Pathology is the connection between medicine and science – according to the words of ER Gilbert. Pathology is the branch of science that studies microorganisms and diseases that are caused by them. In medical science, pathology helps people understand the various diseases and infections that affect the various parts of the body and give rise to various afflictions in the body. On a larger level, pathology is the science of understanding disease and charting the probable course of treatment that can help in treating the patient.
To find a pathology lab, search for the pathology lab in any web browser, and a list of pathology labs in the area should pop up. One can choose any of the many pathological labs near me on this list and consult either a doctor at the lab or visit the lab after referring to a doctor for the various tests that have been recommended.
What do Pathological Laboratories do?
At a Path Lab, there are many medical professionals such as doctors, microbiologists, technicians, and experts who work with samples that are collected from the human body. This could be any of the below:
- Urine Samples
- Blood Samples
- Serum Samples
- Biopsy
- Stool Samples
- Sputum samples
Pathological lab staff collects any of the above samples which are basically part of bodily fluids or cells from various parts of the body and study them under the microscope. Using various methods, they are able to detect the presence of many things that are relevant for doctors such as the presence of bacteria, parasites, viruses, cancerous cells, abnormal levels of any chemical or hormone, toxic substances, and high or low levels of various body nutrients/proteins/vitamins, etc. Based on this observation, they prepare a detailed report that can be translated by a doctor and helps them in evaluating the patient’s health and chart a treatment course for any diseases/issues that are found.
Types of Path Labs
There are many kinds of pathological labs based on what samples are used and what kind of research they do. To find the most suitable path lab for a patient, all they need to do is to type the best pathology lab near me along with the test that they are willing to take and the internet would suggest the right lab to go to. Path lab in itself has many kinds and some of the most common types are listed below:
1. Clinical Pathology
This is the most common type of path lab that can be found both as a stand-alone facility or within a hospital. This lab works with human body fluid samples such as blood, urine, or saliva to find out the various facts about the patient regarding both illness and deficiency.
2. Anatomical Pathology
This pathology mainly deals with organs, tissues, and other macroscopic levels of investigation especially to find out the various diseases of the organs or for the presence of cancer in any of the body parts. Tumours are usually evaluated by these path labs to understand the risk of cancer.
3. Molecular Pathology
This pathology is more interested in finding out genetic issues, their mutations, and what causes the various disorders in the human body even at birth. This pathology deals with minuscule levels involving DNA, RNA, and other genetic material to gather information about how the genetic material changes when there is an unforeseen disease or mutation.