The number of new diagnostic laboratory tests has dramatically increased over the past decade or so. The complexity of the tests offered is also greater than ever before in medical history. This growth in the field of laboratory medicine is due to the demand by physicians for new and improved diagnostic procedures and the ever-expanding capacity of modern technology to meet this demand with more and more sophisticated laboratory methods and equipment.
A medical transcriptionist will come in contact with dictation on a daily basis that details results of laboratory tests performed on patients. The medical transcriptionist is required to transcribe the material with accuracy. It is extremely important for the medical transcriptionist to be familiar with the names and abbreviations of many laboratory tests, the reasons they are available to physicians, and the meaning of the lab results.
Hospital laboratories are equipped to handle hundreds of tests each day. Larger hospitals perform all standard laboratory tests, as well as uncommon tests, which may be required by a smaller hospital or clinic whose facilities are not equipped to handle unusual tests.
There are many brief forms, slang, and special terms associated with the blood. Brief forms are acceptable in medical reports, however, the medical transcriptionist should always spell out in full any slang words which are dictated. Examples are:
? Monos is an acceptable brief form that the physician may dictate. The medical transcriptionist should type monocytes.
? Lytes is a slang term the physician may use in dictation. The medical transcriptionist should type electrolytes.
Other common tests include:
? Hemoglobin and hematocrit: A physician may dictate H&H. The Medical Transcriptionist should type: Hemoglobin and hematocrit
? Low-density lipoproteins: A physician may dictate LDL. The Medical Transcriptionist should type: Low-density lipoproteins
Laboratory test results are measured and reported most often using the metric system. Transcribing laboratory tests presents unique challenges for the Medical Transcriptionist. Being able to correctly transcribe the name of a laboratory test or its abbreviation is just one step in the process. Numerical results must be transcribed with ?absolute? accuracy with extra care taken to place decimal points accurately and to transcribe units of measure correctly.
A Medical Transcriptioniost should also have a firm grasp of why a test was ordered and what the results indicate. As a student of Medical Transcription, you will want to study with extra care the critical area of laboratory tests transcription diligently. The technology of medicine increases daily. Laboratory tests and procedures also increase on a daily basis. It is a real and extremely necessary challenge for the Medical Transcriptionist to stay up-to-date of these changes.
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? 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
As a responsible dog owner you should take your dog to the veterinarian at least once per year. This is a good habit to form with your dog that will keep him healthy for years to come, as well as enable you to prevent diseases, instead of waiting for them to form. A yearly physical examination will consist of evaluating your dog's general attitude and appearance. The eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and skin will be fully checked. The vet will also check the musculoskeletal, respiratory, nervous, digestive, genitourinary, and circulatory systems.
Serum Chemistry Profile Sometimes called a ?chem scan?, the Serum Chemistry File is an extensive battery of tests that provide a broad database to evaluate your dog's general health. These tests confirm the results of the physical examination and will provide you with early warning signs of unsuspected problems. Have your dog fast for at least 12 hours before this test, to ensure the best of accuracy with the results.
Urinalysis A urinalysis test examines your dog's urine. This test will reveal the health of the genitourinary system. In addition, a urinalysis also reflects a variety of disease processes that involve other organs of the body.
Fecal Analysis The presents of parasites can be detected through the fecal analysis. Also, this test is sound for detecting the presence of undigested food particles which is an indicator that your dog's system is not able to break down and digest his food the way it should be.
Complete Blood Count The complete blood count, or CBC, is a very routine profile of tests used to describe both the quality and the quantity of the cells in your dog's blood.
Normal Blood Test Results As you make these yearly physical and blood chemistry exams a routine part of your dog's care, it will provide valuable information for the future. They help establish normal levels for your dog and if there is any deviation from those levels, then your vet can be easily notified and institute prevention.
The level of what is ?normal? is established by the laboratory. These values vary depending on what laboratory equipment is used. These norms are established by analyzing the blood of a certain number of dogs and then the average is used as a benchmark for current tests. This is why it is important to stay with one clinic for as long as you can, preferably for your dog's entire life span.
Both Connie Limon & John Edwards are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.