Pathology services
The Symbion Pathology network of laboratories throughout Australia offers Pathology services in all disciplines and listed below is a selection of brief explanations of some of those areas.
Chemical Pathology:
Chemical Pathology is the diagnosis and monitoring of disease through the measurement of changes in the chemical composition of blood and urine. Tests are used to monitor kidney and liver function, diagnose endocrine diseases such as diabetes and infertility, to assess nutritional status and measure blood levels in blood and urine. This is the most automated area of a modern laboratory and there is a great deal of emphasis on the accuracy and precision of the results that are produced.
Haematology:
Haematology is the study of the morphology of blood cells, the physiology of the blood and the blood forming organs. This encompasses the use of automated instruments to count blood cells and haemoglobin levels. Blood smears are used to examine the cell types and appearance of the blood cells to diagnose haematological diseases and to monitor the progression of treatment. Bone marrow examinations by aspiration biopsy aids in the diagnosis of these diseases. Another area of importance is the study of blood coagulation, measuring the ability of blood to clot, either to check before surgery, patients who have unexplained bleeding or clotting and monitoring patients on anticoagulants. Transfusion medicine is another arm of haematology dealing with blood groups, antibodies and blood transfusion
Cytopathology:
Cytopathology is a specialist discipline that includes diagnosis and screening components. Diagnostic cytology uses non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques to collect cellular material to confirm/exclude malignancy. Specimens examined include sputum, urine, brushings and washings from various organ systems and fine needle aspirates of palpable or radiologically identified lesions. The National Cervical Cancer Screening Program relies upon the Pap smear to identify asymptomatic women with premalignant disease. The interpretation of cervical smears is a non-automated discipline, which has an extensive and varied quality control system in place to monitor and improve standards.
General Pathology:
A General Pathologist is familiar with the major aspects of all branches of laboratory medicine. They are trained in anatomical pathology, cytology, chemical pathology, microbiology, haematology and blood banking and usually work with special interests in one or two of these disciplines.
Histopathology:
Histopathology is the branch of pathology that deals with the tissue diagnosis of disease. The tissue on which the diagnosis is made is biopsy material taken from a patient to detect and diagnose disease, examine disease progression including the response to treatment or lack of response and establish the cause in cases of sudden or unexpected death. A large part of this is the detection and diagnosis of cancer. A tissue diagnosis is essential before commencing treatment involving major surgery, radiation or drugs, treatments which may have major side-effects.
Oral Pathology:
Oral Pathology includes pathology of the oral mucosa, particularly oral lesions of dermatological conditions, white patches and premalignant lesions, oral epithelial tumours and pigmented lesions. Oral Pathology also covers a range of odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts and odontogenic malformations and tumours as well as benign and malignant tumours of the mouth and jaws. Various developmental or infective processes of the jaws and soft tissues, salivary gland tumours and other disorders, tooth abnormalities, diseases of the periodontium, granulomatous diseases and other oral manifestations of systemic disease are dealt with by Oral Pathologists.
Medical Microbiology:
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, worms and protozoa. Microbiology is concerned with their distribution, role in the environment and relationship to other living organisms including humans in health and disease. Any bodily fluid or tissue can be examined for infectious disease. The role of the microbiology laboratory is the diagnosis of infectious organisms and testing to identify the most appropriate treatment to fight the infection.