids were felt to be the source of a person’s disposition and disease in ancient times

VIVIAN HERRICK
 Traces the beginning of medical technology back in 1500 BC when intestinal parasites such as TAENIA and
ASCARIS were mentioned in early writings
EBERS PAPYRUS
 A book of treatment of diseases contains description of the three stages of hookworm infection
RUTH WILLIAMS
 A medical technologist
 Believes that Med tech began from the MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1096-1438) as supported by the fact that
urinalysis was the first fad
 Early Hindu doctors made the “SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION” that the urine on certain individuals attract ants,
and that such urine has a sweetish taste
 QUACKS, calling themselves doctors reaped fortunes from diagnosing diseases by the appearance of the
urine
ANNE FAGELSON
 Prefers to date med tech from the 14 th century when a prominent Italian physician at the University of
Bologna employed one, ALESSANDRA GILIANI to perform tasks now under the domain of the med tech
 Unfortunately, this young lady died from a laboratory acquired infection
ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK (1632-1723)
 Invented and improves the compound Microscope
 First to describe red blood cells, to see protozoa, and to classify bacteria according to shape
 Invention of the microscope led to the rapid progress of microbiology and pathology
MALPHIGI (1628-1694)
 Described as the “GREATEST” of the early microscopist
 his work on embryology and anatomy definitely marked him as the “FOUNDER OF PATHOLOGY”
RUDOLPH VIRCHOW
 one of the youngest medical specialist
 founded the ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY in BERLIN in 1847
AHERMANN FEHLING
 performed the FIRST QUANTITATIVE TEST in URINE SUGAR in 1848
MIDDLE OF 15TH CENTURY
 ANILINE DYES were used in staining microorganisms
 Bacterial staining and microscopic study on bacteria were made possible

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 ESTABLISHMENT OF LABORATORIES

FIRST CHEMICAL LABORATORY

o Establishes at the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN by DR. DOUGLAS (not identified)
o DR. DOUGLAS pioneered laboratory instruction in this well-equipped laboratory
DR. WILLIAM H. WELCH (1878)
o Established another laboratory at the BELLEVUE HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE
o He gave the first laboratory course in pathology offered in an AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOOL
1885
DR. WELCH became the first professor of pathology at JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

FIRST CLINICAL LABORATORY

 Opened in 1896 at JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL by DR. WILLIAM OSLER
 Routine examinations were carried out, special attention being given to the search of malarial parasites in
the blood
 A clinical laboratory was also opened at the UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA in 1896 (WILLIAM PEPPER
LABORATORY)
DR. JAMES C. TODD (1908)
 Wrote the book: A MANUAL OF CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
 Retitled “CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS by LABORATORY METHODS”, in its 6 th Edition by DR. TODD and DR. ARTHUR
SANFORD
 The book became the standard reference for laboratories
1919 census
 100 technicians, all male were employed in the UNITED STATES
 This increased to 3500 in 1920. In 1922, 3035 hospitals has CLINICAL LABORATORY
1915
The state legislature of Pennsylvania enacted law requiring all hospitals and institutions to have an adequate
laboratory and to employ a full time laboratory technician
WORLD WAR 1
 it was an impact factor in the growth of clinical laboratory and produced a great demand for technicians
 the demand for technicians in clinical laboratories continued, so practicing physicians with knowledge on
laboratory works began to teach their assistants to do some of the tests
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
 one of the FIRST schools for training laboratory workers
 a course bulletin titled: “COURSES IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR CLINICAL AND LABORATORY
TECHNICIANS” was issued in 1922
 they were the FIRST to offer a DEGREE LEVEL PROGRAM in 1923
1931
DENVER SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGISTS were organized
1936
AMERICAN BOARD OF PATHOLOGY established
WORLD WAR 2
 marked effects in laboratory medicine
 the use of blood increased and the “closed system” of blood collection was widely used
 automated equipment appeared and quality control programs became common

HISTORY OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

o MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE was introduced by the 26TH MEDICAL INFANTRY OF THE 6TH US ARMY
o FIRST clinical laboratory in the Philippines is the MANILA PUBLIC HEALTH at QUIRICADA ST., STA. CRUZ
MANILA (the lab offered training programs to high school graduates as early as FEBRUARY, 1944)
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1943
o The US ARMY left in JUNE
o Endorsed it to the NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
o The dept. rendered the laboratory non-functional for sometime

DR. PIO DE RODA (one of the staffs of the Clinical Laboratory)

o Organized MANILA PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY from the remnants of the deserted laboratory
o OCTOBER 1, 1945 – with DR. MARIANO ICASIANO as his assistant and who was then the MANILA CITY
HEALTH OFFICER
1947 (DR. PIO DE RODA and DR. PRUDENCIA STA. ANA)
o Training of high school graduates to work as medical technicians
o No period of training was set and no certificates were given
1954
o 6 months laboratory training with certificate upon completion was given to the trainees
o DR. STA ANA prepared the syllabus for the training program

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

 The training program offered by Dr. Pio De Roda did not last long
 The FIRST B.S DEGREE course in Medical Technology was offered by the PHILIPPINE UNION COLLEGE and
MANILA SANITARIUM
 After 2 years, PUC produced its first graduate, DR. JESSE UMALI, now a successful OB-GYNECOLOGIST

 S.Y. 1957-1958
 Dr. ANTONIO GABRIEL and DR. GUSTAVO REYES of the FACULTY OF PHARMACY, UST offered medical
technology as an elective subject to 4 th and 5th year B.S PHARMACY students
 REV. FR. LORENZO RODRIGUEZ decided to offer it as a course because of the popularity of medical
technology among pharmacy students

JUNE 17, 1957

 Temporary permit was issued by the Dept. of Education, for first to third year students
JUNE 1960
 The permit for the internship program was issued
JUNE 14, 1961
 Full recognition of the 4 year BS Medical Technology course was given on the JUNE 14, 1961

 Many schools followed to offer MS Med Tech course

 DECS and CHED – 47 colleges and universities offering the course
 University of the Philippines – offers a similar course but the degree being conferred in BS Public Health

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5527 (Congress of the Philippines) JUNE 21, 1969
Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969
An Act Requiring the Registration of Medical Technologists, Defining Their Practice, and for Other Purposes

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