Medical Laboratory Week – Shared Health

Clinical Biochemistry – Biochemistry tests samples – mostly blood/plasma and urine – for electrolytes, hormones, proteins, drugs, lipids and other biochemicals to help care providers diagnosis or monitor disease. If you have ever had a blood test – you have had a “chemistry test.”

Clinical Microbiology – Clinical microbiology focuses on the isolation and characterization of organisms causing infectious diseases so patients can be appropriately treated. Infections can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.

Genomics – Genomic testing identifies inherited genetic mutations passed on through biological parents, or acquired (not inherited) spontaneous genetic mutations (seen in some cancers). Genomic test results help patients make family planning decisions, receive early interventions, or increased monitoring if at-risk for genetic diseases. It can also be used by physicians to select specific cancer therapies.

Hematology – Hematology laboratories are responsible for testing and consultation in the evaluation/diagnosis/monitoring of a wide range of hematological conditions including (but not limited to) leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, hemoglobinopathy, bleeding and clotting disorders and detection of blood parasites.

Immunology – Immunology laboratories are responsible for testing and consultation in the evaluation/diagnosis/monitoring of a wide range of hematological conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, autoimmune disease and various primary and acquired immunodeficiencies. 

Hematology, and Immunology disciplines work very closely with each other, and other laboratory disciplines particularly molecular genomics to provide seamless consultation and diagnostics for various hematological and immunological entities.

Pathology – Pathologists are detectives of the medical field, solving mysteries and identifying diseases of in many specialties including surgical pathology, forensic pathology and neuropathology. Their daily work mostly focuses on microscopic details of tissues, diagnosing abnormalities and assisting clinicians to start the right treatment for the patients.

Transfusion Medicine applies evidence and strategies in the management of blood products in Manitoba including all blood bank and cross-match operations.

Manitoba’s Public Health Laboratory – Cadham Provincial Laboratory – provides a wide range of services including food-borne illness investigations, sexually transmitted infection testing, newborn screening, prenatal screening and virus detection plus much more.