Clinical Laboratory Division

Introduction

The Clinical Laboratory Division comprises the Clinical Pathology, Physiology and Anatomical Pathology Laboratories.
The Clinical Pathology Laboratory consists of the Hematology, Biochemistry, Serology, Urinalysis, Bacteriology and Blood Bank Sections. The Physiology Laboratory includes the Ultrasonography (US), Electrocardiography, Electroencephalography and Respiratory Function Test Sections. These sections are managed by three physicians and two technicians. Both laboratories assist internists and surgeons by providing reliable data at short notice. The Anatomical Pathology Laboratory, staffed by four consultant pathologists and six technicians, deals with surgical, cytological and autopsy specimens. All the data gathered by these sections are computer-filed, and readily accessible to physicians.

Routine Activities

The Clinical Laboratory Division has five doctors, 18 technicians and two assistants. Data quality control and laboratory management are discussed at monthly meetings attended by doctors and chief technicians. Several weekly conferences in each section are held to monitor data quality control.
The most important role of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory is to rapidly provide highly reliable data to support prompt therapeutic decision-making. To provide these data for early outpatient chemotherapy, the entire Division starts providing services at 8 o’clock before the other divisions do. These services are provided during the day and are partly kept active after working hours. In the laboratory, a new, downsized automatic analyzer was installed, which enables these data to be obtained within one hour. Our clinical computer system was also renovated to process outside laboratory test orders and results electronically. The Bacteriology Section plays an important role in infection control, not only by examining daily specimens but also by summarizing monthly, quarterly and yearly statistical data on hospital infections.
The Blood Bank Section types blood, screens irregular antibodies, and supplies blood at the request of physicians.
In the Physiology Laboratory, US is an important screening examination for malignancies in the neck and abdomen. Cardiac US provides valuable information on preoperative patients with cardiac disorders and on patients who have undergone chemotherapy with cardiac toxicity.
The Anatomical Pathology Laboratory evaluates surgical, cytological, and autopsy materials, and is responsible for making the final histological and cytological diagnoses. For more accurate diagnoses, immunohistochemical approaches and/or genetic analyses are frequently employed.

● Y. Nishiwaki, T. Tagami ●

Number of laboratory tests carried out (2004-2008)
Section 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Urinalysis 145,502 182,046 192,597 176,173 196,233
Hematology 432,049 452,652 473,416 488,908 527,567
Biochemistry 1,265,225 1,344,923 1,330,853 1,338,116 1,424,263
Serology 122,564 120,710 121,436 118,468 125,409
Bacteriology 15,620 15,966 17,834 17,799 21,822
Surgical Pathology 12,280 11,862 12,573 12,339 11,324
Cytology 6,304 6,164 5,411 4,888 4,342
Blood Banking 17,168 17,284 20,047 20,240 21,378
Physiology 34,784 34,700 34,485 34,530 34,258
Total 2,051,496 2,186,307 2,208,652 2,211,641 2,366,596

Number of examinations in anatomical pathology (2004-2008)
Examination 2,004 2,005 2,006 2,007 2,008
Biopsy 10,266 9,888 9,049 8,840 8,444
Operation 2,014 1,977 2,116 2,107 2,053
Cytology 6,304 6,164 5,411 4,888 4,342
Autopsy 19 12 12 21 15

Table of Contents