Laboratory services in hospitals play a critical role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Samples of body fluids, tissue, and cells are collected and examination and analysis are carried out.
It is either centralized or decentralized within a hospital, but always beneficial to it. The main services provided by the laboratories are to:
• perform diagnostic tests
• identify organisms, like E-coli bacteria
• count and classify blood cells to identify infection or disease
• operate complex diagnostic equipment
• perform immunological tests to check for antibodies
• type and cross-match blood samples for transfusions
• analyse DNA